It's nice to have these selection dilemmas isn't it?

For me Lomax is still nailed on for a #1 shirt once Wello departs the stage anyway. If he bulks up a bit then Gaskell could make a good old fashioned #13, but they're a dying breed these days unfortunately and Royce clearly prefers another prop there. Noone else in the squad approaches giving us Gaskell's kicking game at the moment granted, so fitting him into the side somehere around the middle would indeed be a good move... I still can't see where though if everyone else is fit.

I'll just trust in Royce's judgement on these matters and leave it at that I think

Let's hope not, given his supposed involvement in Lomax's kicking game.

Why would you want to move a player with a good long kicking game, a good short kicking game, the ability to pass and the ability to take on the line from half back to put him in the pack?

I don't understand the logic in that.

I don't want to move him to #13 at all, but we could do with his kicking game and I'm struggling to see where he's going to fit into the starting 13 next season if everyone else stays fit. He's still only a young 'un and already a strapping lad - if he puts on a few extra pounds over the next year or 2 #13 might end up as his natural position anyway.

I don't struggle seeing where we're going to fit him in because at the moment he's the first choice half back in my book.

If it aint broke, dont fix it

This ohia bloke can carry the water

Loved the way he bounced ratboy out of the way to score his try.

Loved that. He just ploughed straight over him!

And it takes some doing as the runt is strong little $hit

The size point is very relevant because you can see already that although he doesn't have the pace of Lomax to go through a gap he has more than enough power to force the defender into making a strong tackle. You can see already how it's beginning to play its part because he has the passing threat too. Having the ability to both take on the line and pass to a good degree (his is better now than most other British half backs were who came through at similar ages e.g. Long) puts the defence on the back foot because they're not sure what he's going to do.

As Gaskell gets bigger and faster he's going to be a handful. You can have a big stand off if they can shift and pass. I'm certainly not comparing his skill level with these players but Lewis, Daley, Adolf and Barrett all had success in the NRL because they were also big men. Their size meant they posed more than just a play making threat.

We will get injuries at some stage of the season, the chances of having Hohaia, Wheeler, Gaskell and Lomax available all season is slim/none. I wouldn't worry about who ends up where at the moment.

One thing that made Wigan so dangerous was having 4 half backs at the club (Tomkins, Leuluai, Finch and Deacon). They usually accommodate all four in the starting line up, but having such squad depth in the most important position on the pitch is vital to any teams success. We have a good 'problem' problem next season, and as long as we have the right partnership come the business end of the season we will be in good shape.

just wish he didnt look like Voldermorts love child!!

Hhahahahahahahahahahah. I love that about him. We call him 'The Ghost'. My 5 year old started watching Saints this season and saw him and hid behind me. I asked what was up and he said, 'He's like a ghost'. Certainly ghosts through defenses.

I just wanted to say how thrilled I am about the progress of young Gaskell this season. He was thrown in at the deep end and it has really been a case of sink or swim for him. Despite a couple of little ducks underneath and gasps for air, it is definitely full steam ahead for him now !

I would add however that the attitude of a significant number of saints fans towards him has been a disgrace. There was much criticism of him on these boards in the last few months. We should be getting behind our youngsters, and accept that they will make mistakes, but they will come out the better for it. This is something where RS deserves great credit. He has shown great belief in Gaskell and the team are reaping the benefits. One thing I would always say about Gaskell, even when he was having a hard time and things were not coming off, he always kept his head up and never hid during the games. This showed to me that he had the character and determination to make it at our great club !

COYS

Well said.

Bajollocks

Well said and good luck tomorrow Saints!

I've not followed events on this board at all until very recently, but I copped unreasonable amounts of stick and directed personal abuse [ion a certain other Saints themed discussion site[/i because I dared to suggest that, magnificently though he undoubtedly has done this season all things considered, Saints would have been better off as a team with a fit Pryce or Wheeler at #6 this season - I fail to see what would be "disgraceful" about expressing those kind of sentiments? He's still a young 'un and prone to (completely understandable) mistakes, and those kinds of mistakes might end up costing us in the big occasion on Saturday. He's also just simply not yet as big a threat with ball in hand as Pryce or Wheeler can be, which is why I'd be a lot more comfortable right now with having either of the other 2 fit to turn out tomorrow. But he looks more and more a great player in the making every time I see him, could be the match-winning difference with the kicking we've missed in all the other GF defeats, and will have the full support of every breath in my body tomorrow. If that's what constitutes a "disgrace" on my part then so be it.

gaskell is 10 times the threat, ball in hand than Wheeler ever will be.

Forget the likes of Redyoff, Tyrer and that dude who got drunk and ended up at salford. Even without the injuries, Wheeler is probably the most overated youngster we have ever had.

I'm baffled as to how anyone coould come to that conclusion if they've ever actually seen him play - the guy's on a different planet to the likes of Matty Smith most certainly what ever you may think of him... Admittedly you have to be pretty lucky to be around at any of the rare occasions when he does actually play, but still...

What's Gary every done to you Lee?

I disagree with this. Pryce and Wheeler may be better individual players than Gaskell, however the team has benefitted from having the combination of Lomax and Gaskell, who complement each other extremely well. In particular, Gaskell has brough a kicking game to the team, that neither Pryce nor Wheeler possess. I believe that this is a case of the sum of the parts being greater than the whole, and that the Lomaskell combination is far better than a Lomeeler or Lomyce combo.

I prefer the terms "Wheemax" and "Prymax" myself



Anyway, I agree that Gaskell's kicking is becoming an ever more important part of the team that we kind of need to incorporate somewhere if at all possible, but not at the cost of the "X Factor" that "Pryler" bring to an otherwise fairly prosaic set of backs for me. I'd rather have the ability to break a tough defence a la Wigan's with a bit of individual magic than be able to kick us into their 40 regularly but with no means to get through. Opinions and all that.

Do you really believe he will get faster? Whilst he may add size or possibly an extra quarter yard of pace, he isn't going to become Linford Christie over the off season. The speed he has now is pretty much as quick as he's going to get!