Re: Who should play where : Sun Jun 05, 2011 1:09 pm
Noel Cleal wrote:
Gaskell is a very under rated player by a lot of Saints fans. His game awareness for someone with so little games is amazing plus his kicking has been excellent. Lomax may catch the eye with his step by Gaskells passing and kicking have been more important to the team.
I agree. Too many fans are distracted by flash. Gaskell has really been growing in the role and, as Simmons has said, Lomaskell as a partnership do everything at pace and so that helps to confuse and diffuse the opposition. Obviously they are both young and both inexperienced so they have a long, long way to go yet but if they both continue developing their game, with Gaskell growing in the role of director of operations as well, then I don't see why Leon should automatically find himself back in the no.6 spot. I know having Lomaskell in the halves puts more pressure on the senior players as they do not have the experience of the Leon Pryces of this world but that should change as time goes on and they get used to playing at first grade level. I suppose the real test for them as a partnership, and perhaps Gaskell in particular, will be playing against Wigan and Warrington. Unless they are injured, they are going to be the halfback pairing for both those games.
I think there is little point with coming up with a "when they are all back" as things like Ades ACL can happen. I doubt there will be a point when everyone is back this season.
I've been saying that for a while. At present I personally don't expect to see Ade or Cloughie back this season and I have real doubts about Pryce as well. Wheeler is only due back in about six weeks and to be honest I just can't see where he will play at present unless Meli or one of the halfbacks sustains an injury (and then we have Kyle who can cover those positions). Flannery should be back shortly as he only had a calf strain. But how long Roby will be out for no-one knows at present and there is every chance more casualties will be added as the season progresses.