Numbers 6 and 7 : Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:01 am  

Given that Wheeler is injured. Given that it's likely that the cheque book is closed for this year.

What would you do with 6 and 7 for the rest of this year. Every week we all talk about needed a 6 and 7. But other teams are also looking, no one is likely to offload a halfback.

So what would you do for the next months of SL.

I don't think we can continue with Wilkin, he has stood up in the early games but teams have caught on and without Lomax he is looking out of depth having to do it all alone.

My prefered option would be to get a loan from the NRL, we can't afford anyone in the NRL, but who says we can't get a 6 month loan which will help that club reduce it;s wages rather than pay a player in the reserves.

My other would be to recall Gaskell until either Yates or Wheeler is fit. I understand Gaskell is gone and has issues at Saints but in the end we need people in proper positions.

Then Wilkin back to loose and Lance as reserve 9.

Next year clean slate with new 6 and 7.

Re: Numbers 6 and 7 : Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:17 am  

Charnock, Ashe or Swift to 6. Yates to 7 when he is fit.

Re: Numbers 6 and 7 : Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:40 am  

Whoever we pick just will merely be a sticking plaster solution as none of the kids are remotely ready for regular SL action.

Sad as it may seem but i think we will need to stick with Wilkin and Howarth for now.

Quite possibly the worst halfback combination in Saints history.

Re: Numbers 6 and 7 : Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:41 am  

Gaskell can't be recalled lee and is agent made sure that was in the contract

Re: Numbers 6 and 7 : Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:42 am  

Short term I would put Swift in at 6 and make Lance play 7, Howarth stays at 9 until Roby comes back. Swift has good feet and difficult for the opposition to predict which direction he is going to play.
Long term Yates and Charnock but we can,t develop them at the same time in the first team otherwise we could be creating another Lomaskell scenario.
Its remarkable isn,t it that we only need one good half back and the team could be transformed.

Re: Numbers 6 and 7 : Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:29 pm  

Did not realise that Gaskell could not be recalled. So we are really stumped.

The other option would be a loan from the championship but yet again who is going to loan their halfback for 6 months, when still competing?

Re: Numbers 6 and 7 : Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:31 pm  

No disrespect to Gaskell, but (through no fault of his own) he's exactly the type of over-hyped player you've been persevering with for too long so your club are right to off-load him to Salford.

Because he's a "young player" who plays for "Saints", his credentials where completely blown out of all proportion by the sheep like RL media when in reality, he was playing with vast amounts of space due to the exceptional go-forward of the best hooker in the world, James Roby.

Chase can't get another visa so won't be coming to you and Dobson will only leave Rovers if he gets another crack at the NRL. You may think I'm just saying this because I'm a Rovers fan, but there are multiple reasons he wouldn't leave.

Your main gaff was obviously not persevering with Matty Smith without the foresight of seeing that the recruitment market was going to change drastically and now you're up poop creek without a paddle.

Re: Numbers 6 and 7 : Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:39 pm  

General Zod. wrote:

No disrespect to Gaskell, but (through no fault of his own) he's exactly the type of over-hyped player you've been persevering with for too long so your club are right to off-load him to Salford.

Because he's a "young player" who plays for "Saints", his credentials where completely blown out of all proportion by the sheep like RL media when in reality, he was playing with vast amounts of space due to the exceptional go-forward of the best hooker in the world, James Roby.

Chase can't get another visa so won't be coming to you and Dobson will only leave Rovers if he gets another crack at the NRL. You may think I'm just saying this because I'm a Rovers fan, but there are multiple reasons he wouldn't leave.

Your main gaff was obviously not persevering with Matty Smith without the foresight of seeing that the recruitment market was going to change drastically and now you're up poop creek without a paddle.

If you read the OP, I make it quite clear that Gaskell was not a long term solution. I'm talking about some way to improve the current catastrophy. Whilst Gaskell may not have been here in the future, he is a halfback and would offer more than Howarth at 6 and more than Wellens at 6 and more than Lance.

However if it's written in the contract he can't come back then the point is null and void.

Either way we need to improve on Wilkin and a' another player at halfback, just for the short term of this season.

Re: Numbers 6 and 7 : Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:52 pm  

For me, Jon wilkin has to stay at 7. He's a senior player and try's to lead us. Hohaia can't lead the team at all and I doubt anyone in the squad can. So IMO wilkin is the best of a bad bunch for the 7 spot.

At stand off, I'd give swift a run there in the next two games. He can't be any worse that wello or Howarth.

When roby is back, I'd 100% have lance and wilkin in the halves. Its not good enough but IMO its the best we've got.

So if go for - (6) - lance (7) - Wilkin (9) - Roby

Re: Numbers 6 and 7 : Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:59 pm  

Anyone with pace & a step would be better than Hohaia. So Swift should be given a go. Hohaia should get nowhere near that side, he's rivalling Damien Smith & Mark Bourneville as one of our worst overseas signings. No creativity or kicking game now a liability in defence & the telegraphed show & go the only string to his bow.
When Lomax returns, Makinson & Ade on wings, Swift & Wilkin the halves & Roby at nine.