the dropsies?

Haha. That's the one.

What is wrong with him?

I don't know mate in all honesty.

So is Wello just starting because it's his 500th game and his 200th since he was any good or is this likely to happen more often?

Using having a player not contributing from the bench is one thing, having that player playing the majority of the game would be taking it a little too far.

It's getting silly now. Does Brown really think he is a better back rower than Flanagan, Walker, Thompson,etc?

Its his 500th game, let him. Catalans are so poor i could play and we'd still win

Haha you're probably right. It's the idea that Wellens will play whenever fit all season that disturbs me.

How far does this sentimentality go? Does he start in the derby because it might be his last home derby? Does he start in a potential cup final because it might be his last? Does he start in a potential Grand Final appearance because it might be his last?

no

You wanted him to stop doing 10 minute cameos, and contribute to the victory. Brown listened, and now wellens has the opportunity, I thought you'd be glad

You made me all these promises when I complained about his contract extension. "He won't play much" people said. "We have far too many good forwards for him to play every week" they said.

I think the clue was at the beginning of the season when Wellens kept his captaincy, once this was announced it was more or less guaranteed he would be in the stating 17 at the beginning of the season.
There are better players coming through but these lack experience, leadership, composure etc. Brown would have liked to "hit the ground running" with his experienced players which he has managed to do, we are only 4 games in so there will be lots of opportunities for the other fringe players to come in through injuries and resting.
The team looks very settled and stable at the moment so why change it, Wellens is not playing badly "when" he comes onto the pitch, I perhaps think his 500th game is indeed a sentimental one but it stops there, up to now Browns judgement has been OK let him get on with it until the season becomes more testing.

Assuming that people from the club read this forum, and we have been told that they do, I would love somebody to come out and justify why Wellens continues to be picked.

I can guarantee that anybody with the same playing ability as Wellens but without the glorious history with the club, would not be getting picked. This is what frustrates me the most, we are picking him based not on what he can do on the field, but what he has done previously.

The only reason we are picking him is sentimentality and it's getting silly and embarrassing.

Flanagan, Greenwood, Walker and Thompson are all better options at back row. Flanagan especially must feel extremely annoyed with what is going on.

This +1

I understand the concerns with Wello's place in the squad and I share most of them.

At the same time, I don't think you can underestimate the importance of having senior leaders around the squad.

Brown obviously thinks he brings something to the match day squad and team - there are players who could do what he does and probably more, but perhaps he brings other qualities that his prospective replacements don't?

It appears that he's getting a start in the back row this weekend, will be interesting to see how he goes. I for one don't begrudge him a start in his 500th game in a match we should walk to a win (or his place on the bench in the games taking him to 500), but I'd be concerned if he's still making the 17 when the big games come around.

IMO he deserves a hero's reception this weekend on his 500th appearance - a player who has given absolutely everything to this club. Give him a conversion under the sticks and let's have him cross 1,000 points too on his big day.

1. Jonny Lomax
2. Tommy Makinsom
3. Jordan Turner
4. Josh Jones
5. Adam Swift

6. Lance Hohaia
7. Luke Walsh

16. Kyle Amor
9. James Roby
18. Alex Walmsley
12. Jon Wilkin
13. Willie Manu
17. Paul Wellens

8. Mose Masoe
10. LMS
11. Sia Soliola
14. Anthony Laffranchi

That bench - wow.

So long as it's a decision that is entirely Browns then we have to have faith in the coach.

The coach picks the team, the team is winning. We can't blame anyone but the coach for picking the players, if the club did read this forum I'd imagine it's for possible legal breaches as opposed to our collective Wisdom on matters of RL.

No way, they clearly read the stuff posted here and on redvee. I know Appleton the media guy confessed he spent half his time running reports on my posts through to McManus. I was responsible for the signing of Luke Walsh, me.

As for your first point, there is no way of proving it either way, but I have my doubts. It will be very interesting to see if there is any fallout if we stopped winning and it will be very interesting to hear if there is any dissent in the camp from the players about Wello's cushy role. I have been thinking about Wello's role and I can't see why they couldn't bring Scully back to do it. He'd do it much better as well and he wouldn't have to retire until he was about 60.

I'm excited to see how jones goes in the centres, having been an advocate of it over the off season. Given the space our backs are being given at the moment, thanks to the forwards, hopefully he'll look a lot more effective than he has in the last few games. Assuming Bosc and Bartheu are in the halves, he'll be defending against Leon, so he should have him covered.

Is the munchkin going to answer this ?



I know you watching

Munchkin?

I'm generally not one for sentiment, but i agree wholeheartedly with this

Remember his last attempt at goal kicks ? He'd probably miss