I don't have a problem with Gaskell but imo he wont be the half back most of you expect but I hope he proves me wrong. Half of you desribe a young Darren Lockyer. IMO he could make a decent full back where he will have reduced pressure and responsibility.

And what happens when the same flaws surface again. Notice I said when not if. He has a lot of potential, but not as a half back.

Is plan B going to be Lance again? God help us all if that's the case. Wheeler maybe if he stays fit.

To be certain of success we need a proven half back to partner Lomax. If we have to buy one then so be it!!!!

It's pretty clear we ain't bringing in a halfback. IMO Gaskell is better #6 than lance so I'd go with him.

I don't think we can go another year with lance at stand off, he's just not a stand off. He's no rugby brain, can't control a game, no kicking game and not creative enough.

Exactly. Gaskell may not be tommy martin but he's better than lance now

Can't argue with that. Just a thought, ask Tommy to pull his boots back on now and he would be better than both of them!!!!

You are feeling very sleepy..... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...............

I find it hard to believe that he failed to learn from a single mistake. I agree that he was quite rightly dropped, his form and confidence had gone.



A half back isn't expected to do any ball handling? Like I said, excuses, excuses.



He's not reliable at the moment. But very few kids are at this stage in their career.

Sean long was pretty average for his first few seasons, only learning from Tommy and a couple of seasons of experience brought the player we now remember

Long as I recall used to do alot of running about, but had many aspects that he worked on over time. Even when Anderson came in I recall his kicking game getting a boost. We are talking of a player there in his late 20's.

The difference and it's a major difference is the people around him, Cunningham, Joynt, Sculthorpe, Martyn, Hammond, in a team like that you get time to make mistakes and make progress. In our current team players with the creative aspect are not given time. Because of weaknesses elsewhere we have this clamour for an instant halfback. But I think even someone like brough would get it in the neck, because the nature of being a creative half is that you take risks and take chances and you back yourself.

I recall the game against Huddersfield last year where we lost by 1 point. This was a match that Gaskell played. He was not played off the park by Brough and Huddersfield were in red hot form. He more than held his own and gave as good as he got from Brough that day. But because we don't see Huddersfield week in and week out, we don't see the kicks out on the full, the run's when he should have passed etc against other teams.

Given where we are and that we are not going to sign another half, then Gaskell must play, if we can pull another half like Brough out the bag then fine he will get in ahead of Gaskell.

A lot of good half backs could not ball handle. Schofield and Hanley being 2. They were both excellent at backing up and devastating runners but their passing game was woeful.

Hence the reason why Graham Lowe moved Hanley to loose forward, he was was never a half back. This then allowed a pair of real halfbacks (Edwards and Gregory) to perform with Hanley running off them.

Edwards wasn't much better. He made his name backing up the real half backs. This is actually my point regarding Lomax, He wouldn't need to be a ball playing half back if he had a decent half back partner. Jonny playing with an Andy Gregory type half back would be devastating.

Lomax has neither Edwards pace, kicking game or rugby nous.

Lomax is playing in the halves at an age when Edwards was getting trampled by Mal Menninga at fullback.

Lomax would be better at full back or loose forward I wouldnt play him he the halfs but we aint got no choice at the moment for me his kicking and passes is poorc

Quote ="Top Saint"Lomax is playing in the halves at an age when Edwards was getting trampled by Mal Menninga at fullback.'" At Lomaxs age Edwards had played for Great Britain, won two Challenge Cups, a League Championship, a World Club Championship, two John Player trophies and three Lancashire Cups (if my old mate Bilko is correct) wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=361 To suggest that Lomax (and I like him as a player) is anywhere near the level that Edwards was at that age is ludicrous.

Quote ="Top Saint"Lomax is playing in the halves at an age when Edwards was getting trampled by Mal Menninga at fullback.'" At Lomaxs age Edwards had played for Great Britain, won two Challenge Cups, a League Championship, a World Club Championship, two John Player trophies and three Lancashire Cups (if my old mate Bilko is correct) wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=361 To suggest that Lomax (and I like him as a player) is anywhere near the level that Edwards was at that age is ludicrous.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"At Lomaxs age Edwards had played for Great Britain, won two Challenge Cups, a League Championship, a World Club Championship, two John Player trophies and three Lancashire Cups (if my old mate Bilko is correct) wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=361 To suggest that Lomax (and I like him as a player) is anywhere near the level that Edwards was at that age is ludicrous.'" Playing in a full time team, surrounded by internationals, playing against a league full of part timers. The modern equivalent of Saints or Wigan playing against London Skolars. If he didn't look good in that side then it would have been god help him!

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"At Lomaxs age Edwards had played for Great Britain, won two Challenge Cups, a League Championship, a World Club Championship, two John Player trophies and three Lancashire Cups (if my old mate Bilko is correct) wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=361 To suggest that Lomax (and I like him as a player) is anywhere near the level that Edwards was at that age is ludicrous.'" Playing in a full time team, surrounded by internationals, playing against a league full of part timers. The modern equivalent of Saints or Wigan playing against London Skolars. If he didn't look good in that side then it would have been god help him!

Not true at all. And you know it, or should do. I've disproved it so many times on here. Wigan were the second team to go full time. Read Andy Gregorys book.

It must be the off season.

are edwards or lomax ooc? then why are we having this debate here?

STAY ON TARGET!

I believe Edwards is OOC.

Bang on.

Aye lad, twas all better in my der.

Come on Tommy Martyns injury record puts Wheelers to shame.

As for Gaskell, I would like to see him get a chance to become a better stand off but at the very least he should be in the 13. Maybe he can be a Karl Hammond style loose forward.

I'd buy that for a dollar!

I stand by my comment that he would make a decent centre.