MMMMMM

I wonder which centre he will be replacing, this one really does take some thinking about

This is a wind up right? He might not be the greatest player we've had, but come on, this guy has played for England, won a Grand Final and been coveted by a side in the NRL.



Do you think you might be over reacting slightly because the facts suggest you might be?

Just needs to add:



Gelling will be back after Christmas



And



Gelling signs contract extension



Then all bases are covered.

Your obviously far better informed than myself then. I shall leave the facts to quieten you down when squad numbers are released.

In his last season with us, England centre Dan Sarginson had a hell of a GF and posted the following stats.



530 Carries (most in SL)

48 Offloads (3rd highest in SL)

3561 metres made (6th highest in SL)



Escare

Davies (Manfredi)

Gildart

Sarginson

Burgess

Williams

Tomkins



That’s a backline with serious speed. All we need is to play more expansive rugby and find a few gaps. If we can stay fit, I’m happy with this to be honest.

That's a good back line.

How we end up out on the field is another matter.

A back line with no recognised goal kicker and with an exceptionally limited kicking game. SW seem to think these pretty basic skills aren't required when in fact they should be a prerequisite for the job.

Sorry for the negativity but the pack is lightweight in size and ability plus the backs are used sparingly in attack but are good for making the "hard yards"

The saving grace could be if ST has got his head out of his arris and starts performing like a rugby player rather than a prima donna. ST for me probably has more natural ability than any other SL player but it will be 5 years since we saw him demonstrate that on a regular basis rather than a cameo once or twice a season.

He needs to take over the mantle from SOL and tell SW to buggier off with the tripe we have served up in the last 4 years and let him rule the roost on the field.

Itchy you can’t just go out and sign a recognised goal kicker. They have to be a better player than the one they’ll replace first and foremost. If you can tell me a realistic target that fits the bill I’m all ears.



SW clearly recognises the need to improve our kicking, hence Charlie Hodgson’s appointment.



As for ST, the lad hasn’t had a preseason for 9 years and has missed the best part of 2 years with very serious injuries. He’s a human being, not a machine, give him a break!



If he’s doesn’t deliver next season then I’d be critical because there can be no excuse. We’ve had enough negativity to last us a lifetime (not just from you) and I reckon it’s time to move forward. Pre-season games are not far off so it’s time to get behind the club and be positive. After all, tis the season of good will etc.....

He may be in the squad but he has declared himself unavailable!

Pat Richards left in 2013 and it's 2018 in less than 3 weeks how long do you need to find a replacement? It's either complacency or ineptness I will leave you to decide.

I am a big fan of ST but cameos once or twice a year are an insufficient payback for his payroll cost. Personally I would give him the captaincy in the hope that he of mature years now and he can kick on again and place his stamp on the style of game we play.

By the way the negativity is driven by the club with it's pretty useless performances on and off the pitch. Give the fans something to talk about, something to look forward to (NOT the game in Australia) and give us back a bit of pride back by playing something closely related to RL rather than the prissy, turgid shoite they have rolled out for the past 3 years then the negativity will decrease.

By the way not for one moment did I expect a major overhaul this season (it will in 2019 though) but ye gods Sarginson coming back after a year on the lash in Australia isn't what I expected either.

A Happy Christmas to you Bigred and your family

You haven’t answered my question mate. Who do you consider a realistic target who is better than one of our starting 13 who can kick goals? I’m not happy with our kick success rate but I’m happy the club have made an effort to address it and I’d rather have Hodgson in than a weaker player just because they can kick.



In regards to ST, it’s unfair to refer to one or 2 cameo appearances when he played every game since returning from injuries last season. I suspect nobody at the club realised the extent of his injuries when he was brought back as a marquee player and I don’t think it’s right to judge him yet. Let’s see how he goes after his 1st pre-season in 9 years and then judge him. I wouldn’t make him captain until Lockers calls it a day but he’d be my choice as his successor.



I also agree that the standard of RL over the last few years hasn’t been great but I do see some mitigation but that’s been done to death on here. I honestly believe we have a very strong squad and with a bit more luck with injuries we’ll be there or there abouts again next season. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that we won the GF in 2016 and are currently world club champions who reached Wembley in 2017. No it’s not good enough but only because we’ve been spoiled over the years.



Merry Christmas to you and yours matey!

Regarding the captaincy - what about Farrell? Doesn't show the same petulance as S.Tomkins, don't think I ever remember him having a bad season, has stayed committed to the club rather than jumping ship. Won loads of medals with us. He would be my choice. Sam has enough pressure on him, and I'm not convinced his temperament is suited to it. I've got a horrible feeling Wane will give it to McIlorum