Challenge Cup, 1997. Briers was instrumental in the campaign.

cant say i made note of the game but was briers playing in the final? if so i still think its point proven 15 years ago.

No, Goulding replaced him. But, as I say, he was instrumental in the campaign.

What point has been proven? I was simply answering RG's question...

it wasn't aimed at you. i think he was asking the question to prove a point to saints fan

Its a pretty poor thread this one (nothing to do with your very relevant post mind), but the point of the post is I think about Matty and not the usual sport about the gooners?

For what its worth, I thought he was absolutely abject against the Exiles on Wednesday. It was not so much his attacking predictability but his awful defence and lack of positioning - a poor player in a poor side. Having watched it I thought there was no way the pies would want him to replace Lulu; I didn't realise then how stupid they were.

Only three seasons ago I thought Matty (& Scotty for that matter) were pure gold and would be our future HB's. How stupid was I in thinking that when both turned into one unpolished and another polished turd.
Admittedly this is harsh on Matty but at 17 you were an apparent world beater to become a journeyman sort of player.
So sad for him.

I think he looked to have the potential to be an excellent half back when he first came into the team. He's not got any worse, it's just that the deficiencies he had then are still the same he has now. He just never got any better.

I think his last 3 appearances in a Saints shirt sum him up really - fantastic, game-winning performance against Warrington followed by 2 abject and ineffectual performances against Hudds and the Pies in the final (admittedly playing in a well spanked team). He can look brilliant when the conditions suit a conservative gameplan or when he's got top players firing around him and giving him options, but when things aren't quite going right for the team then there's not an awful lot he's ever going to be able to do to turn a game around himself. He'll look very good in a dominating Wigan team with Tomkins running off the end of his passes most of the time but he's not the player I'd want driving my team around the pitch trying to make things happen when the crunch games come around. Admittedly we haven't got anyone better at the moment either though....

Under 18s four ago beat Wigan at Knowsley road in the final with gaskell and Ellis at half back

Buying the best players from other teams? Shenton was Castlefords brightest talent when you bought him but look what youve done to him and Im guessing Sam doesnt count as young half back talent as Madge turned him into a full back instead? If your half back talent was as good as you make out, you wouldnt have good old Lance playing 6.

Sad that we do but that's what a change in the coaching staff does. However, Gasky was good enough to get to and play in a GF last year, not bad for a young lad in his rookie season.

Another mess of a thread! It's pretty sad that every thread a certain person posts in turns into a petty argument.

IMO something needs doing, I'm getting to the point that I don't want to post on here anymore.

Excuse my ignorance, but what has happened to Gaskell this season? Is he carrying an injury? He looked the 'real deal' last season.

He's just not getting picked.

Which is farcical in itself....

Not in my opinion it isn't!!!!!!!!

Yes which we all no u opinion gaskell not good enough for saints and should be playing in the champions which is utter rubbish

Never said he is only good enough for the championship. Just not good enough for Saints. My standards are, obviously, a lot higher than yours.

Who was playing six last time we beat Wigan

And put in a outstanding performance if my mind serves me correctly

One swallow does not make a summer!

I think your on your own here. Your too impatient for starters , you need to give players time to develop especially those in pivot positions

Very well. I will now hold my council until such a time as he can be judged. I fully expect a host of apologies at the appropriate time. If I am proven wrong I will do the same.

Spot on.

The pressure on halfbacks is enormous IMO as they are so easy to spot on the field. The halfback positions bring massive responsibility too and success in them is often determined by the blokes up front doing their job effectively. They also require a lot of subtle play which can only be learned by actually playing.

Smith may be inconsistent but I think he has responded very well to Longy's coaching and looks a lot better than he did when he left us. I also think people are being harsh on him in judging him over the Exiles game. He was working with a brand new halfback partner after only a couple of days preparation under a coach who, frankly, appears to be fairly hopeless in the coaching department. Also there was a distinct lack of forward umph in that England side because too many changes were made.

Saints fans more than most should know what an impact on a team drastic change can have, given our experiences from last season when I don't think we fielded even a similar team for more than a couple of consecutive games. I'm surprised at the level of criticism tbh.

I see the sporting life report says Salford are cash strapped, so probably a very good deal for them.

Very very cash strapped!