One if you count Makinson

I see the doom merchants are back.







What I'm interested in not having seen the game, how did Lance and Wheeler combine prior to the injuries. Once a half goes off then who ever is left ain't going to be very good especially after being down to 1 sub already. But early in the season there was alot of clamour for Wheeler to have a run at halfback, rather than Gaskell. I argued Wheeler gave us more in the centres but given that Wheeler had not had a chance it was not fair to judge without him having a go.

The reports from the Bradford game were that he an Lomax (I think it was) did not combine well. Is Wheeler a long term half or are his talents better suited to the centre's?

For me he looks good as a centre.
I think most people would agree a fully fit wheeler has got to be in the team somewhere.

Lomax and Wheeler are way too similar in style to play together effectively in the halves. Wheeler looks our long term #6 for me, but if Lomax is going to be our number 7 for the forseeable future (and it's hard to see much choice) then Wheeler is probably best used at #4 for now. Gaskell or Lance (ish) are better foils for Lomax' style than Wheeler is.

At present, we appear to have a shed load of 6s (Wheeler, Gaskell, Hohoaia) and no 7s. Lomax, I think will end up at FB. For me, the best combo of the crop would be Hohoaia at 7, Wheeler at 6, Lomax at 1, although that does rear the ugly question of a kicking game, which appears to be our major sticking point, meaning that Gaskell really has to be shoe horned in there, somewhere. With the emergence of Jones at 4, we really are getting to an unsustainable amount of backs pushing for first team footy (barring injuries), and sooner or later, a couple of them are going to have to be shipped out. I can see Saints listening to big money offers for Lomax, or Wheeler, if an offer was received.

Wheeler will never make a halfback, he doesn't impose himself on games enough. In the few games he's played at 6 for Saints, he's been anonymous. He should be given the centre spot with Makinson on his wing going forward.

Yesterday? Wigan away last year? I wouldn't say anonymous. "Best player on the pitch" would be more accurate.

Actually "best player on the pitch until he got injured" would be most accurate

He was destroying Wigan last year in the GF until he was cynically taken out.

Also, I believe he was instrumental in at least two of our tries against Cas yesterday and some have said he was our best player.

Could be at #13 in a year or 2 if he beefs his lanky frame up a bit. Agree completely on Lomax at #1 and Wheeler #6 long term - always have done. Unearth a #7 from somewhere and stuff Gaskell with a few pies and you potentially have the spine of a great side for the next decade.

Jonny will play this weekend.

Yea just been tweeted,no news on the others yet though.

I should probably get this twitter malarkey, it sounds useful. You used to be able to look at the pages without having an account but I don't think you can anymore(?).

You can still do it. There is no longer a search function on the twitter site itself, but if you just type 'saints 1890 twitter' into google and select the first option then it will direct you to the saints page and you can read all of the "tweets" on there. I dont have an account but I still go and read the Saints stuff now and then.

Ahhh okay, I've got the link because I use it to direct twitter users there when I'm doing a match thread, didn't realise it still worked though. Thanks!

I said that yesterday.

Maybe it wasn't his finger injury that kept him out the cas game and maybe he was a doubt all week for the Wigan game.

He had a broken nose going into the Wigan game but from what I was told the reason he didn't return against them was due to dislocating his finger.

He had another injury and saints tried to keep it under Wraps for obvious reasons.

Fair enough mate, didn't know about that one!

any idea how long Lomax will be out then?

Depends if he keeps picking his nose

What sort of reply was that? Surly my question didnt deserve such a stupid response, but i dont know you so perhaps you speak to everyone like that. I do not get as much R/L news in the south, as you do in the north, and thought local people might have a bit more info. I drive up to watch the Saints, a 600 mile round trip for me, plus the cost of an overnight stay, i asked because i have Lomax in one of my Fantasy teams. Sorry i asked, perhaps if thats the attitude i might as well save myself time and money and mileage on my car coming every week.

Some serious wrong side of the bed action for you this morning!

no mate not at all i asked a straight forward question and get a stupid ,dumb reply, thats all. Its not like id asked how to split the atom, I can already do that.

Based on reports today, the injury to Lomax isn't very serious as he is due to play next week.

I have to agree with journeyman. Is sensible debate and comment not possible?