Saints stand off next year ? : Sat Oct 05, 2013 1:08 pm  

It's very much debated that we need a quality halfback to play alongside Luke Walsh next year to take some of the pressure of Walsh and incase of a injury to him.

It's looking unlikely we will bring one in now.

So the question is-

Who from the current squad would you at alongside Walsh in the halves ?

Re: Saints stand off next year ? : Sat Oct 05, 2013 1:11 pm  

Wheeler if fit. Otherwise Lomax with Wellens at 1 (OMG I can't believe I just thought that ).

Re: Saints stand off next year ? : Sat Oct 05, 2013 1:12 pm  

Top Saint wrote:

Wheeler if fit. Otherwise Lomax with Wellens at 1 (OMG I can't believe I just thought that ).

Some idiot on the rumour thread been bigging wello up as our stand off for next year as he's got a great rugby brain

Re: Saints stand off next year ? : Sat Oct 05, 2013 1:29 pm  

I'd like to see Wheeler, but we all know how unlikely that is.

I think with a strong pack and a proper 7 we're in a good position to give a young player a chance, so I'd like to see Charnock getting a run.

I suspect we'll be going with Hohaia at 6, though, which makes me sad.

Re: Saints stand off next year ? : Sat Oct 05, 2013 1:50 pm  

Dux wrote:

I'd like to see Wheeler, but we all know how unlikely that is.

I think with a strong pack and a proper 7 we're in a good position to give a young player a chance, so I'd like to see Charnock getting a run.

I suspect we'll be going with Hohaia at 6, though, which makes me sad.

I think we will see Lance at 6 which isn't great but with Walsh being his halfback partner it might give lance a more free role and more of a running game which will suit lance more.

Re: Saints stand off next year ? : Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:21 pm  

St pete wrote:

I think we will see Lance at 6 which isn't great but with Walsh being his halfback partner it might give lance a more free role and more of a running game which will suit lance more.

Let's hope. The thing that bugs me about Lance is that he's too passive with the ball. When he decides he's going to take the line on he can actually be quite dangerous, but when he knows he's not going to run he just catches the ball standing still and then passes it on. If he took the ball forward to the line every time he got it he'd put doubt in the defenders' minds and he'd have his outside men running onto the ball instead of standing still. As it stands he just makes it easy for defenders and kills the play for the men outside him. I'm not convinced having a decent half back partner would solve the issue TBH. I'd rather take a punt on a young lad who will make the odd mistake but who has a proper half-back's instincts. Then Lance could be very useful as a rotation hooker IMO.

Re: Saints stand off next year ? : Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:30 pm  

Dux wrote:

Let's hope. The thing that bugs me about Lance is that he's too passive with the ball. When he decides he's going to take the line on he can actually be quite dangerous, but when he knows he's not going to run he just catches the ball standing still and then passes it on. If he took the ball forward to the line every time he got it he'd put doubt in the defenders' minds and he'd have his outside men running onto the ball instead of standing still. As it stands he just makes it easy for defenders and kills the play for the men outside him. I'm not convinced having a decent half back partner would solve the issue TBH. I'd rather take a punt on a young lad who will make the odd mistake but who has a proper half-back's instincts. Then Lance could be very useful as a rotation hooker IMO.

I suppose it all depends on if Brown thinks we've got a good enough young lad ready. It's ok saying a young lad can make mistakes as expected but that may harm this kids development if mot ready and really knock his confidence.

I'm all for letting a kid play 6 but we need to give him time and stand by him but I can't see 99% of the fans sticking with him if he makes mistakes.

Look at Gaskell in the grand final, he was our most dangerous player with the ball, he was opening the defence up, making breaks but took the wrong options at crucial times which cost us a chance of wining the game. As I was walking out of old Trafford I could hear fans bagging Gaskell, "he should have passed to so and so" why didn't he pass" if only Gaskell would have give it".

Playing a kid in crucial position is risky for the team and the kid unless he's 100% ready.

Re: Saints stand off next year ? : Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:37 pm  

I want it to be Wilkin, though I know brown has categorically come out and said that it's not going to be the case.

His kicking game has come on 10fold under brown, he has a good understanding of the team and his distribution is solid (not spectacular but strong for the role he would play.)

Since that won't be the case, I want them to give the 6. shirt to wheeler, tell him he has to be available for 22+ (Ish) games for a contract renewal

If lance is to do it then I'd want us to bring in a back up hooker else face another howarth situation - does anyone know how speakerman is progressing?

I don't know if charnock is ready, so I'd loan him out to Wakefield and let him get some superleague experience

Re: Saints stand off next year ? : Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:58 pm  

St pete wrote:

I suppose it all depends on if Brown thinks we've got a good enough young lad ready. It's ok saying a young lad can make mistakes as expected but that may harm this kids development if mot ready and really knock his confidence.

I'm all for letting a kid play 6 but we need to give him time and stand by him but I can't see 99% of the fans sticking with him if he makes mistakes.

Look at Gaskell in the grand final, he was our most dangerous player with the ball, he was opening the defence up, making breaks but took the wrong options at crucial times which cost us a chance of wining the game. As I was walking out of old Trafford I could hear fans bagging Gaskell, "he should have passed to so and so" why didn't he pass" if only Gaskell would have give it".

Playing a kid in crucial position is risky for the team and the kid unless he's 100% ready.

Aye, there is always a risk. You're right that it would need to be someone who is ready, and I'm probably making a few assumptions having only seen Charnock play a bit. But I really don't think it will do the team any good having Lance at 6 - nor will it be any good for Lance, who I think could be a really useful player for us if played at hooker. If we needed a more experienced head at 6 I'd prefer it to be Wilkin, but I'm sure he'd prefer not to have another season in the halves.

Basically, unless we sign a proper 6 then whatever we go with is going to involve a compromise or a risk.

Re: Saints stand off next year ? : Sat Oct 05, 2013 5:06 pm  

People seem to have a huge amount of faith in wheeler , but other than a brief spell against Wigan last year, I've seen nothing to suggest he is anything special. This season he had a couple of defensive stinkers and showed nothing in attack in his all too few appearances. On the off chance he can string together a few games all he will do is prove he isn't saints quality before following Gaskell and foster to the lower reaches of the league.