I don't think you are talking about form. I think you and a few others have got carried away seeing pace in a red vee at fullback. Kyle has done at fullback exactly what he was doing in the halves before his injury: running fast, being elusive, showing what great hands he has. We knew about those things anyway, plus his great short kicking game, because he was exactly the same in the halves.

But in getting all dewy eyed about pace, people are conveniently forgetting that he is crap in defence. And defence is half the game. In a knock out match, defence is extremely important as there are no second chances. Wello was playing with a dodgy achilles for a few weeks. Hopefully that has settled down now and he isn't being rushed back.

You mentioned Wellens early season form before, but that was ultimately when he was at his worst IMO. His performance against Quins still hants me. His achilles injury can excuse recent performances, but he's not had a good season. He's definitely looked on the slide this year.

Defence is important, but so is offence. You can't win a game without scoring points and Eastmond definitely offers us X factor when he's on his game like he has been recently. I think Eastmond is a better option overall. He's got some great attributes to play at full back and is less exposed defensively because he'll make less tackles in that position than he will in the main defensive line at Centre for example.

So there was only one man playing against Quins then? Give over. Contrast his performance (and the rest of the team) against Leeds the following week. But obviously that will be forgotten as it doesn't suit your purpose!



I agree that you can't win a match without scoring tries but when your last line of defence is letting in as many tries as he scores then his attacking threat is negated.

Where did I say that? The way he got turned so easily by Luke Dorn was frightening though, especially when people use his positioning and defence as his strengths.



I've no problem with Wellens, in fact I've always been one of his biggest fans and he has performed well on some ocassions this year, but he's not hit the heights of previous seasons, nowhere near from what I've seen. His high, consistent standards have dropped.



Was Eastmond really exposed badly in defence last week against a stronger side in Catalans? I don't think he was. His positoning was good, he returned the ball well and defended when he had to. Nobody would've stopped Vacarri IMO.

I disagree Eastmonds form is improving game by game and given his chance will be our most dangerous back to the opposition. Yes he is leaving us but he still plays in the saints shirt for this season., Graham is also leaving us but we don,t show importance in dropping him for a younger forward.
You put your best form players on the park, wello is not one of them at the moment probably due to a lot of injury problems this year. Eastmonds improving attitude to attack is far superior to what Gaskell offers, with
the exception of his kicking game.
Like the saying goes you take one game at a time so you also take one season at a time, so personally I wouldn't,t consider picking a team on the basis of who will be available for the next season.

Eastmond will never win with you, just like potter couldn't. You make your bitter mind up and can never go back.

So what if Kyle is leaving next, if he's playing well it makes no difference. The 2011 squad is for 2011 season and Kyle is part of that. The 2012 squad which won't include Kyle will at next year. Let's worry about this year now and not next season.

On your way of thinking then maybe magennis should get a run at prop, maybe we should leave Gaskell at 6 and leave pryce out.

Players move on, it's part and parcel of the game, if coaches thought your way then anyone leaving wouldn't play.

What the fook are you talking about? Are you 12 years old or something? Drunk maybe? I just think Wello is the better choice at fullback for a knock out game given Kyle's defensive liabilities. You can be so childish sometimes. Jeez.

So why keep going on about Kyle not being here next year?

At this moment in time Eastmond is a far better option for Saints at fullback. Wellens is yesterdays man (actually it happened about three years or four years ago) but most Saints fans couldn't or didn't want to see it.


From a Wigan pov Wellens at fullback is a great idea.
Please extend his contract for another three years.

I would let this one go Saintsfan, you seem to be a single entity minority on this debate.
Wello and Gaskell are still in the picture but don,t offer the best option at the moment by judging past and future capabilities.
You seem to be happy to select Wello on the basis of risk by using the words "if" in one thread and "hopefully" in another thread. I,m sure Royce will have many permutations to work through, so I think we should just go with the coaches call.

Royce will go with wello.

Don't get me wrong, I think wello is all that saintsfan says he's is, he's brave, good on the high ball in great in defence but I don't think it's correct to drop Kyle as he's playing well. It's the same with Leon and Gaskell, Leon has to earn his shirt back or Gaskell can throw it away withpoor form.

All joking apart.
It wouldn't happen with Maguire.

You've still got a few donkeys in your squad even under madge and you have just signed cross.

It's a difficult one due to the emergence of Lomax and Gaskell and the return to selection of Pryce.
If Royce selects Wello, then so be it, but Wello for me besides being out of form and struggling with injuries has lost one other important factor that is confidence. I can,t recall any MOM performances from him this year, he has dropped more ball this season than the rest of his season years, he also in my opinion does not read the game as good as he use to and often arrives late for the tackle which amplifies his lack of pace.
Eastmond as a defending full back is a nightmare but as an attacking full back he is devastating , Royce is an attacking coach and has to make the choice in who to drop in Wello, Pryce or Eastmond because I think Gaskell will start the game for his attacking kicks.
I should imagine as Rogues mentioned earlier the opposition would be far happy if Wello plays because it would increase there chances of pinning the saints in there own half. Which quite often when this happens with efficiency results in a loss.
If Wello plays I hope he proves all us Doubters wrong as it's a positive match result that matters.

No surprise there! However, that doesn't actually mean I'm wrong; just that I'm holding the presently unpopular view. I still stand by my point, especially that people are getting all carried away simply because they've seen a bit of pace from fullback. They are ignoring the glaring weakness of Kyle at fullback.


Gaskell has been doing a fine job for a rookie. He's bound to be our starting 6 (or 7, whichever he actually plays!) for a few weeks yet because Simmons wants to ease Pryce back in - he's said that much in the press. Having Pryce to ease back in might take the pressure off our young halves and help them to play better after what has been quite a gruelling season for them.

Think we agree on this bit.

I can see Gaskell doing the first 30 mins in the first half then Pryce coming on in the last 10 mins to create openings in possibly a tired defence. Then maybe Royce will do a bit of rotation in the 2nd half between 3 backs, thats if we don,t pick up any game injuries of course.

I think your missing my point my loved one.

I think Kyle should stay there for time being as he's played well and derseve to be dropped, what message would that send out to the rest of the squad?

Both wello and Kyle have their weakness but as Kyle has plated well he should stay in for time being.

You not booked in yet.


Think Gaskell will start and play first half, Pryce to be introduced after 10 mins in the 2nd half. Probably to be introduced alongside one of the big forwards being rotated at the time. Probably TP.

I think Wello has not been his usual reliable self this season because of the injury he has been carrying. If he is fit and plays I think he will be fine. I think Eastmond will be on the bench as cover for the backs - he could take over from Wello part way through the game. We will just have to wait and see what Royce decides. I'm sure he won't let us down.

Leon pryce is starting on Sunday, so I've just been told.

Wello back at fullback and Kyle drops to the bench.

Also, lms drops to the bench and TP starting at prop.

So all my mate at saints has told me is Kyle drops to the bench and wello comes in, pryce in for Gaskell who drops out the 17, lms drops to the bench and TP starts at prop.

I txt him for full 17 but didn't get back to me but if that new is correct he's told me then the 17 more or less picks it's self.

So Eastmond covers for 1, 6 and 7. Which would leave Wilkin + Roby to share the kicking game. Hope Wello reads this thread to prove the majority of us are wrong in our analysis.

Not sure who'll be a loose with TP starting at prop, id imagine flannery will go 2nd row and wilkin at loose, like I said he didn't name the full 17 buy just said what I've posted.

He also told me something else about a current player but keeping my mouth shut on it!

not what i have heard gaskell to start tomorrow

Go on let it out we have re-signed Pryce