Oh get real. If he has seen it as a punishment maybe that is because he is discouraged and his confidence is shot. It may be nothing whatsoever to do with his temperament or attitude. It could be simply be a response to a truism: he is being discarded. If you are a young bloke who always wanted to play for his local team, and had been chosen as first number six to play in your home team's grand final and then suddenly, without warning, you find yourself cast aside twice, and for a player who isn't even as good as you in your position, it would be a fully human response to feel down about it and to find it difficult to lift yourself to play.

We have just been told about Brett Seymour at Hull FC, another halfback berated by fans and criticised by his coach, etc. He was suffering from depression and tried to kill himself with his car. Care needs to be taken, particularly with young and possibly impresisonable players, because it could be a young man's dreams and hopes that are being destroyed. It must be humiliating for him to have to turn out for Rochdale having once been trusted enough to play in a first grade grand final.

The fact that Gaskell has played in a Grand Final is completely irrelevant. Leroy Rivett played in a grand Final and scored four tries in Challenge Cup Final.
I've always thought Gaskell was a decent prospect, but when three or four coaches "don't fancy him" it does make you think.

The only problem I always had with him was that I didn't know what his best position was, even in the academy grades he was always being moved about.

Gaskell has two choices, sulk or go to Rochdale/Whitehaven and play his arris off to show his capabilities. Even if Saint don't want him other clubs will be looking at his character.

Don't exaggerate Rogues. Two out of three coaches do not like Gaskell, although how three games including a complete tonking is enough to judge anyone's capabilities is beyond me. Anyway one out of the three coaches (Simmons) kept faith with Gaskell. But then he was brought over in part because he was very good with young players and at the time Saints wanted to do stuff on the cheap.

At this moment in time I can't see lee getting a new deal and if he did he probalary wouldn't sign it so it will be interesting to see how he goes if he goes somewhere else next season I got a feeling he just might come back and haunt us for years

Well he won't be playing for Rochdale thats for sure, probably end up at Widnes, I seem to remember he had one of his better games there in 2011 I think, kicked the winning conversion from the touchline.

I think he already got an agreement in place for next season be interesting to see where he ends up

But one of those coaches (Rush) had worked with Gaskell from a very early age. He obviously didn't believe that Gaskell was ready for the job, much in the way that Noble and Maguire soon moved Ainscough out of Wigan despite some promising performances.
You have to realise that the coaches work with these players on a day to day basis and base their judgement on many different facets of their performance.
I've nothing against Gaskell at all, but as I've said previously I'm not sure what his best position is. I'd have him at Wigan but it wouldn't be at #6.

That's the point that I was going to make really.

He's had a whole pre-season to look at him and three league games, yet Brown obviosuly feels he isn't good enough, yet or ever. I doubt he would have dropped him otherwise. Wilkin is the best option at #7 currently, and I think the way Brown talked about Lance, he will be the option at #6.

I really doubt Gaskell will be here next season, and tbh if Brown and Rush (I'm sure they would have discussed this, given Rush has brought him through the youth system here) do not think he is worthy of his spot, then we just have to accept that. They know far more about the player in terms of his attitude and talent.

On another point, if he is sulking at Rochdale, or wherever, that isn't gerat. Look at Makinson who scored a hat-trick, that's how you try to get yourself back into the team. From an outside perspective, his attitude isn't great.

As I have stated previously, Gaskell would make a good , or if he could bulk up a bit, loose forward. He will never be good enough at stand off and if the club aren't prepared to try him in a new position then he may as well leave now. Sending him to Rochdale or Whitehaven every week won't do him or Saints any good at all. If he is being considered as cover then we may as well promote Yates and see how he goes. Yates may well be the future so lets see him!

Good post (Shocker lol) .

We all know how Brown feels about Hohaia at 6; he doesn't rate him there, so for him to be ahead of Gaskell alludes to the fact that there is either something going on behind the scenes that we don't know about (doubt it, it's not JFK), or that Brown, having seen Gaskell throughout pre-season, and in the opening games, doesn't think he is ready yet.

Sadly, I think Rush's treatment of him last season has all but ruined his Saints career. He needs a boost in the arm, and that can take longer than 3 games, especially when it comes to finding form. It could take him all season again to gel with a halfback partner, and find confidence and form. If his agent is hawking him around other clubs, then it makes it doubly hard for Saints to get him to sign a new deal.

I hope his Saints Career isnt ruined.

Still think he can make it at 6 or 13.

His situation reminds me of Kevin Brown at the pies.

There's 101 things it could be.
I've played with a guy who had the talent and trained well, but no one wanted him around the team because he was so negative, he brought the team spirit down.
I've also played with a guy who was one of the most talented individuals our squad had seen, but simply refused to listen to the coach on team drills and messed it all up for the rest of the team.

And, as you say, if he's the sort of character that is too busy sulking to do the job at Rochdale, he might not be all he's cracked up to be. That said, if Rochdale got completely whacked up front, it may hav been a case of him trying too hard.

He has some potential but I've never been overly sold on him as the long term answer to our halfback problems and his game still has glaring deficiencies - it seems as though our coaches agree with me. I won't be too bothered to see him depart for pastures new to be honest.

According to reports, Rochdale got completely whacked up front and one or two of the RL pundits suggested that Cooper Cronk could have been in the halves and the result would have been the same.

Poor lad can't get to play in a team with a pack who wants to work.

Don't think the lads heart is in the game at the moment maybe it will be better for him to move on start his career somewhere else

There you go. As a previous poster said, none of us know [iall [/ithe facts. It's a shame, many of us remember the Lomaskell partnership and want to see him recreate that form. Most of us would have brought him back in last year for zhohaia. Brown may not have written him off, he may just be trying a few things before he goes back to him.
I would have thought, unless he's causing a stink in the dressing room or something, that he'll get another run out before too long. For a start, I reckon brown will rest James Roby when he gt's a chance and Lance is the only other guy to play hooker (except j-lo).

We'll see, but if two consecutive coaches who don't exactly have glut of quality half options choose not to use him, then there must e a reason, mustn't tere?

Yep but it's not necessarily anything to do with Gaskell.

Remember, Hohaia came over here because he was promised the number 6 shirt.

As an aside, I don't see Gaskell as being a problem behaviourally as he was out and about with the team today doing stuff for Red Nose Day at local primary schools. There was a picture of him and A N Other first teamer (forgotten who it was now) on Twitter, along with TP in a tutu which is an image worth seeing! If he's having attitude issues then he aint going to be out and about representing Saints.

I can't see Brown risking his reputation over something that was promised when he wasn't here. Especially when I consider saints his last chance to elevate his status enough to get that NRL job he longs for. It's not like lance vindicated his position change with his form last year, is it?


That's fair enough, I was more just hypothesising. His on the field persona certainly doesn't give any impressions of problem child. As for TP, that must be the biggest Tutu ever made!

Quote ="Offside Monkey"I can't see Brown risking his reputation over something that was promised when he wasn't here. '" I don't know the workings of rugby league clubs, but if the club is paying a significant sum to a particular player and if that player is not happy, what might be the chances of the coach not having the final say in the matter? Quote That's fair enough, I was more just hypothesising. His on the field persona certainly doesn't give any impressions of problem child. As for TP, that must be the biggest Tutu ever made!'" Here we go: https://twitter.com/saintsdogs/status/3 ... 97/photo/1

Quote ="Offside Monkey"I can't see Brown risking his reputation over something that was promised when he wasn't here. '" I don't know the workings of rugby league clubs, but if the club is paying a significant sum to a particular player and if that player is not happy, what might be the chances of the coach not having the final say in the matter? Quote That's fair enough, I was more just hypothesising. His on the field persona certainly doesn't give any impressions of problem child. As for TP, that must be the biggest Tutu ever made!'" Here we go: https://twitter.com/saintsdogs/status/3 ... 97/photo/1

Quote ="SaintsFan"I don't know the workings of rugby league clubs, but if the club is paying a significant sum to a particular player and if that player is not happy, what might be the chances of the coach not having the final say in the matter? '" I'm not so sure. I may be tempted to go with that if it was someone like Slater or Lockyer, but not Lance Hohaia,and especially not after he was Mr.Average at standoff last year. Quote Here we go: https://twitter.com/saintsdogs/status/3 ... 97/photo/1'" Good work, lads.

Quote ="SaintsFan"I don't know the workings of rugby league clubs, but if the club is paying a significant sum to a particular player and if that player is not happy, what might be the chances of the coach not having the final say in the matter? '" I'm not so sure. I may be tempted to go with that if it was someone like Slater or Lockyer, but not Lance Hohaia,and especially not after he was Mr.Average at standoff last year. Quote Here we go: https://twitter.com/saintsdogs/status/3 ... 97/photo/1'" Good work, lads.

I don't agree with all this Gaskell sulks and his attitude is wrong the players had a day off today if Gaskell attitude was wrong then he wouldn't be representing the club and going into a local school he would have had an option of doing this and could of turned round and said no if is attitude was wrong and he was a sulker

Totally agree with what you said the lad doesn't need to do this but obvious choose too

Not if he wants to pay his mortgage - this sort of stuff will be in his contract.

Here's hoping he can take his next chance, but he's currently living off form from two years ago.

I see his doesn't make the squad again if he not in the squad next week for the Salford game I think it the last we have seen of him in a saints shirt