The 23rd of June, 2009. To most of the world, this day will signify cock all. There'll be a few birthdays, someone will lose a close friend or relative, and a few people may be unfortunate enough to get married. To Saints fans, it will represent one of the funniest days in the history of our rivalry with Wigan.
Andrew Dixon is the latest academy prospect lined up on a long term deal as Saints keep churning out quality players into the first team.
Dixon is supposedly rated higher than Matty Ashurst, who has found his way into first team regularity this season. Allied with Scott Moore's impending return, established players like Clough, Roby and Graham, Ashurst and Dixon are more fine forwards signed up for building a pack to support some of the most exciting backs in the game.
But half back is now an area which must be providing a real headache.
No matter how much you loathe the fact he is a Wiganer, you have to admire that Sam Tomkins is having a great first season in Super League. Some may say it was a shock he got called up in Tony Smith's "new look" England side.
Well for him, the announcement was. In fact for most players included and excluded it was. Smith hadn't even had a chance to ring the players to pass on the messages. In fact the RFL didn't want it getting out. So, they blamed a hacker.
Imbeciles...
Of the junior success stories this season, Gary Wheeler is probably pick of the bunch. In a year expected to herald the real arrival of Kyle Eastmond, Wheeler snook in under the radar and has wowed us all.
"Great, innit?"
My first thought when Sean Long announced he will be talking to other clubs couldn't be published. I'm not normally one to care about offending people, but my inner (and outer) monologue would have turned a Bernard Manning audience white with shock.
Yes, it's true, Sean Long is considering offers from other clubs to prolong his rugby career. Sean Long is potentially about to leave his adopted club, and the club that brought him in from near obscurity after being cast aside by his home town club. Their loss was our gain; three Lance Todds in five Challenge Cups, four Super League's, Two World Club Challenge and a Man of Steel award. Longy is a living legend.
But his character epitomises him much more than his rugby.
You know it. I know it. Hell our current and past coach know it. Paul Clough will not let you down.
And now we know he is more than dependable. In a poll on RedVee.net, he is voted as the stand out performer this season. Yet his efforts still go unnoticed by the press, and most importantly, the England coach.
It would be fair to call Leon Pryce an enigma. The world is at his feet, in terms of his ability on the rugby field, but the guy is a complete moron off it.
