I think makinson has earned his spot for next year and IMO is the best winger at the club. He's fast, safe, tackles and can finish.

He's got all making of a great fullback and i hope wello takes him under his wing this year.

What would your backs be?

Makinson has just turned 20, a year of him being in and out of the first team won't do him any harm.

its a big call, but id go for
1 Wello
2 Makinson
3 Shenton
4 Meli
5 Foster

Gardner and Meli to exchange roles as scapegoat periodically throughout the season

I don't think age is a issue, he's earned his place IMO. He's a better player than foster, ade and meli.

His age is irrelevant. He is too good to be 'in and out of the first team'. When a 19 year old is your best player in the GF having not even played a full season at first grade, when he turns the game around with a lovely kick which he follows up and scores a wonder try, you don't stick him back in the u20s. You snap him up.

Well, you do unless you're Saints. In which case you re-sign someone whose only plus is he can make a couple of yards more in kick returns. Or stick a defensive liability in the centre spot instead of this young good player who has been trained as a centre.

yep, as the old saying goes, if he's good enough, he's old enough!

What about halfbacks?

Whereas I'd go for:

1 Wello
2 Makinson
3 Shenton
4 Wheeler
5 Foster

and stick Gardner and Meli in the u20s.

yep, but for the 3 weeks every month wheels is in traction, i'd go with my selection!

honestly, i'd go lomax at 7, lance at 6. Gaskell played brilliantly but it was either him or Wello getting dropped for lance, and it wont be wello (but perhaps it should be)

I totally agree and would be my first choice winger. The other wing spot I'd give foster as his goal kicking is so important as he proved last season with match winning kicks against cas, bulls, hull and few others.

I'd give makinson some game time at fullback next year while giving wello a rest.

this will be very important, and Makinson is not very far (at all) behind Foster in the quality of his kicking

That's what I'd go with to start the season.

Your halves?

If makinson isn't to far behind foster in the goal kicking department then I'd consider maybe ade on the wing but I'd go with foster to start 2012.

I would with

1 lomax
2 gardner
3 shenton
4 meli
5 foster
6 gaskell
7 lance

contraversial! no Wello, Wheels or Makinson

That won't happen tho.

Same here. But do Saints phase in young players like that? I've never seen it. They only seem to use them when injuries occur. But assuming Saints have decided on a positive policy of phasing in young players then I think Makinson is actually looking like a promising fullback and the possible replacement for wello. So I'd go with what you suggest given Wello can't be long away from retirement now (although at Saints you never know!).

As for your question about my halves, I'm just not sure. I think Gaskell was looking the more promising between him and Lomax but he's still behind in his development and clearly benefited from those cameo appearances when Pryce briefly honoured us with his presence. I like the look of Hohaia in the halves, especially his short kicking game which we seem to lack.

It's a tricky one but I'd go with a rotation. That sounds like a copout but I think last season got too much for both our young halves at times (and in different ways). It would be good to see them mix and match. Since Royce said he trained Lomax, Gaskell and Pryce together last season then feasibly that could be done again with Hohaia in for Pryce. We could even add a brand new half to the combination if there is an up and coming one who looks even better than one or both of Lomaskell.

1 Wello
2 Makinson
3 Shenton
4 Wheeler
5 Foster
6 Gaskell
7 Lomax

Lance on the bench.Wont happen though.I reckon Ade,Meli and Lance will all be in the thirteen.

I just can't make my mind up with the halves. I think Gaskell finished the season on great form and looked the business and even tho he took wrong options in the grand final he was still our most dangerous player with the ball in hand.

They seem to click really well but at times last year we lacked experience in the halves which lance would bring.

I'm not sure lomax and lance would work as they both runners that take the line on.

I no that but be intersting to see what royce
does with lance lomax and gaskell

It sure will be a interesting call. I just hope injuries don't stop Royce having to make a choice.

Wello
Makinson
Shenton
Wheeler
Foster
Gaskell
Lomax

I'd start the year with them backs and put lance on the bench.

I'd do the same, but I'd start the season with Meli instead of Wheeler. For psychological reasons I'd rather not start with the injuries from game one (plus, I think Meli went well last year, just ask Foster).

I'd agree and that was my thinking around Makinson. I have no problem with him being in the first team, however he is still a young lad and the rigours of week in/week out SL can take it's toll. Last year was his first season in the first team, we can't expect him to continue that every week without some down time. It's not that I don't think he's good enough at the moment

We also can't make the same mistake that Wigan did and expect a team full of youngsters to compete at a high level each week, we'll burn them out and destroy their confidence.

Meli has one more year, Gardner two, they give big game experience for the next few years whilst the likes of Foster and Makinson (and hopefully Wheeler) build their experience and finish growing.