'The Beast' is an extraordinary talent, and the most destructive, hardest runner of a ball I've seen at any level of the game. I've lost count of the number of opposition players who have been left shivering on the ground in a crumpled, demoralised heap after attempting to stop him.

Out of curiosity, how many minutes does he tend to do? Is he an impact player or a starter?



Looking forward to seeing him play.

He's an impact player doing a couple 15-20 minutes stints if I'm not mistaken. He certainly works hard on his fitness so no worries there.

Pickavance had a decent career as far as I remember - was a regular in the side through the mid '90s. Did he retire due to injury or something? Or get shunted off to Swinton?



I seem to remember him kicking a drop goal at Wigan once.

In the 16 all draw in the CC at Central Park. Always played well against Wigan.

Went to Swinton around '98 I think.

He,s had 18 games as impact player and 1 game as starter, in that time he has scored 8 tries and won 3 MOM awards.

Last few games he,s playing like a wrecking ball, difficult player to stop when on the charge.



I believe he will be dual reg, saints appreciation to John Kear who processed some of the move. He will be brought into the team cautiously and maybe taken out of the first team squad to play a couple of games for Batley. Thats what I was told, perhaps St Pete can confirm this.

That's exactly the same as what I've been told, bar the bit about Kear. I'm not sure Pete is posting anymore, certainly haven't seen any recently which is a shame.

Jones was only around for a couple of seasons and only ever made the side when we had an injury crisis (for very good reason) and even then almost always on the bench, but he stilll managed to rack up double figures in first team appearances I think. I can understand why you might have blocked him from your memory though

Pickavance came into the side 2 or 3 years after Jones left I think - another great young player who just never quite fulfilled his potential although he still had a pretty good run in Saints' squad for 3 or 4 years as I recall.

a bit in the fozzard mould

I don't think he wanted to go fulltime pro as I recall he had a business or worked for his dads busines and went to Swinton.



He was pretty good player but had one outstanding season and really was top class.

Full details re Picky on the heritage site www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/ ... &num=16151 Played over 150 games for Saints before signing for Huddersfield

Full details re Picky on the heritage site www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/ ... &num=16151 Played over 150 games for Saints before signing for Huddersfield

On the subject of Walmsley i would urge caution with regard to getting all giddy over his signing.



There is a huge stepup from Championship to SL.

Some players can make the grade comfortably. While others can struggle.



I'm minded of Jamie Ellis who left Saints and went to Leigh, were he completely ripped it up in the lower leagues. He ended up being signed by Hull where he then struggled to make any impression, before being offloaded to Castleford.



Chris Hill is the obvious example of a player who had no problems makeing the stepup. However he was 23 when he signed for Warrington. Walmsley is just 21.