As he has done for most of the season, when fit.

From Brown's post match comments it looks like Lomax is still 3 to 4 weeks away. That doesn't look good given that he has a hamstring injury. Those things can become chronic can't they?

Have you noticed that she has spectacularly ignored that question.

Manu did play on the left last night and he was devastating, but he was devastating for both sides. His opening 20 was as bad as anyone's. If he can't control himself in our 30m in the opening 20mins, then he needs to be benched and brought on later. If Laffranchi or Flanders from last year had started the opening 20, we would have not handed so much ball over to Leeds.

Remember the first game of the season and Manu was trying everything in our 30 meters and we got bounced by Huddersfield.

A word needs to be had and if that does not work, he needs to be rotated into the side after the opening 20mins. Don't get me wrong his skill is fantastic, but he brings an element of risk that at present we cannot afford.

LMS was named at Loose Forward and that seamed to negate the penalties. He just seamed to get stuck in and do a job rather than niggling, which for me is a vast improvement on recent.

Wilkins kicking was 50/50, but that's going to be the case all year as he is not a half. He's half a half.

Wellens at FB or Lomax???? I would say Lomax at FB gives us better strike and threat. But if you do that, does that push Wellens into other roles he can't do. Lomax at 6 offers less threat, but as a group it maybe an option.

Or do we over complicate matters and put Lomax at FB in attack, 6 in defense. It's not that I think Wellens is better in defense, but if he is going to play, then a defensive fullback is his forte, were you put him in the attacking line is another matter???

This is the answer for me. Gets the best out of Wellens in defence and Lomax in attack.

And lose out on Lomax's kick returns and his ability to cause havoc in broken play. Terrible idea that smacks of sentiment.

I'm pretty sure with enough training he would be just fine at carrying on the water.



Joking aside I just cant see how he would make a first 17 if we had our injured players back.

Hes not as good at 13 as a number of players (too many for me to be d listing)
He's no good at 6 or 7 , we have Wheeler, Wilkin for starters
He's no longer the best option at fullback with Lomax fit

He would be a waste of a bench spot in most games too

One of Lomax's few weaknesses is is decision making in defence out wide. Another reason to keep him at fullback.

Wellens should be fullback or bust and Lomax should be first choice there. Let him play for Rochaven to keep his fitness up, but he's no use at standoff or backrow IMO.

When you compare and contrast this site with the other Saints fan site one thing stands out, this site concentrates on the game the other on personalities and scandal. I was astounded we came back after such a dreadful start. Well done to all the lads, I like to think Perry and Ashe will get a breather on Saturday to move things about a touch but I am pleased for Brown he needed that.

That board is terrible. Full of people who clearly know nothing about the game and just love to moan and whinge about anything and everything, that's the reason I barely ever go on it.

Spot on



Also full of fifth columnists,one or two who post on here too.....

It's why I'm more of a regular on here now. I prefer this site because there are less idiots (I can't think of any off the top of my head...?) and there is too much of a clique.

You're not thinking hard enough.

I was tempted to go there myself, but as you beat me to the punch lets leave it at that.




Also I'll have you know I'm no fifth columnist, I'm sure I moved up a division last year to the fourth column.

Despite Wellens being a rock last night you could see how Sinfield was looking to exploit his lack of pace through use of kicks downfield.

I also sniffed out a possible tactic from Saints to combat this by having Gardner cover the middle part of the pitch, leaving Wello to stand out wide.

Would need to watch the video again to see if it was just Gards covering an out of position Wello, or a deliberate tactic

I personally think when Lomax is fit he slots right in at fullback.
He just terrified defences. 7 trys in 4 games from fullback in a poor injury hit team says it all.

Get Lomax in a team playing well and it would be very scary

Was not aimed at you fella.....

I missed that, little ploy. But then I don't recall Gardner catching many either. I'd have to see the game again. But when the boys where down our end, it seamed to be business as usual, although Makinson kept close to Wellens on the kick returns.

I understand what you mean with Lomax to FB, but that would require Wellens to play elsewhere. I know in the fans world that's not the case, but from what we have seen, we know Wellens will play. The question is where.

Personally I'd go back on the bench.

But I'd also play Lance at hooker before Howarth.

I'd keep Wello at FB even when Lomax returns as we are more desparate for a HB than a FB.
When (if) Wheeler returns move Lomax to FB and Wello to the bench.

1 good game this season and all of a sudden Wellens should be our 1 again.... Lomax is a proper modern day fullback and when fit should play there.

It's not about Wellens being better than Lomax, it's about what is best for the team.

Wire at Saint has a good point about Lomax to 6, until Wheeler is fit.

No it's not. It's about the club being sentimental and not caring about being competitive. Wellens will play every game, regardless of performance. His performances at loose forward were absolutely painful, he was tragic. Watching him pretend he can play in the halves was even worse.

So now we're saying Lomax should come back in at 6 till the end of the season. Fine, but it shouldn't be Wellens playing fullback even if we did that.

And Lomax to 6 is a horrible suggestion. He was playing in the halves when he was so poor that people on here were writing his career off. He had absolutely no confidence and was playing horribly. Yet we want to throw him back into that situation without an experienced halfback with him? Utter madness.

1 Lomax
6 Hohaia
7 Wilkin

Is the best we've got. Wello, god love him, shouldn't be in the 17 at all when everyone is back.

Another point is Lomax's development, which surely has to be a much higher priority than trying to save this season. We've already wasted 3 or 4 seasons of potential development time for Wello's successor, so why waste another for such little reward?

Wellens was good on monday, but it was more about the man he is than just the player. We needed someone to put their balls on the table and he did it. This will have been made easier for him by him being in his old familiar role.

However, Lomax was a revalation at fullback, both in attack and defence. 7 tries in 4 games. From all reports, we'd have been in a fight in both of those hattrick games (certainly the wakefield one) if he hadn't have been the (significant) difference between the sides. Do you remember the Wire game when, not only was he key in attack, but he was making the try saving tackles - remember him scooping that ball up in the in goal area and spinning onto his back so the ball wasn't grounded for a drop out?

Lomax is spectacular. He should be our full back. If Wellens is not filling in for him, he should be on the side line, watching Lomax in order to coach him in the position better. He's much more use to our team there than keeping a Joe Greenwood/Luke Thompson/Andre Savelio out of the back row or keeping a Dougie Charnock/Adam Swift/Danny Yates out of the halves.

Josh Perry would have probably done that for a pint or two.

I am glad Wello went back to full back on Monday. Once Lomax is back you would think he will be back at full back but while he is out there is little point in not putting Wello there. It was good to give Makinson some game time so he can cover if needed but you would hope in the big games we would have everyone playing in their best positions.

As for stand off it does show how little we all think of Hohaia. Lomax could cover at 6 with Ashe or Wellens at full back but this would not allow Jonny to be as dangerous and make is very static at the back. I would like us give Charnock a run at stand-off, if he isn't up to the mark we can always try to sign someone in the off season.