Wigan bound 2014, as is Foster after 12 months at Bradford.

In his last year, a half back not signing a new deal.

Does this sound familiar?

No not really Kyle was playing week in week out Gaskell hardly played last year so think that's the deciding factor

Really is that what Kyle was doing?

If Gaskell went to Wigan then it might not be to play at 6.
Green has just been signed on a 3 year deal.
For the friendly at HKR this weekend Wane is picking Sam Powell and Ryan Hampshire at half back.
Those two could be slot ins should either Smith or Green be injured. Green and Hampshire have real pace and both are far faster than Gaskell. Powell can equally play at 6.

He'd become a regular by that point, it was injuries rather than selection that stopped him playing during the back end of 2010 nothing else. Eastmond screwed us over as we didn't have anybody else but a young Gaskell and an untried Lomax to come in hence the 'panic' buy for Hohaia in the end. That's so far turned out well!

As for Gaskell, he hasn't played much in the last 12 months and at the moment we don't really know what Brown's plans are with him.

I personally see him as a potential full back of the future, although with our lack of quality with the kicking game and in the halves he's better suited there at the moment. I hope we can sign him up on a new deal, from what I've seen him there's lot of talent to work with.

www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/101 ... _position/

www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/101 ... _position/

well he has NBs backing early doors.

this does highlight the problem with the friendlys at the min, he he trys 3/4 different combos at 6+7 you learn nothing as its just changes to much and everyone in the team need to then reajust

That sounds good. Hopefully Brown is less of a useless yes man than our previous coaches. Hohaia simply isn't a half back.

Don't like that article though, Hohaia has played FULLBACK most of his career. That is where he should be playing while we are stuck with him.

Works well for both if he stays fit, Any bad injury and he's taking a gamble but fair play to the lad for wanting to play. Not sure he's out long term 6 but he's better than Lance

explains why nathan brown wouldnt let us sign him

We have 27 games to experiment a bit and see where Gaskell fits in in the greater scheme of things - I wouldn't read anything into where he lines up in the friendlies or for how long at all.

Sign who

Mate... Let it go... That nasty horrible evil Mr. Brown won't ever be able to hurt you again, I promise...

i would reather see him playing as a second hooker coming on and mixing it up a bit, what would you do with wello if he played at full back??

Excellent news

A coaching role

problem with this is last year we lacked leadership, more than anything even a good 6/7 partnership, so to lose wello and not replace the experanice we could be lost

Apparently he is a 1 or
a 9 or,
a 3 or,
a 6 or,
a 7,
"which is great".

What would we do without him?

“It is a team effort. Lee kicks the ball as good as Danny Brough."

Really?? Gaskells a good player but his kicking game is no where near the stanard of Danny Brough, onless he has had one hell of a pre season, but its still different to put a ball on a coin in a real match

Gaskell could look like the best kicker in the world in pre season when browns watching the rest of the squad kicking game because he the only one in the team anyway near a kicking game

He's probably talking about technical ability which Gaskell has, what he is lacking is experience - Brough is pretty much the finished article Gaskell has a lot to learn. Hopefully he will and he will have a long and successful career at Saints

Excellent news about Gaskell. Also sounds like he really doesn't know what to do with Lance. Maybe see if a club in the NRL wants him back?

Lets see how he fairs tonight with game time he gets

Gaskell was great tonight. Had he not been wasted in the u20s for a season his kicking could now have been looking more like Brough's. However, in spite of hardly getting any first team game time during 2012 he stepped up and IMO didn't put a foot wrong. He was strong in defence, made good decisions in attack, passed with pace and put in some good long kicks (although he needs to find the grass more often if possible).

It was a real joy to watch him and Lomax. Lomax was like a lad reborn. He was so different from last season, and in all the best ways.