SAINTS boss Keiron Cunningham believes Parramatta’s Adam Quinlan fits the bill perfectly to answer the club’s latest full back SOS call.

The club are turning to the speedy 22-year-old following the season ending injury sustained by Shannon McDonnell, who in turn was a replacement for long-term casualty Jonny Lomax.

With Paul Wellens and Lance Hohaia retired and Tommy Makinson out until September with a broken leg, centre Mark Percival became the club’s sixth player in the number one berth this season.

And as well as he played, despite taking a head knock early in the second half, that is only a temporary fix.

Cunningham believes that the versatile Quinlan will add some more excitement to a backline that showed some dazzling touches last weekend.

He said: “He is not here yet, but he is fit and ready to go.

“He’s a full back/half, very much like Jonny because he started off as a six, then dropped back at full back and has learned his trade there.

“He is a very good full back and a great support player and, because he is a half, he reads the game exceptionally well and can find a pass.

“ He is going to be exciting.”

It is not the first time Saints have sounded out the former St George Illawarra man, who made his NRL debut in 2013.

Cunningham explained: “Originally we spoke to Adam before we spoke to Shannon but he wanted to fight for his spot at Parramatta.

“Shannon was in sensational form before he got injured, but it gives someone else an opportunity and I am sure Adam will take it with two hands.

“He would be available for all games and will play in theChallenge Cup semi final if he is fit.

“Where we are at with the salary cap we have given him this period to have a look at him and then have a look at where we are at.”

There have already been some departures announced with Mose Masoe returning to the NRL and Josh Jones leaving at the end of the season and so far only Salford prop Lama Tasi announced as a replacement.

But the club will not be rushing into filling cap and quota space, preferring to observe the shake up from what happens at the end of this year’s Super League middle 8s and keeping powder dry if something becomes available from Australia that would add to the squad.

Cunningham said: “I am happy with my recruitment – however long I am here I want to make sure recruitment is good.

“I am not looking for a short-term fix and want to make sure we are comfortable next year.

“I feel we are a bit light in the outside backs, but we have got some good juniors who have come to the fore so that thickens us slightly in that department.”