Re: Gary Wheeler/17 for Sunday? : Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:56 pm  

Cragganmore Kid wrote:

I'd love to see Simmons really mix it up by having a genuine attacking threat at FB, Pryce or Lomax, with Wello as the 'bench back' if we need to go safety first.

Pryce hasn't been an attacking threat since he decided to go to the Dragons and Lomax isn't fast so I don't think he would be much more of an attacking threat from fullback than Wello is especially given his tendency towards panic and his lack of experience. Makinson is looking more like a potential fullback IMO than Lomax. But all that is for the future. What we don't need next week is massive changes. We've had enough of those throughout the regular season. It's far too disruptive.

Re: Gary Wheeler/17 for Sunday? : Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:02 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

Pryce hasn't been an attacking threat since he decided to go to the Dragons and Lomax isn't fast so I don't think he would be much more of an attacking threat from fullback than Wello is especially given his tendency towards panic and his lack of experience. Makinson is looking more like a potential fullback IMO than Lomax. But all that is for the future. What we don't need next week is massive changes. We've had enough of those throughout the regular season. It's far too disruptive.

Pryce is one of the few matchwinners we have. If you're defending Wello on the basis of 'poor form after injury, surely Pryce is allowed the same mitigation. Chiming into the line from FB would allow him to drift in and out rather than carry the organisational responsibility. When he's free to roam, you get the best from him.

Lomax is far more pacy than Wello and certainly elusive. I'd love to see him on a kick return.

Makinson is also an option, but I'm liking him on the wing and I'd prefer to leave him there - safe hands on either flank with the ability to finish. Nice.

I take your point on massive changes. I wouldn't make them. But I would chance my arm a bit, and hopefully catch Wigan a little cold.

Re: Gary Wheeler/17 for Sunday? : Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:13 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

To begin with you conveniently bypassed my use of the word 'experience' which, given our season, has been vital. Wello hasn't been in the best of form since his injury at Wigan at Easter (prior to which he was fabulous). He isn't 'past it'; he's just suffering from a lack of form and some of that will be down to him playing with injury as have many of our players.

I'm sure we will see him back to form next season. Meanwhile, he has managed to pull off some great try saving moves even when off form and he brings vital experience to the field as a member of a team which is very much lacking in experience.

Yes Wello is experienced, but so is ray french, would you play him?
Wayne Bennet when asked how he'd kept Brisbane at the top for 20 years "Having the guts to drop your established 30yr old star for your 19yr old future star" Wello's not the best fullback in the league anymore, hes not even in the top 3

Re: Gary Wheeler/17 for Sunday? : Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:14 pm  

Saint Simon wrote:

Yes Wello is experienced, but so is ray french

Brilliant!

Re: Gary Wheeler/17 for Sunday? : Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:15 pm  

Blobbynator wrote:

:lol: Brilliant!

i try

Re: Gary Wheeler/17 for Sunday? : Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:16 pm  

Cragganmore Kid wrote:

Pryce is one of the few matchwinners we have. If you're defending Wello on the basis of 'poor form after injury, surely Pryce is allowed the same mitigation.

Not really because in his first three outings he made an impact and then he went silent, just passing the ball like Eastmond did. So I don't think his performance has anything to do with recovering from his injury. If he was looking anything like as committed as he was before his injury then I'd be as supportive of him as I am of Wello but he isn't and so I'm not. Just now Pryce isn't an attacking threat at all and so I'd be happy if Simmons dropped him. He's been a big disappointment.

Lomax is far more pacy than Wello and certainly elusive. I'd love to see him on a kick return.

Lomax is strong and he's nippy but he isn't pacey over a stretch. Makinson is. I'd love to see Makinson at fullback but not for these playoffs!

But I would chance my arm a bit, and hopefully catch Wigan a little cold.

Stick Wheeler in the halves with Gaskell off the bench and interchange them! That would catch them cold. Mind you, it would probably fook us up as well!

Re: Gary Wheeler/17 for Sunday? : Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:17 pm  

Saint Simon wrote:

Yes Wello is experienced, but so is ray french, would you play him?

Yes. Hilarious.

Wayne Bennet when asked how he'd kept Brisbane at the top for 20 years "Having the guts to drop your established 30yr old star for your 19yr old future star" Wello's not the best fullback in the league anymore, hes not even in the top 3

Whatever you say.

Re: Gary Wheeler/17 for Sunday? : Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:22 pm  

Like I said Royce will not drop either so it's a mute point.

That's why they both make my probable team.

My point was more that once you're set up that way, having Gaskell on the bench is irrelevant. Gaskell is your go to man for kicks and controlling a game. Not for a desperation flash of brilliance to dig us out of a hole.

Eastmond used to be able to do that , but I'm not convinced he's going to be fit. Wheeler is fit for once, so in terms of a bench spot he gets it above Gaskell, as would Eastmond.

Gaskell would be my first choice half back to control the team and the kicking. But Pryce, Lomax, Eastmond and Wheeler are your go to men when the chips are down and the game plan is not working. I just think playing 2 of them as half back ie Pryce, Lomax just offers control to the opposition halfbacks and means you are going to need to dig your self out of a hole.

As for Meli not a question of shifting him to wing.

I've put TP Roby Graham Sia Moore and Wilkin as a starting pack as thats our most aggressive, high impact, threatening pack IMHO. Swapping any of them for flannery, LMS, Clough, Dixon, Ashurst etc, these players bring a reliability but less aggression and impact again IMHO.

Re: Gary Wheeler/17 for Sunday? : Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:25 am  

If we're talking bout a personal choice I would pick:

1. Kyle Eastomond
2. Tommy Makinson
3. Michael Shenton
4. Francis Meli
5. Jamie Foster

6. Gary Wheeler
7. Jonny Lomax

8. James Graham
9. James Roby
10. LMS
11. Sia Soliola
12. Jon Wilkin
13. Leon Pryce

14. Scott Moore
15. Tony Puletua
16. Paul Clough
17. Chris Flannery / Lee Gaskell / Paul Wellens / Carl Forster

That won't happen though.

Re: Gary Wheeler/17 for Sunday? : Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:53 am  

BackrowSaint wrote:

If we're talking bout a personal choice I would pick:

1. Kyle Eastomond
2. Tommy Makinson
3. Michael Shenton
4. Francis Meli
5. Jamie Foster

6. Gary Wheeler
7. Jonny Lomax

8. James Graham
9. James Roby
10. LMS
11. Sia Soliola
12. Jon Wilkin
13. Leon Pryce

14. Scott Moore
15. Tony Puletua
16. Paul Clough
17. Chris Flannery / Lee Gaskell / Paul Wellens / Carl Forster

That won't happen though.

If we'd played with that all year then I'd agree but we can't be making that many changes at this stage.

Personally, I think that Eastmond won't play again for us and Wheeler will take the back bench spot. I'd like to see him used for more than 10 minutes at the end of the game though.