Correct we probably do know less than the coaching staff, but one thing most of our fans know is tha Meli is a liability who costs us more tries than he scores.

A quick Scenario for you, Armstrong or any other Winger that we have comng through plays against Wire, they don't do anything spectacular in attack but in defence are solid and take every kick put their way and don't concede any tries. Said player is then dropped for the Hudds game and Meli plays, he has his usual laid back approach scores a soft try, but then drops 2 kicks conceding 2 tries. Who would you go for in the 3rd game?

You could spend all day coming up with possible scenarios, but at the end of the day they dont show anything and all that shows anything is what actually happens not what really happens.

Meli though has become the new Gardner and whatever he does isn't going to be good enough for some fans, they look for every little error (that with any other player they would hardly notice!) and turn it into a big deal.

Like it or not he is probably going to be first choice next season when fit/available and yet we have fans on here determined to write him off before he has even set foot on the pitch. Yes at times last season he was awful and a liability but at other times he was great for us, infact after Castleford away (where along with most players he was dire) [imost [/i of the time he did more good than he did bad, yes the grand final he was poor but again he certainly wasn't the only one who didn't perform that day.

Potter has a few options open to him so lets wait and see what he does, but unless Armstrong (or another player) shows something exceptionally special I can't see anyone but Meli playing when he is available.

So players not getting picked on Merit is the way forward is it?

Say what you want about people picking out his faults and getting on his back but what the majority of people are saying is the truth, having a couple of good games throughout the season is not good enough. He was poor for about 85% of last season.

Personally I think he will get shown up this year due to not having a specialist centre playing at the side of him.

Point out where exactly I have said that please?

If you read what I said I was very clear in saying that at the moment it appears he is the best we have and unless on of the players like Armstrong shows something special to suggest he is up to making the permanent step to first team now it is highly unlikely Meli will be dropped, or do you want him to be dropped just for the sake of it?

And as for the rest of your post I think you have proved well what I said about people simply not being willing to give him a chance and always looking for fault.

How much more of a chance do you give him? It's fine saying people are writing him off without giving him a chance, but can you really see him improving on his performances from last year with no pre-season training? If his performances don't improve from last year then he does deserve to be dropped, or do we keep him in the team because we are not willing to give an untried youngster a chance?

Wasn't it the Hudd game that Meli played at full back and did so to some praise..... I said it late on last season and believe it to be still viable, the guy is playing on the wrong wing, he is a right handed player playing on the left wing. Yes I know the arguement "professional" "paid to play anywhere" etc, just look at Gardners performance since changing wings (not withstanding the centre's he has had too) and most folk will agree that as good as Willie was he was also greedy with his distribution at times .

Anyone know if Francis has arrived in the country yet?

Ive heard a little rumour.

Saints dont have a contact number for Meli who is somewhere in New Zealand/Australia and that he wants to stay under Daniel Anderson's management.

Allegedly

Changing wings? He played the majority of his Warriors career on the left.

Are you sure that its a rumour and not just wishful thinking?

Im sure.

That would leave us without a natural centre and winger down that left side.

= huge problems

Also = lots of salary cap money available and a nice transfer fee!!

Anderson would never have dropped his old mate Francis.

he made 3 major errors in the Grand Final - all of which led to Leeds tries. His incompetence [iis[/i a big deal.

He was also shambolic in the World Cup against Ireland.

Exactly. Regardless of who is first choice in the long term, Meli is 6 weeks behind the rest of the team in terms of pre season training and fitness, therefore shouldnt be considered for selection for at least that amount of time.

If Meli turns up this week and gets straight in the team, Potter better hope he has a stormer, because if he has a shocker the pressure will be immediately on him to explain his decision.

that doesnt explain his laziness and inability to catch the ball.

bradford reckon they will have a decision on greg bird this week. seeing they only applied 4 weeks ago and melis has been inthe pipeline since late dec how come he has not got hes, meli only needs his stamped as he most have all the checks last time and has not been in trouble since being over here.

The way it's going on here Francis will soon be responsible for the plague, world war 2, the fires in Australia and the credit crunch.

He is a decent player, we've had far worse. It wouldn't be an issue for us if we ever produced a half decent outside back, but we never have and none of the current lot are capable of replacing Francis.

im not calling meli in any way, just the visa system in aus as i have said meli has not been in trouble so why is there no descision after 8/10 weeks.

No he has never been a decent player, he was dropped whilst playing in the NRL because he was not good enough and we should drop him because he is not good enough to play in NL1 never mind SL.

How do you know none of the current crop of youngsters are capable of replacing Meli if they are not given the chance to prove themselves? Until we start to give the youngsters some game time they are nover going to improve and we will never know if they have what it takes to make it or not.

Would love to have someone like Darren Albert in the side again, one of our best wingers in recent times

I was told that Meli, was a fan favourite over at NZ Warriors



How gutted must he be? Fan favourite to Guy Folkes (sp?)