Widnes friendly thoughts... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:01 am  

Wow, I realise now why I've never bothered with friendlies. No intensity, rusty attack and non-existent defending.

It is hard to really judge anything from the game, given how slow and lacking in intensity it was. But I didn't see much from either Laffranchi or Flanagan to suggest either is anything more than an extra body to add depth. LMS impressed me tonight though, he seems to have bulked up nicely and I think he's going to develop into a sensational player. He won't be able to match Jammer's workrate but I don't think anyone ever could. We're a prop light even when you throw TP back in. You will always have one or two forwards injured such is the nature of their role and we've not got enough big men to cope. Roby was a standout again tonight, we need him to stay fit this season and I would suggest the club removes him from the field whenever a game is won to preserve him.

Onto the backs, a typical early season Saints performance. Slow, defensively woeful and very rusty. Ade looked back his usual self, as if he'd never been away, Meli was very dumb but also our brightest back. Wheeler still looking fat and disinterested.

The halfbacks were bright tonight I thought. J-Lo was lively and I thought Lee Gaskell was our best player tonight. He glides across the field effortlessly and ghosts through gaps that don't exist to the naked eye. I think we're going to regret the length, value and existence of Lance's contract. He proved to be exactly what I thought he would, poor hands, poor kicking, poor defensively and reasonably lively in attack. I can understand why we signed him, knowing Kyle was off and not knowing if either J-Lo or Lee would make it, but seeing as they did, it's an expensive signing we just don't need. He was given the starting role tonight and looked likely to be from now on, but should he? Is he a better player than either Lomax or Gaskell? I don't think he is.

Tom Makinson at fullback? Yes. Very comfortable under the high ball, beats the first man, makes metres and is dangerous in both broken play and linking into the line. Wellens HAS to be moved and from the start of the season, no need to ease Makinson in, just give him the shirt for the season.

Re: Widnes friendly thoughts... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:18 am  

I agree with m of that my sad friend.

Re: Widnes friendly thoughts... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:27 am  

I kind of agree also - I think Lance might turn into a good signing (he looked good sporadically on the run but was a bit poor otherwise - God knows where the MOTM came from), but I'd still rather have risked keeping Leon instead and 4 years is just simply way too long to commit to an overseas player in the backend of their playing career in these days of salary caps and quotas, no matter who the player might be. If we'd got him for 2 then you could call it a good bit of business but 4 was just way too much...

Re: Widnes friendly thoughts... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:19 am  

Northampton_Saint wrote:

I kind of agree also - I think Lance might turn into a good signing (he looked good sporadically on the run but was a bit poor otherwise - God knows where the MOTM came from), but I'd still rather have risked keeping Leon instead and 4 years is just simply way too long to commit to an overseas player in the backend of their playing career in these days of salary caps and quotas, no matter who the player might be. If we'd got him for 2 then you could call it a good bit of business but 4 was just way too much...

The problem with playing lance and lomax in the halves is they are similar style players, their first instinction is to run at the line.

Lance has been played mostly fullback for past 10 years where he's made his name clearing his line on kick returns and joining the line in attack. He's used to having more space. I thought his ball handling looks pretty average as its not natural to him.

Lomax and lance ain't got a long kicking game and that's the worst kicking game I've seen from a pro club, my 11 year olds I coach kick better than that.

Re: Widnes friendly thoughts... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:37 am  

St pete wrote:

The problem with playing lance and lomax in the halves is they are similar style players, their first instinction is to run at the line.

Lance has been played mostly fullback for past 10 years where he's made his name clearing his line on kick returns and joining the line in attack. He's used to having more space. I thought his ball handling looks pretty average as its not natural to him.

Lomax and lance ain't got a long kicking game and that's the worst kicking game I've seen from a pro club, my 11 year olds I coach kick better than that.

Lance and Lomax didn,t look quite right did it. When Gaskell came on the attack looked more dangerous be it with Lomax or Lance as his partner. Get the feeling Lance will interchange with Roby then Gaskell will come on, we can't afford to have Gaskell sat on the bench for 60 mins in a match.

Re: Widnes friendly thoughts... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:48 am  

The only thing I would disagree on was your choice of MOM, I thought Makinson by a country mile. He was outstanding at both full back and on the wing. Ashe really made an impact when he came on and looked very dangerous.

As far as Lance goes, it's harsh to judge him on one performance but I would say that if last night was typical of what we will get to see, it's going to be a long season. Another NZ international who isn't comfortable under a high ball. I can just see where Pat Richards will be kicking off to...

Re: Widnes friendly thoughts... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:11 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Wow, I realise now why I've never bothered with friendlies. No intensity, rusty attack and non-existent defending.

I reckon saints have got the friendly game right this year, one game played with a full strength squad. I really don't aee the point in games when obly a couple of first teamers play, or they only play for half a match and are replaced with reserves. Simmons and the team have a good idea of what needs sorting ahead of the opening game, and hopefully we can get through the first few games without dropping too many points or too many injuries.

Talking of injurys, did we get any last night? Can't believe wheeler and perry both survived a whole game unscathed

Re: Widnes friendly thoughts... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:32 am  

The Chief wrote:

The only thing I would disagree on was your choice of MOM, I thought Makinson by a country mile. He was outstanding at both full back and on the wing. Ashe really made an impact when he came on and looked very dangerous.

As far as Lance goes, it's harsh to judge him on one performance but I would say that if last night was typical of what we will get to see, it's going to be a long season. Another NZ international who isn't comfortable under a high ball. I can just see where Pat Richards will be kicking off to...

Don't forget we've also got a winger that couldnt catch a cold.

Re: Widnes friendly thoughts... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:41 pm  

I was happy with that performance. To play so bad and still stick 42 on a super league side will do for me. I think when Lance and Lomax get into it they will be deadly! Lets not forget both had op's in the off season so are a few week behind the rest in terms of pre season training. Lance's biggest problem last night IMO was his thinking was far too advanced for some of our players this early in the season. It was great to see speed when returning kicks though. I'd prefer Makinson as our fullback with Wellens taking a backseat.

Re: Widnes friendly thoughts... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 4:33 pm  

Browsing through the various forums and comments, it seems there's a bit of work to get the team up to scratch for the season (in two weeks time), and decisions to make with who plays where. I think Saddened makes some valid points. From a personal point of view, I really don't get why we don't just go with our own young St Helens lads who are top quality and the future of rugby league. This is our community sport and having local lads who have come up through the ranks make the game a lot more enjoyable for me, although having said that, I do enjoy Sia's big hits and the intensity brought to the game by overseas players. However, buying in players to 'retire', is just not good enough. Makinson was fantastic and deserves a place everytime, alongside Gaskell who in my opinion, totally changed the game with his appearance. Both Gaskell and Makinson played like they've never been away. Gaskell is a quality player and not just his kicking but try assists, ball handling and I remember watching his conversions in the U20's when he belted over the sticks every time. I love his natural laid back way of play. I thought Wheeler stood out too last night; even though he could have gone for glory and scored he passed the ball out showing and fostering team spirit....something of which I didn't see much of in the first half. I hope Wheeler stays fit and we see a lot more of him. Looking forward to the season now after the friendly - although I must admit my heart was in my mouth last night for the first half.... I think my season ticket was money well spent.