In recent years Saints have had a poor track record of bringing young players through to fulfill early potential. Without wishing to put the hoodoo on another upcoming player I cannot help but think that they have a gem in Mark Percival. He has adequate pace a very good pair of hands and good judgment of when to release the ball. He appears to have matured a great deal this term and put on weight with maybe more to come. He has also developed a pretty good fend and is prepared to take on defenders. Although at times his defence has been suspect I think by playing with the same wing partner on a regular basis would improve this greatly.

For what it is worth this is my opinion.

Very excited about him, he's improving all the time.

Same with Thompson, and there's lots to like about Savelio from what we've seen aswell.

We have quite a few, who are perhaps flying under the radar of opposition fans at the moment but have very big futures. Percival and Thompson do have the potential to go all the way though...

Percival has looked really good in the 2nd half of the season. He looks more dangerous on the right than the left for me.

As SFW mentioned, Luke Thompson is also hugely impressive.

Both future internationals for me.

Percival is a cracking player. Was he on Makinsons wing against Cas???

I thought he was but my memory maybe failing.

I thought this thread would be about Thompson before I opened it, it was a real good knock from him last night.
Not many kids have that aggression he does in defence, he looks like he wants to hurt the opposition but can keep a lid on it too. I love it!

Has played on the right for a few weeks now. He was there v Huddersfield too. Can't remember the Warrington one.

I think the right is his more natural side, seems to work quite well with Makinson and doesn't look as frail in defence...

Is it just me or does he always look awkward when passing? That said his flick on to Makinson for the Manu try was absolutely superb, straight to Makinson without him breaki stride, which is incredibly difficult (and was in no way even slightly forward...

)

My favourite player, every aspect of his game has improved week on week this season, reminds me a bit like Derek Noonan good feet, balance accelaration and now has got a bit of a handoff. Reckon he will be an international in 2 more seasons.

Special mention to Thompson, could turn into another "jammer" if played and developed the right way.

1. Lomax
2. Swift
3. Percival
4. Jones
5. Makinson

Great looking back line that? Where did all they come from?

1. Lomax
2. Swift
3. Turner
4. Percival
5. Makinson

6. Burns
7. Walsh

Get your season tickets now chaps.

Very good technical centre.
Manages to get the ball to his winger (to score) in some very tight situations.
Given our boost in play makers next year, I'd expect to see him really get a chance to kick on and hopefully claim an England jersey.

I like Thompson, someone on telly pointed out that his run earlier in the set got us rolling forward and we scored a couple of plays later. Plays with real determination and looks like he'd happily pan your face in. Always seem to get a decent tackle count, too.

It'll be very interesting to see how he, Sav and Greenwood kick on next year.

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned how decent a kicker he is. 6 is always better than 4.

Percival is a decent prospect. He has that a distinct whiff of class about him and good to see him making a break last night. His defense is woeful, but can be improved. His pace would be fantastic in a centre and if he can maintain it whilst becoming even less of a sparrow (He looks a lot better now than when he made his debut) we're onto something. Thompson is a player I like as well. I'd keep him and Richards in the GF team, no place for Laffranchi for me.

But we reach a GF and there are all these positive threads praising players about. I can't cope with this. We'll have to see how positive everyone is on Saturday night as we do the ritual GF post-mortem. Will you all be pumped for next season after a brave loss in the Final or back singing my tune after another GF humiliation?

Will you all be pumped for next season after a brave loss in the Final or back singing my tune after another GF humiliation?


Its all about you innit.

Should have changed his tune, we have won silverwear so his 10 year prediction is already blown

Reading that makes me smile.

I think whilst at halfback we have struggled to get it right in terms of retention. Backs and Forwards wise we are really blessed to have some players now pushing experienced heads down the pecking order.

Is it just by chance that Since Richards and Thompson came in, the defense has solidified. I think they are there for a reason, they are there on merit.

The only person ever singing your tune is you

He is more of a classic centre which is brilliant. Footwork, pace and skill not to mention a pretty decent goal kicker. I'm glad Saints have allowed him to develop physically and not tried to pile the muscle on him , too often these days we end up with bulked up essentially second rows out in the centre's. If he keeps on developing I can see him gaining international recognition pretty soon.

I told you about him three years ago!!

Welll done for that mate. Do you want freedom of St.Helens for that?

Brown has done a terrific job with Percy and fully proves he was right to take Percy out the team last year as his form was slipping a little and was missing tackles. Brown explained he wasn't being dropped but he was being developed and few month out the first grade was needed. He wasn't strong enough at that time and was losing a little confidence.

Well done browny



My concern with Percy is that he's a confidence player and doesn't back himself enough. When he makes the half break, his first instinct is to look for the pass, I'd like to see him pinning his ears back and going for it and then looking to pass.

He's certainly got a lot of potential

Well done Rogues. Get on to McManus, he'll sort you out with a finders fee for that.

I think Percival looks fab. He's worked hard this season and has developed well. I don't know what this thing is about his defence being poor. I just don't see that in him at all. He puts himself about and defends like a trojan. His peak performance was at Wigan with that try saving 'bear hug' tackle to win us the game. I'm stunned he hasn't been shortlisted as young player of the year this year since he isn't yet 21.