He has been playing for Salford for a few weeks, at centre. They didn't need anyone in the halves. They have three halfbacks. But they needed someone in the centre. He can play centre, so he plays centre.

If there were problems off field, and that's only rumour, then they should have addressed the problems not simply shipped out a halfback leaving us without a halfback. That's just shooting ourselves in the foot.

Ryan McGoldrick, who is a journeyman and a makeshift stand off at best, has been getting picked at 6 ahead of Gaskell. I do agree that it would be handy to have him around, but it may just be that it wasn't possible to resolve whatever issues were arising. Most of us haven't a clue what's gone on, but I'm prepared to assume that he has burnt his own bridges at Saints because a) that is what posters with consistent insider info have said, and b) I can't think of any other reason why Saints would ship him out under current circumstances.

He had issues with saints last season under Rush. Nathan Brown came in and wanted him to be his first choice stand off but those same issues popped up again.

I'd be very surprised if he played for us again.

Funny how Gaskell didn't appear to have issues under Simmons. Surely if he had problems they would appear no matter who was in charge? Or are the problems perhaps to do with Rush directly? Rush appears to be very close to the coaching set up.

Obviously you don't know about the issues he DID have with Royce. Hull KR at home (Widnes) in the challenge cup (I think) when Gaskell was subbed for a returning Leon Pryce and then was dropped. Gaskell wasnt happy at all and had a bust up big time.

Royce only selected Gaskell when Leon was injured again but Royce did stick with Gaskell in the play offs due to form.

So clearly he could handle him then.

I wish, as a teacher, that I could just ship off the awkward kids in my class. What an easy life I would have some days!!

The fact Royce, Rush and then Brown all had issues must say something.

Not the same. You teach children for the good of the children. Our coach coaches players for the good of the club.

Assuming the gossip is true, of course. There is no 'fact' here at all. Just some posters on an internet forum making claims.
It's very easy for stories to be made up to try and justify a stupid action (getting rid of our one remaining fit halfback) rather than everyone just admit it was a stupid action.

I know its true

Be interesting see what you say about him after today game because no doubt they will be a few of you watching see how is gets on he be playing centre but for me should be in the halfs he is our best attacking weapon and is alot better then theo and mcgoldrick

Right from early on with Wilkin's kick on the floor virtually in front of the sticks it did not feel right, yes it was good that the players came back as they did but did Warrington just take there foot off the pedal and came back strong in the last 10 minutes?

Still not convinced with the Manchester Magic! they claim the attendance was 30,000 and there about less than first days in Cardiff, but the stadium felt empty! one RL weekly editor/owner claimed he felt there was more these, my reply was then the stadium must hold 100,000 and not the 48,805 it does hold. Typical Red Hall and CEO during the week hyping up the weekend saying extra tickets had to be released and parts of the ground opened up, well watching it again on TV in the last 10 minutes last night the stadium felt empty!

It is 100% fact. Just because you aren't privy to that information, doesn't mean others aren't too.

Lets be quite honest Gaskell is no superstar, he will end up at Swinton within two years. Even moneybags Salford don't seem keen on soundbites about building a team around him.

The Hull v hull KR match saw the largest volume of species in the stadium, as soon as that match ended most Hull and Hull KR fans headed for home.
It was also clear at half time of the Wolves v Saints match that many neutrals had seen the scoreline of 30-10 and thought it not worth bothering watching wire run up a cricket score against Saints and so didn't return for the second half.

I do wonder if the closeness of Manchester to the heartlands, means that most fans who make the effort just come to watch their own match, and then go home. Whereas perhaps at Cardiff the distances involved meant people would make a weekend of it, or at the very least make it a day out and take in more than one match.

Certainly the impression I got was that most Cas and Wakefield fans went home after their match, and same also with Hull and Hull KR fans.
Only fans who stayed behind were the Catalan fans.

Is Yates physically ready for SL yet? Allan 'Alfie' Wilkin needs to be moved back to 2nd row ASAP, not at the end of the season.

This must be the unsoken £12K p.a. issue.

If this is true can anyone blame Gaskell?
Surely he can't be wrose than this dross?

From what I've been told about him I'm not a fan of Rush and at CEO (where the hell did that come from?) he is set to influence anything he likes which worries me more than a bit.

I thought he did very well. Great to see him score and he didn't let anyone down defensively either.

He's on more than £12k

Believe it or not, all 30,000 don't stay in the ground for the whole event.

Correct and I'm told most supporters stayed for mainly one game their own club and watched perhaps half another, when they travelled to Cardiff they made more of a day out of it & many a weekend. The only time the ground seemed alive and at least Half Full! was for the last game Wigan and Leeds?

I got into the ground about 15 minutes into the London Catalan game and watched the rest.

I have to say that if they charged a little bit more sensible prices at the stalls people may be more inclined to stay.

£4.20 for a pint of $hite ale and £2.50 for the smallest tray of chips ever is a a bit OTT. I realise its par for the course in these stadia but your not normally expected to stay for 8 hours.

I did feel I was being ripped off.

We might rely on them to much. but who are you relying on recently? Can't really rely on anyone at saints anymore. I'd rather rely on them and carry on winning matches. And as for not winning grand finals, You're hardly the team to pass comment on that are you?

We've won 4. remind me again how many you've won. Do 1 numpty!

That's what we get when we hire a Premier League football ground I guess. Fans come second best to profit any day.