Saints first choice next year : Wed Sep 25, 2013 8:43 pm  

Can someone give us the strongest lineup with our weakest links.

Re: Saints first choice next year : Wed Sep 25, 2013 9:52 pm  

Weakest links are easy, Wello (still not officially re-signed)
And standoff, if by some miracle Wheeler can stay fit we're ok but I wouldn't bet on that

Re: Saints first choice next year : Wed Sep 25, 2013 9:59 pm  

I reckon:
Lomax
Makinson
Turner
Percival
Swift
Wheeler
Walsh
Amor
Roby
Laffranchi
Jones
Manu
Wilkin

Soliola
Walmsley
LMS
Masoe

Re: Saints first choice next year : Wed Sep 25, 2013 11:06 pm  

1. Lomax
2. Makinson
3. Turner
4. Percival
5. Swift
6. Wheeler ?
7. Walsh
8. Amor
9. Roby
10. LMS
11. Soliola
12. Manu
13. Wilkin

14. Walmsley
15. Masoe
16. Jones
17. Laffranchi

Stand-off is indeed the weakest spot. Could do with one more signing there.

Re: Saints first choice next year : Wed Sep 25, 2013 11:49 pm  

Wilkin to 6 and LMS to 13 perhaps? Worked for you this year.

Re: Saints first choice next year : Thu Sep 26, 2013 9:36 am  

Nathan Brown has already said JW will revert back to second row/loose next season. Sadly, I think the plan is for Wheeler to be first choice 6. Not doubting his ability, I just dont know how many chances he needs to prove his body is up to the rigors of SL on a regular basis. Surely this has to be the last chance saloon.

The problem for me with this plan is that I can see after 12mins of the opening game when he gets stretchered off, we will be back to square one, playing the rest of the season without two recognised half backs which will ultimately lead to another year of promises about 2015 being our year when we make some key signings in key positions. Walsh will be outstanding for us from what Ive seen of him, the trouble is, if he is left to do everything on his own, he wont be able to perform to his potential.

Signing a 6 has to be our priority now, we have taken enough risks with what we have over the last 4 years and it simply hasnt paid off.

Re: Saints first choice next year : Thu Sep 26, 2013 10:22 am  

Hand on heart, our strongest line up next year, should be the players performing at their best.

There is a lot of competition in the pack and no one should see themselves as a shoe in.

The backs are somewhat easier to name, apart from centre and 6.

So there is some competition there.

Sadly I don't think either Wheeler or WIlkin will be at 6. Wheeler would be the natural choice, Wilkin is most likely the most effective choice, but I think Lance will be the choice.

ALthought I would prefer Lance to play the replacement 9 role.

Still some tinkering yet to be done, but it is nice to have the large % of a balanced side. If Walsh gets injured though we are back to square 1.

Re: Saints first choice next year : Thu Sep 26, 2013 10:46 am  

Luke Walsh coming in will offer us an organising half back with a top quality kicking game. This will allow us the luxury of having a stand off who has more of a running, take the line on type of game and Lance is more than capable of doing this job effectively.

Lance has never been an organising half even when he played there regularly for NZ Warriors (he had Stacey Jones to do that for him) and has suffered since his arrival due to the fact that he has been expected to take the organisational role alongside Lomax, Gaskell etc and has never had a strong, out and out 7 to work with. The last few games of this season when paired with Wilkin he has done a lot better without the responsibility of organising the line. He has an excellent ability to take the line on, and is surprisingly strong and quick for a little bloke, and I think a pairing of Walsh and Hohaia combining with Lomax at 1 would be very good. You cant rely on Wheeler to be first choice at this moment in time due to his injury record, and given the chance I think Lance would surprise a lot of his critics if given the chance next year. NB said last week he has been really impressed by his attitude and recent form and the guy is a class act when doing what he does best, and I would love to see him given a chance at 6 alongside Walsh next year

Re: Saints first choice next year : Thu Sep 26, 2013 11:13 am  

Wakey I certainly hope you are right, but for me he had one good game this year which was the Hull KR playoff.

The next week against Leeds he was like a rabbit in the headlights again.

Even with a poor 7, other players have all been chosen ahead of Lance. Wheeler, Gaskell and GOB.
So yes he had one good game at 6, but I don't think we can call it a revival, signs of life maybe, but by no means a stand out 6.

Re: Saints first choice next year : Thu Sep 26, 2013 12:15 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

Wakey I certainly hope you are right, but for me he had one good game this year which was the Hull KR playoff.

Think only time will tell mate. I was a big fan of his in his early career at Warriors when alongside Stacey Jones, and think Walsh is a similar type of half back to Jones in terms of organising and kicking. If Lance can revert to that style of play from the one he has been used as by Saints so far I think he will go very well but it all depends if he can gather that form again.

Would be a gamble to rely on him as first choice 6 at the moment tbh, but I think given the chance with a proper 7 he would go well for us...although even if Wheeler is first choice to begin with, we will no doubt see Lance there by week 3 at latest when he is injured again