Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:52 am  

Eastmond offers more overall at full back than Wellens does, it's an easy choice for me although I'm not sure Royce will agree. You may lose out slightly on defence, but lets not forget Wellens has been done a few times already this year defensively, he's not flawless in that area. Luke Dorn rounding him easily is one that sticks in my mind. Our team lacks genuine attacking players and Eastmond offers that threat which is very important to us.

Assuming Clough's injury isn't a season ender I'd go with: Eastmond, Makinson, Shenton, Meli, Foster, Pryce, Lomax, Graham, Roby, LMS, Wilkin, Soliola, Puletua. SUBS: Moore, Clough, Flannery, Wheeler.

Wellens as 18th man and possibly on the bench as a player who can cover back and forward positions. This is nothing against Wellens, he's still a good squad player, but his best days are gone and he's picking up more niggles now unfortunately.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:55 am  

Smurf wrote:

I agree, however having him for another year in that position when there are better full backs in the team would be a waste of (probably) a large chunk of the salary cap. I have no idea what he would be like with an extra 25 pounds and a year of proper training for the role, but if Scott Moore is good enough to play second row then Wellens with a similar gain certainly is. Whether he wants the bruises at this stage of his career is another thing.

Wello gets smashed now as it is. So IMO a move to the forwards would be a bad move for him and for saints.

If Kyle keeps him out then he shouldn't make the 17.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:58 am  

McClennan wrote:

Keep Eastmond at full back! At last, people are starting to see what's been said on here for the past two or three years. We need speed at number one not positioning, graft or heart. We need speed.

It's took many of you a long time to see what I have been saying for the best part of four years.

Anyway from a Wigan pov I hope you put Wellens back there as soon as possible.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:04 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

It's took many of you a long time to see what I have been saying for the best part of four years.

Anyway from a Wigan pov I hope you put Wellens back there as soon as possible.

I like the look of Kyle at fullback. I also like the idea of him having experience in the halves which let's him link in the line as a extra halfback (like tomkins) and also links in outwide with his explosive pace.

My only worry is the high ball. Can he deal with the high balls? A bomb can win or lose games.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:13 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

It's took many of you a long time to see what I have been saying for the best part of four years.

Except it's only this season that his standards have dropped, so you were wrong for the last 3.5 years. I still think he hasn't been performing to his usual standards as much to do with carrying ankle/achilles injuries as much as his form dropping.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:18 am  

Sthelens RLFC wrote:

Except it's only this season that his standards have dropped, so you were wrong for the last 3.5 years. I still think he hasn't been performing to his usual standards as much to do with carrying ankle/achilles injuries as much as his form dropping.

He's been dropping a awful lot of kicks this season which aunt like wello and might be the first indication that he's lost confidence in his own ability.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:31 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

It's took many of you a long time to see what I have been saying for the best part of four years.

No you prematurely proclaimed his decline which isn't the same thing. Those of us Saints fans who identified it got the timing right

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 12:01 pm  

McClennan wrote:

No you prematurely proclaimed his decline which isn't the same thing. Those of us Saints fans who identified it got the timing right

Can Rogues give us the fullback from the 2010 Dream Team? Wello's standards, even not at their best, were deemed better than any other full back in the league. Tomkins was picked at 6.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sun Jul 17, 2011 3:24 pm  

Sthelens RLFC wrote:

Can Rogues give us the fullback from the 2010 Dream Team? Wello's standards, even not at their best, were deemed better than any other full back in the league. Tomkins was picked at 6.

I've got one for him anyway. Sam Tomkins is now already better than Edwards ever was. Remember where you heard it first folks. Right here and now from a Saints fan in 2011.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:09 pm  

with wellens back this week will royce play him or will he drop eastmond or gaskell i i would keep the team same as last week