TheVee wrote:
I'll get straight to the point then. I don't think you will ever be overly supportive of players who count on the quota or don't come through our youth system for e.g Gaskell can make as many mistakes as he wants and his poor pass selection/no passing at all arguably cost us last years Grand Final. Dixon's defence is one of the most inconsistant I have ever seen and Makinson isn't exempt from costly mistakes but none of them get the same criticism as Meli or Hohaia do.
I think you really are talking out of your tush.
Firstly, I have consistently said that Laffranchi is a good player. He's in my three MoM choices for Saturday's game for example (and it isn't the first time he's been there). I've mentioned his offloading game, which is fantastic, and which our present coaching crew have criminally underused all season. I have praised TP on the few occasions he has actually bothered to play with any conviction and I have also praised Sia, most recently on my MoM choices where he gets a special mention (but although he had impact when he came on, and that can't be underestimated, I think others played more significant parts).
Hohaia is great in defence but although I was one of the few supporting his appointment when it was made - ask many on here because I was of course bagged for it - he isn't a halfback; at least not in partnership with Lomax, as the two are too similar. He may have complemented Gaskell but Gaskell hasn't been allowed to play and frankly I think Rush has been nasty with Gaskell.
I am supportive of our young players because they are our young players and they did us proud last season. I would find it a lot easier to support a Saints team full of Saints grown players than full of foreigners, and I'm disappointed we have returned to having 7 of them after getting down to 5 last season. But ultimately I will support any player who is professional enough to put in a committed performance while they are employed at Saints.
Some sportspeople perform well under pressure. You will have seen that if you watched the Olympics and Paralympics. Others, meanwhile, crack under it (and you will have seen that if you watched London 2012 as well). Meli cracks under it; Makinson rises to the challenge. We need more of the Makinsons and fewer of the Melis.