You say justifies. I guess we will see whether his decision was justified in time. We can't possibly know yet whether it was.

It comes down to position, its as simple as that. Percival played centre for 80mins against Leeds and did a fantastic job. There is a big difference between playing on the left edge and facing Ablett than playing hooker, defending in the middle of the park and facing the likes of Bailey, Leuleuai and Peacock. Hooker is by far the more challenging position and if NB, with the input of some of he games best junior coaches, doesn't think he's ready, then we have to accept that. For me, it illustrates there is a problem with the system (lack of u21/u23 team) as per my previous post.

I agree on both counts. On the second point I would add 'alas'.

I agree, real shame but Im sure Speakman will develop into a great understudy for Roby, just best not to rush him, otherwise it will do more harm than good. Same with Percival, came in, won MOM on his debut, but then we haven't seen him since.

Percival is playing today. I've put a link to the teamsheet in another thread.

One thing I did consider was, if Speakman isn't ready for first team action then how is he ready to play in a Championship side? They're all still fully grown blokes who play at pace and with aggression, etc. So is Speakman now not playing at all?

Can't comment on Gaskell but you have it wrong about Howarth - certainly wouldn't listen to the idiot comments of Ave it. He was good at Wakey and let's be honest in recent times playing for Wakey has been like playing for Brisbane compared to Salford. Read these comments and you may feel different, I think you have just signed a gem, not a world beater but a gem all the same. viewtopic.php?f=33&t=547275&tsmp=1364559199

Can't comment on Gaskell but you have it wrong about Howarth - certainly wouldn't listen to the idiot comments of Ave it. He was good at Wakey and let's be honest in recent times playing for Wakey has been like playing for Brisbane compared to Salford. Read these comments and you may feel different, I think you have just signed a gem, not a world beater but a gem all the same. viewtopic.php?f=33&t=547275&tsmp=1364559199

Vastman, we seen him play week in week out for the past season and a bit, you haven't. He's not a bad rugby player but in no way shape or form a hooker.

He was for us and did OK - many fans think they know a players true position and usually they don't. They also don't take into account that players grow and then thrive in an improved environment, it happens all the time when coaches sign "disappointing players" only for them to become crowd favourites. If Brown and Howarth are happy then so be it. Personally I believe with a good footballing brain which he has in a good team which Saints are he will do just fine at hooker. He's not JR but few are however that doesn't mean he can't do a very good job.

I think you may be right.

Wow, not giving the lad much of a chance there.

Howarth will work hard and do all the basic stuff. Just don't expect many runs, line breaks or ball skills. He's a squad player at best but will offer no dynamism at all.

Maybe. He worked hard but he is slow when compared to Roby and with Wilkin and Wello in the halves we desperately needed some pace. I also think it was around his area where we leaked a few breaks but I would have to check that I may be doing him a disservice. With Robes we could guarantee he would do a massive tackle count in every match and we need that kind of tackler with so many young players on the pitch.

But I did say 'I think' and it was based upon the first half performance.

As I say, he worked hard and it was a tough call for him to be dropped into a new team on derby day, so I respect him greatly for the effort he put in on our behalf.

He's only just signed. Roby is quick but part of that is the fact he has played in that team all his career. It's not so easy when every player is a stranger and every team move was learnt only yesterday.

I wouldn't claim he s a Roby and I feel he's more a 13 but he will improve and I suspect you will like him - he's also a very brave tackler.

Gaskell's just scored, I think he's playing centre.

Yes. He's playing centre, he scored and apparently played very well.

I wonder why our genius coach didn't think of playing Gaskell at centre and, say, moving Turner to 6 (if he doesn't want Gaskell at 6). At least Turner has played for the England Knights at 6, and did well from all accounts, and has pace and creativity and all those things that Wello - bless his cotton socks - doesn't have.

Great move by Brown -send Gaskell away and end up playing Wellens at 6 -pathetic

Wellens at 6 was a disaster, lets hope he's not there on monday.

He's injured and so I would imagine that is unlikely. But I don't know for sure.

Apparently he got man of the match. That should give his confidence a lift.

His try was a 40 metre solo effort.

Good for him, I hope he proves himself and comes back to establish himself in the team.

I doubt he will come back, not if he enjoys it there and is offered a contract, particularly if Koukash follows through on his ambitions. Why would he come back to a club that has treated him shoddily if he is having a good time at Salford?

Do we actually know if he has been treated shoddingly or do we assume that the common denominator is that Gaskell was not rated for first team selection by our last 3 coaches.

I don't want to comment on this too much but as I've said before there's a reason Gaskell was dropped. I hope he finds a good career for himself at another club in Super League, whether that be Salford, Wigan, Hull or the likes but it won't be at St Helens.

Last two coaches, not three. Simmons played him; gave him his debut season (albeit not a full season). Rush dropped him the minute he took over and Brown came out with some BS about him being a key man in the team, gave him all of three games and then dropped him. I think Rush is the common denominator here. And yes, I do think he has been treated shoddily. He wasn't even given the chance to play alongside someone with some experience in Wilkin. He certainly hasn't been given the investment or opportunity that Lomax has.

And you may have noticed that in recent times when players are loaned out to Salford, we don't see them under contract at Saints again.

Makes you wonder who calls the shots? was it just the last coach that dropped him? anyone loaned out to Hull does not seem to return and he keeps banging those goal conversions over!