Wellens, Hohaia, Lomax and Rush : Sat Sep 29, 2012 7:59 pm  

Not good enough. Lomax had probably the worst performance I've ever seen him have. His decision making is really poor and he has no composure at all. He is a useful utility player, can beat a man and back up to score some great tries, but he has no organisational attributes at all. His kick that led to their second try was pathetic, so lazy and so costly. His defense wasn't good enough tonight either, Atkins and Waterhouse stepped him all the time.

Lance Hohaia. What a mistake he's been by Mr McManus. Never a half back in a million years and it's an absolute joke that he's still there after such a horrendous season. His kicking game is horrendous, he can't pass and he has no creativity. I feel so sorry for our pack, they again at least matched another big side in another big game and were let down totally by the backs. When we're in the opposition 20, they are under no threat at all and it's primarily down to the half backs and the lack of quality coaching. We just go through the motions, no planned moves, no game plans in terms of what to do on each tackle to work the space, just one out barge attempts and lazy, poorly executed passing along the line.

Wello. What more can I say about him? He did nothing wrong tonight, but again did nothing good either. When we have the ball having him on the field is as good as having 12 men, he's such a dead weight. The one thing Lance Hohaia has done well all season, really well, is chase back and tackle. With his turn of speed and size he'd be perfect at all fullback. Another example tonight of him chasing back to save (Or ultimately delay) a try with a wonderful tackle, while Wello sprints to keep up with the forwards and those tying their laces.

In the modern game 1,6,7 and 9 are the most vital creative positions. We have 9 sorted but the rest are pretty pathetic.

As for Rush. We have to thank him for stepping in and putting his head above the trenches at a difficult time I suppose. We've finished 4th and I suppose that's an achievement, given the glaring weaknesses in the squad available to him. Keeping him in charge for so long and not bringing Brown in was a mistake I feel as we're clearly lacking in terms of structures and set moves. If the rumours about Brown do end up having substance and he doesn't actually take up his job, or if he walks from it soon after taking it, Rush isn't a valid option if we ever want to win trophies again. His stubbornness over certain players in certain positions has let him down and his treatment of Gaskell has been wrong.

Re: Wellens, Hohaia, Lomax and Rush : Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:05 pm  

Saddened, you are unbelievable. Saints biggest target over the past 18 months had to be the move to Langtree Park and you done that very well. Anything else was a bonus. You have players coming through and you can't win something every year.

Re: Wellens, Hohaia, Lomax and Rush : Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:07 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Not good enough. Lomax had probably the worst performance I've ever seen him have. His decision making is really poor and he has no composure at all. He is a useful utility player, can beat a man and back up to score some great tries, but he has no organisational attributes at all. His kick that led to their second try was pathetic, so lazy and so costly. His defense wasn't good enough tonight either, Atkins and Waterhouse stepped him all the time.

Lance Hohaia. What a mistake he's been by Mr McManus. Never a half back in a million years and it's an absolute joke that he's still there after such a horrendous season. His kicking game is horrendous, he can't pass and he has no creativity. I feel so sorry for our pack, they again at least matched another big side in another big game and were let down totally by the backs. When we're in the opposition 20, they are under no threat at all and it's primarily down to the half backs and the lack of quality coaching. We just go through the motions, no planned moves, no game plans in terms of what to do on each tackle to work the space, just one out barge attempts and lazy, poorly executed passing along the line.

Wello. What more can I say about him? He did nothing wrong tonight, but again did nothing good either. When we have the ball having him on the field is as good as having 12 men, he's such a dead weight. The one thing Lance Hohaia has done well all season, really well, is chase back and tackle. With his turn of speed and size he'd be perfect at all fullback. Another example tonight of him chasing back to save (Or ultimately delay) a try with a wonderful tackle, while Wello sprints to keep up with the forwards and those tying their laces.

In the modern game 1,6,7 and 9 are the most vital creative positions. We have 9 sorted but the rest are pretty pathetic.

As for Rush. We have to thank him for stepping in and putting his head above the trenches at a difficult time I suppose. We've finished 4th and I suppose that's an achievement, given the glaring weaknesses in the squad available to him. Keeping him in charge for so long and not bringing Brown in was a mistake I feel as we're clearly lacking in terms of structures and set moves. If the rumours about Brown do end up having substance and he doesn't actually take up his job, or if he walks from it soon after taking it, Rush isn't a valid option if we ever want to win trophies again. His stubbornness over certain players in certain positions has let him down and his treatment of Gaskell has been wrong.

Can't argue with any of that. I articulated similar in the What we need thread.

Re: Wellens, Hohaia, Lomax and Rush : Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:09 pm  

Teessidewire wrote:

Saddened, you are unbelievable. Saints biggest target over the past 18 months had to be the move to Langtree Park and you done that very well. Anything else was a bonus. You have players coming through and you can't win something every year.

The move to Langtree Park is no excuse, as they claim to be spending up to the cap limit anyway. I'm not having a knee jerk either, I've made all the points above all season. We're not a million miles away, move Hohaia to fullback and bring Gaskell in to scrum half and I reckon we'd be there or there abouts, especially if Brown brings the extra level of tactical nous that other teams have.

Re: Wellens, Hohaia, Lomax and Rush : Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:10 pm  

Amazed at the criticism Wello gets on here, and Lomax is only a kid and still developing, he will be an England international for years to come.

Lance has been an awful signing for saints, runs around like a headless chicken. Not much wrong with Saints, lacking a strike centre and another half back but apart from that you'll be fine.

Re: Wellens, Hohaia, Lomax and Rush : Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:20 pm  

It all boils down to the same old story, no halfbacks and no creativity. All that pressure in the first half and we shouid have punished them.

Perry for me had another shocker, he's got to go!

Re: Wellens, Hohaia, Lomax and Rush : Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:24 pm  

So, we're to drop Wellens, who despite his obvious weaknesses, has nevertheless had an excellent season (not least because of his outstanding support play leading to heaven-knows how many tries and breaks) for Hohaia - a guy who seems incapable of backing up his USB stick?

There's some logic here somewhere ...

Re: Wellens, Hohaia, Lomax and Rush : Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:26 pm  

Wellens is still very safe, backs up well and has scored 24 tries in all games this season. What more do you want?

Re: Wellens, Hohaia, Lomax and Rush : Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:28 pm  

Got to agree about 6 and 7.Lomax will never make a SH.His two kicks either side of half time summed his game up.One led to their try ,the other relieved a spell of pressure on their line.As for the other one,rip his contract up and send him home.

Re: Wellens, Hohaia, Lomax and Rush : Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:33 pm  

I'm as dissatisfied as the next guy with Wellens lack of pace and our ability to launch attacks further up the field after kick returns - but seriously: where do the "drop Wellens" brigade think those 20 odd tries as well as countless breaks and half-breaks are going to come from? Hohaia? Makinson? Lomax?