Time for a rest maybe? Clearly one with a big future. He has a good passing game and a fantastic positional kicking game. He's shown enough promise this season to think he'll end up a future regular in the side. But I feel just recently things are creeping up on him. He's at the stage where I feel he'd benefit from a few weeks in the Under 20s to take the pressure off him a little. He also needs to eat more, I'm wincing every time he's tackled in case he snaps in half. There is no meat on him anywhere. Get him down to TPs or Sia's house and get him fed up on sweet potatos from their favourite island recipe.

Kyle is still a fantastic player and I think while he's there we should use him. He is a valuable asset we're not using properly this season. Although his perceived behaviour at the start of the year wasn't great, nor was the fans towards him. It's all in the past now and it's time for Kyle to be given more responsibility and a chance to even things out and leave on a positive note IMO.

Gaskell did OK for me, one or two things didn't go his way, but he doesn't appear to be struggling. I imagine he'll be rested in a few weeks if Pryce manages to return. Eastmond shouldn't be in the team, and I doubt he will be once Leon returns.

He lost confidence a couple of times in the game. He made a few errors with the ball and in defense and threw quite a few horrible passes at times.

He wasn't alone in making errors though. We still made too many tonight, although not as many as last week! Jonny Lomax will take some consoling I think. We were on the front foot at that point.

To be fair Saddened I was agreeing up to the point you mentioned Eastmond. Leon well maybe lets see how fit he is. But although Eastmond did nothing too bad that's no reason to play him. Eastmond too is only a potential and while 12 months ahead of Gaskell, he offers pretty much what we get from Lomax, so replacing Gaskell, will duplicate what we have whilst taking away other elements of our game.

Sure if Eastmond was coming on and tearing it up. Then I could see a case, but he's not, he is doing ok, but so was nathan ashe. Does not mean ashe should play for gaskell either. If we cant except errors from youngsters then we'll never develop any half backs. If Leon is not ready there is moore and wilkin though, especially with our pack coming back

Pryce and wheeler will both be ahead of Gaskell, giving him a chance back in the reserves. He's done a fantastic job this season, but does now need a spell away to sharpen ip again.

I think I agree with this, not because I think Gaskell is a bad player but because I think his confidence is suffering and he is making mistakes as a result of that, rather than due to lack of confidence. He's had three tough matches in which the team has not come out on top and that must be rough for a young halfback. Unfortunately for him, we have neither Wheeler nor Pryce anywhere near fit as yet so it looks like he might have to grit his teeth and go for it again against Hull.

The 1st try (Monas) not entirely Gaskells fault, Saints should have been quicker.

Monas does that though almost every week, i'd go as far to say probably the best player in the league at charging down kicks.

i cant see royce dropping gaskell even when leon is back i can see gaskell playing 7 leon 6 and lomax in the centres but thats just wat i think

Eastmond should be cast into outer darkness.there is no point whatsoever in picking him

think roby got tackled on the fourth tackle which cause the problem maybe if roby was a dummy half then that may not of happened

Careful suggesting that, the one eyed half wits in here will get upset.

That's correct I posted about the very same thing last night, Robys play the ball and the pass to Gaskell were very slow, giving the defender too much time to pressurise the kicker.

Didn't help that Wellens turned like the QE2 too.

Gaskell is a good player and has had a hard ride against two very good teams.
Next up for you guys are Hull FC, Wakey, Catalans & Castleford.
Those are teams which your forwards will get the better of and give Lomax and Gaskell time to play.
If they are kept in for those games I think they will then be in form and poss keep Pryce and Wheeler out of the half back positions.
No way should Lomax or Gaskell be moved from half back for Pryce. He's no more future at Saints than Eastmond!

There was also the element of predictability about it, in that Saints have been using the play of passing to Gaskell who stands deep on the fourth tackle for a punt all season. Its not the first time i have seen this kick charged down.
Saints need to vary their kick options. I think in part this is the coaches trying to keep things basic for the young players. However it does make it easier for the opposition to read what is about to happen.

Also thought Wellens was exposed again for his diminishing pace. A few years ago he would have been able to hold off Monas, not now.
Similar thing happened with the 40/20 that resulted in a dropout. He was just too slow getting across. Also there was a time when Wire kicked through and he was caught in goal when he should have been quick enough to retrieve the ball in the field of play.

He still however shows his experience with other play, eg not getting committed when Hodgson broke clear, however his fading leg speed is becoming more and more noticable. Sad to see but it happens to all the best players sooner or later.

i think we will see the best of gaskell and lomax next couple of week think royce will pull gaskell to one side this week and have a few words we are all forgeting it was only four weeks ago gaskell come back from a broken ankle

I personally saw nothing untoward in Gaskells performance. He did some good stuff and made an error or so. Something all young players make. Its just part of the learning experience.
People have to remember that due to the Eastmond shenanigans, Gaskell has been thrown into first team action essentially 9-12 months earlier than anticipated.
The experience of playing these matches at such a young age will however stand him in good stead later on in his career.
Same with the other kids like Lomax, Foster and Makinson.

It was another good performance from him IMO

Really? i thought him and Wellens were the weak links last night?

I'd add Jammer to that.

Wellens is either playing with an injury or simply off form. He managed to catch every ball but he just doesn't look himself at the moment. I think Gaskell regressed slightly and perhaps the couldron of the last three games has been a bit too much for him at this stage of his career. He will learn a lot from his experiences but he could do with being back in a winning team to boost his confidence. I'm sick to death of Jammer yelling at the ref and at everyone else while dropping the ball, missing tackles and going to ground at the first sign of an opposition forward. He is beginning to annoy me. Oh, and Meli was a defensive liability. We haven't seen that Meli for a bit.

Otherwise, everyone worked hard!

i fought gaskell was no worse than any of our backs last night and looked dangerous every time he got the ball

Fort Gaskell

Was the draw bridge down on that one then last night?

Gaskell struggled, I don't know what game some of you were watching. He cost us the first try along with Wellens and was throwing balls behind the line all night. He knocked on a couple of times and put some proper hospital balls out.

just watched the game back and he was no worse than lomax foster meli wellens ya he cost us a try so did foster and lomax in the second half but as that not been seen by anyone and i didnt see many bad balls off him