Re: wello the utility : Sun Jan 12, 2014 2:17 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

Or does he?

There is probably something of a gap, between what he says publicly, what he says privately and what he actually thinks.

If I wanted a happy squad going into the season I would want everyone of my playing squad to think they were in with a shout.

No point putting peoples confidence down before a ball has even been kicked!

It's possible!!

He's going to be on the bench IMO.

Re: wello the utility : Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:44 am  

One thing that did occur to be when watching this video http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3707 and from being face to face with Wello is that he is surprisingly bigger, in terms of muscle mass, than you realise. If you look at other FB’s in SL and the NRL they are very slight and light weight these days eg Tomkins, Slater etc. Now I know Wello is no spring chicken and has never really had pace but if he is going to be back up for 1 or 6/7 or anywhere in the backs shouldn’t the conditioning staff be downsizing him to gain speed from shedding the muscle mass?

One thing that did occur to be when watching this video http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3707 and from being face to face with Wello is that he is surprisingly bigger, in terms of muscle mass, than you realise. If you look at other FB’s in SL and the NRL they are very slight and light weight these days eg Tomkins, Slater etc. Now I know Wello is no spring chicken and has never really had pace but if he is going to be back up for 1 or 6/7 or anywhere in the backs shouldn’t the conditioning staff be downsizing him to gain speed from shedding the muscle mass?

Re: wello the utility : Tue Jan 14, 2014 12:10 pm  

theblondebomber wrote: One thing that did occur to be when watching this video http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3707 and from being face to face with Wello is that he is surprisingly bigger, in terms of muscle mass, than you realise. If you look at other FB’s in SL and the NRL they are very slight and light weight these days eg Tomkins, Slater etc. Now I know Wello is no spring chicken and has never really had pace but if he is going to be back up for 1 or 6/7 or anywhere in the backs shouldn’t the conditioning staff be downsizing him to gain speed from shedding the muscle mass? Wello gaining speed? That's a goodun! Sprinters are traditionally bigger muscle mass. Perhaps he doesn't need to be slimmer now as he won't be doing the full 80 mins so can be a lot stronger at the expense of some fitness

theblondebomber wrote: One thing that did occur to be when watching this video http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3707 and from being face to face with Wello is that he is surprisingly bigger, in terms of muscle mass, than you realise. If you look at other FB’s in SL and the NRL they are very slight and light weight these days eg Tomkins, Slater etc. Now I know Wello is no spring chicken and has never really had pace but if he is going to be back up for 1 or 6/7 or anywhere in the backs shouldn’t the conditioning staff be downsizing him to gain speed from shedding the muscle mass? Wello gaining speed? That's a goodun! Sprinters are traditionally bigger muscle mass. Perhaps he doesn't need to be slimmer now as he won't be doing the full 80 mins so can be a lot stronger at the expense of some fitness

Re: wello the utility : Tue Jan 14, 2014 2:24 pm  

theblondebomber wrote: One thing that did occur to be when watching this video http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3707 and from being face to face with Wello is that he is surprisingly bigger, in terms of muscle mass, than you realise. If you look at other FB’s in SL and the NRL they are very slight and light weight these days eg Tomkins, Slater etc. Now I know Wello is no spring chicken and has never really had pace but if he is going to be back up for 1 or 6/7 or anywhere in the backs shouldn’t the conditioning staff be downsizing him to gain speed from shedding the muscle mass? They should put more of this stuff in the media. I'm not sure if people realise exactly what all round athletes our lads are.

theblondebomber wrote: One thing that did occur to be when watching this video http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3707 and from being face to face with Wello is that he is surprisingly bigger, in terms of muscle mass, than you realise. If you look at other FB’s in SL and the NRL they are very slight and light weight these days eg Tomkins, Slater etc. Now I know Wello is no spring chicken and has never really had pace but if he is going to be back up for 1 or 6/7 or anywhere in the backs shouldn’t the conditioning staff be downsizing him to gain speed from shedding the muscle mass? They should put more of this stuff in the media. I'm not sure if people realise exactly what all round athletes our lads are.

Re: wello the utility : Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:50 pm  

theblondebomber wrote: One thing that did occur to be when watching this video http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3707 and from being face to face with Wello is that he is surprisingly bigger, in terms of muscle mass, than you realise. If you look at other FB’s in SL and the NRL they are very slight and light weight these days eg Tomkins, Slater etc. Now I know Wello is no spring chicken and has never really had pace but if he is going to be back up for 1 or 6/7 or anywhere in the backs shouldn’t the conditioning staff be downsizing him to gain speed from shedding the muscle mass? He's been trying to gain speed for the past 15 years with no joy, he certainly won't gain any at 33 years old.

theblondebomber wrote: One thing that did occur to be when watching this video http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3707 and from being face to face with Wello is that he is surprisingly bigger, in terms of muscle mass, than you realise. If you look at other FB’s in SL and the NRL they are very slight and light weight these days eg Tomkins, Slater etc. Now I know Wello is no spring chicken and has never really had pace but if he is going to be back up for 1 or 6/7 or anywhere in the backs shouldn’t the conditioning staff be downsizing him to gain speed from shedding the muscle mass? He's been trying to gain speed for the past 15 years with no joy, he certainly won't gain any at 33 years old.

Re: wello the utility : Tue Jan 14, 2014 5:41 pm  

Wello is a fullback.

He's never been a utility.

I can remember his initial outings as a half all those years ago, I genuinely wondered if he had a future for us.

Instead he made the fullback position his own - defensively a rock, offensively a genuine try machine at times.

200+ tries for saints.

His decline reminds me of Joynts latter years.

Joynt finally found a way to adapt and give us a swansong and we were a far better team then.

I'm not sure wello can - not just physically, but positionally the modern game doesn't suit him.

His decline is exaggerated all the more because

The fullback role has changed so dramatically during his decline.

He's spent his entire career with us so we have seen the talent rise and fall.

The clubs recruitment across the team has been shocking for 5 years, and the much vaunted youth seems to be blocked by his continued participation.

And we've not tasted success in years so he's pretty much the last link to all those glory days.

Fullback is still where he is most effective.

So he should back up there or not at all.

Re: wello the utility : Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:09 pm  

I'll start off by saying that for me, he shouldn't be in the 17 for the Warrington game. Not influential enough to start, and with Masoe/Walmsley on the bench that final bench spot is crucial. We'll have to wait and see how that develops, but it's pointless criticising his inclusion before the first squad is named. As I've said before, he has taken a few sacrifices behind the scenes this season and I can see why the club have made the decision they have.

The way I see it is that we have a player at the club who knows exactly what it takes to win trophies with the club. He understands what is required. Anyone who speaks/knows him will tell you that if he wasn't in the first team he would be in the West Stand with us for the Wire game. He knows what the expectations are and what it means and takes to represent the club. With the emergence of younger players this season that could be influential in ways we won't necessarily appreciate. They will learn a great deal purely by watching the way he trains and conducts himself. He'll want to be in the 17, of course he will, and if he is picked in the 17 on form that I don't see how people can have an issue with that. If that makes me one of the 'sentimental group' then so be it, but it's my opinion.

What I'm saying is that we will have to see how it develops with him before jumping to conclusions. He was our top try scorer in 2012 wasn't he, playing at full-back? I could have sworn he won the MOM thread against Leeds (I think) playing at full-back last year? He scored a double in Perpignon when he came on. We could have a worse second choice, although we do have the option of playing Lance at full-back and Wheeler at stand-off if needed. Likewise, I understand the argument regarding the lack of pace/running threat in the halves without Lomax at full-back. I don't think he's as poor as people believe, but I don't think he is worth of a place in the 17 if everyone is fit. Maybe I'm slightly biased, and I'll admit that I've always had a soft spot for players who are prepared to go out and run their blood to water for the club, but we'll just have to see how it develops.

Re: wello the utility : Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:15 pm  

Rumours up here he could be coming to haven on a month to month loan

Re: wello the utility : Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:21 pm  

barrajacks wrote:

Rumours up here he could be coming to haven on a month to month loan

That won't happen, He's still the captain

Re: wello the utility : Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:57 pm  

Tez the Saint wrote:

I'll start off by saying that for me, he shouldn't be in the 17 for the Warrington game. Not influential enough to start, and with Masoe/Walmsley on the bench that final bench spot is crucial. We'll have to wait and see how that develops, but it's pointless criticising his inclusion before the first squad is named. As I've said before, he has taken a few sacrifices behind the scenes this season and I can see why the club have made the decision they have.

The way I see it is that we have a player at the club who knows exactly what it takes to win trophies with the club. He understands what is required. Anyone who speaks/knows him will tell you that if he wasn't in the first team he would be in the West Stand with us for the Wire game. He knows what the expectations are and what it means and takes to represent the club. With the emergence of younger players this season that could be influential in ways we won't necessarily appreciate. They will learn a great deal purely by watching the way he trains and conducts himself. He'll want to be in the 17, of course he will, and if he is picked in the 17 on form that I don't see how people can have an issue with that. If that makes me one of the 'sentimental group' then so be it, but it's my opinion.

What I'm saying is that we will have to see how it develops with him before jumping to conclusions. He was our top try scorer in 2012 wasn't he, playing at full-back? I could have sworn he won the MOM thread against Leeds (I think) playing at full-back last year? He scored a double in Perpignon when he came on. We could have a worse second choice, although we do have the option of playing Lance at full-back and Wheeler at stand-off if needed. Likewise, I understand the argument regarding the lack of pace/running threat in the halves without Lomax at full-back. I don't think he's as poor as people believe, but I don't think he is worth of a place in the 17 if everyone is fit. Maybe I'm slightly biased, and I'll admit that I've always had a soft spot for players who are prepared to go out and run their blood to water for the club, but we'll just have to see how it develops.

Just about spot on, good post