Re: For Saddened! : Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:19 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

His age is irrelevant. He is too good to be 'in and out of the first team'. When a 19 year old is your best player in the GF having not even played a full season at first grade, when he turns the game around with a lovely kick which he follows up and scores a wonder try, you don't stick him back in the u20s. You snap him up.

Well, you do unless you're Saints. In which case you re-sign someone whose only plus is he can make a couple of yards more in kick returns. Or stick a defensive liability in the centre spot instead of this young good player who has been trained as a centre.

I totally agree and would be my first choice winger. The other wing spot I'd give foster as his goal kicking is so important as he proved last season with match winning kicks against cas, bulls, hull and few others.

I'd give makinson some game time at fullback next year while giving wello a rest.

Re: For Saddened! : Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:20 pm  

St pete wrote:

I'd give makinson some game time at fullback next year while giving wello a rest.

this will be very important, and Makinson is not very far (at all) behind Foster in the quality of his kicking

Re: For Saddened! : Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:21 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

Whereas I'd go for:

1 Wello
2 Makinson
3 Shenton
4 Wheeler
5 Foster

and stick Gardner and Meli in the u20s.

That's what I'd go with to start the season.

Your halves?

Re: For Saddened! : Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:23 pm  

Saint Simon wrote:

this will be very important, and Makinson is not very far (at all) behind Foster in the quality of his kicking

If makinson isn't to far behind foster in the goal kicking department then I'd consider maybe ade on the wing but I'd go with foster to start 2012.

Re: For Saddened! : Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:28 pm  

I would with

1 lomax
2 gardner
3 shenton
4 meli
5 foster
6 gaskell
7 lance

Re: For Saddened! : Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:31 pm  

1984saints wrote:

I would with

1 lomax
2 gardner
3 shenton
4 meli
5 foster
6 gaskell
7 lance

contraversial! no Wello, Wheels or Makinson

Re: For Saddened! : Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:32 pm  

1984saints wrote:

I would with

1 lomax
2 gardner
3 shenton
4 meli
5 foster
6 gaskell
7 lance

That won't happen tho.

Re: For Saddened! : Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:33 pm  

St pete wrote:

I'd give makinson some game time at fullback next year while giving wello a rest.

Same here. But do Saints phase in young players like that? I've never seen it. They only seem to use them when injuries occur. But assuming Saints have decided on a positive policy of phasing in young players then I think Makinson is actually looking like a promising fullback and the possible replacement for wello. So I'd go with what you suggest given Wello can't be long away from retirement now (although at Saints you never know!).

As for your question about my halves, I'm just not sure. I think Gaskell was looking the more promising between him and Lomax but he's still behind in his development and clearly benefited from those cameo appearances when Pryce briefly honoured us with his presence. I like the look of Hohaia in the halves, especially his short kicking game which we seem to lack.

It's a tricky one but I'd go with a rotation. That sounds like a copout but I think last season got too much for both our young halves at times (and in different ways). It would be good to see them mix and match. Since Royce said he trained Lomax, Gaskell and Pryce together last season then feasibly that could be done again with Hohaia in for Pryce. We could even add a brand new half to the combination if there is an up and coming one who looks even better than one or both of Lomaskell.

Re: For Saddened! : Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:40 pm  

1 Wello
2 Makinson
3 Shenton
4 Wheeler
5 Foster
6 Gaskell
7 Lomax

Lance on the bench.Wont happen though.I reckon Ade,Meli and Lance will all be in the thirteen.

Re: For Saddened! : Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:40 pm  

I just can't make my mind up with the halves. I think Gaskell finished the season on great form and looked the business and even tho he took wrong options in the grand final he was still our most dangerous player with the ball in hand.

They seem to click really well but at times last year we lacked experience in the halves which lance would bring.

I'm not sure lomax and lance would work as they both runners that take the line on.