Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 1:39 pm  

Just to confirm that Gardner is having surgery today to repair the damage to his achilles. It will be long term and probably the season.

Best wishes in his recovery.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 1:43 pm  

No1 Saint wrote:

We switched to eastmond in the centres on about the 70 minute mark yesterday, I wish we'd have done it earlier, Gaskell was totally wasted on the wing.

I agree but I can appreciate why Simmons did that as he knew that Gaskell already had experience on the wing. What he might not know is that Eastmond is superb at centre, as we found out during the back end of the 2009 season.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 3:24 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

I agree but I can appreciate why Simmons did that as he knew that Gaskell already had experience on the wing. What he might not know is that Eastmond is superb at centre, as we found out during the back end of the 2009 season.

That's why I don't get a post you made about having a back on the bench. If kyle came on for anyone else other than lomax and Gaskell then he'd be playing out of postion.

When I posted that flannery, Sia, Moore or wilkin can fill positions in the backs you stated it would disrupt the team to much.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 5:09 pm  

The Royce Philosophy is hard to accept

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 5:12 pm  

St pete wrote:

That's why I don't get a post you made about having a back on the bench. If kyle came on for anyone else other than lomax and Gaskell then he'd be playing out of postion.

When I posted that flannery, Sia, Moore or wilkin can fill positions in the backs you stated it would disrupt the team to much.

Huh? Eastmond has played on the wing, at centre, at fullback and in the halves. So he's a good back to have on the bench. He's not very good on the wing: he's too small and sometimes his defence can be suspect. But he's better than nothing if necessary. He wouldn't be playing out of position because he has had experience there, just as Lomax and Gaskell have (who are also halfbacks by trade). Lomax also has experience in the centres and at fullback. Would he be out of position if asked to play there? Until this season, Lomax had no experience of playing at no.7 if the interview by Simmons was anything to go by when he was first placed in the spot for Leeds. Look at how he has taken to being a no.7 (well, a running no.7 anyway).

I'm fully in support of Simmons' policy to have a back on the bench. I think as a policy it has proven very astute this season, given our injuries.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 5:42 pm  

For me Makinson looks the better option to replace Gardner, Eastmond to operate from the bench and to replace Gaskell after the first quarter. Lomax to be our No 7 for the rest of the season.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 5:43 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

Huh? Eastmond has played on the wing, at centre, at fullback and in the halves. So he's a good back to have on the bench. He's not very good on the wing: he's too small and sometimes his defence can be suspect. But he's better than nothing if necessary. He wouldn't be playing out of position because he has had experience there, just as Lomax and Gaskell have (who are also halfbacks by trade). Lomax also has experience in the centres and at fullback. Would he be out of position if asked to play there? Until this season, Lomax had no experience of playing at no.7 if the interview by Simmons was anything to go by when he was first placed in the spot for Leeds. Look at how he has taken to being a no.7 (well, a running no.7 anyway).

I'm fully in support of Simmons' policy to have a back on the bench. I think as a policy it has proven very astute this season, given our injuries.

So when you shot me down for saying we should have 4 forwards on the bench because we have multi skilled players in wilkin, Sia, flannery, roby and Moore that can full back positions, you said it would disrupt the side to much and Royce don't want that.

Last night ade went off, eastmond came on for him in the halves and Gaskell moved to wing.

Did that not disrupt the side?

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 5:45 pm  

Judder Man wrote:

For me Makinson looks the better option to replace Gardner, Eastmond to operate from the bench and to replace Gaskell after the first quarter. Lomax to be our No 7 for the rest of the season.

I don't think weve seen enough of makinson yet to see just how good he is but I'm all for giving him his chance as he looks pretty fast.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 6:04 pm  

St pete wrote:

So when you shot me down for saying we should have 4 forwards on the bench because we have multi skilled players in wilkin, Sia, flannery, roby and Moore that can full back positions, you said it would disrupt the side to much and Royce don't want that.

Last night ade went off, eastmond came on for him in the halves and Gaskell moved to wing.

Did that not disrupt the side?

Stop using silly melodramatic language, Pete. I disagreed with you, I didn't 'shoot you down'. Jeez. You are clearly stretching to make your point and I'm not getting into another petty argument with you. I made my point in previous discussions and nothing has happened to change my mind on it. I continue to like the idea of having a back on the bench and it has served us extremely well this season.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 6:06 pm  

Judder Man wrote:

For me Makinson looks the better option to replace Gardner, Eastmond to operate from the bench and to replace Gaskell after the first quarter. Lomax to be our No 7 for the rest of the season.

I don't know whether Makinson is the better option to replace Gardner, but I'd certainly like to see him have a go there. I don't know whether he has played on the wing previously so maybe Simmons will go with someone else. I hope the halves stay as they are though because they were really growing together well before their injuries and need to have time to settle back in.

As for Lomax continuing to be our no.7, I'm happy with that. I think that will be the case unless he is injured again, which he was last night but hopefully it is indeed just a knock.