I feel depression setting in

.

Just looked at the operational rules and the deadline for registering players was 18th July. We've got to play with what we've got now!

Do a Canterbury Bulldogs then - they got to an NRL grand final with Keating at halfback!

Need a kicker though and I'm not sure who that could be. I'd be more tempted by 1. McDonnell 6. Wellens 7. Wheeler/Hohaia/ Wilkin 13. Charnock.

Charnock should of been blooded earlier, but he will bring a kicking game

Quote ="Magic Superbeetle""Shannon McDonnell can come in, Paul Wellens can move to the halves and play well like he has done there this season and Lance should be back before the season's out. We have to work hard and be positive." www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/4199? Well, I think this will be popular ...'" Shows that it's always worthwhile not taking what Brown says seriously. Last week Hohaia was going to be out for 8 to 10 weeks. Now he should be back before the season is out. Damn shame Brown doesn't have the nerve to play a young gun in the halves. He should take some lessons from Simmons, who at least did have the nerve when we found ourselves entirely without halfbacks.

Quote ="Magic Superbeetle""Shannon McDonnell can come in, Paul Wellens can move to the halves and play well like he has done there this season and Lance should be back before the season's out. We have to work hard and be positive." www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/4199? Well, I think this will be popular ...'" Shows that it's always worthwhile not taking what Brown says seriously. Last week Hohaia was going to be out for 8 to 10 weeks. Now he should be back before the season is out. Damn shame Brown doesn't have the nerve to play a young gun in the halves. He should take some lessons from Simmons, who at least did have the nerve when we found ourselves entirely without halfbacks.

Brown has an excellent record at bringing through youth players, if he thinks Charnock isn't ready then he isn't ready.

You've got a point about the media guff though.

I can see it now, Gary Wheeler, the injury prone scapegoat will lead us to a grand final victory in 2014 and forever be a saints legend.

It takes a big character with plenty of self belief to play half back at a club like Saints. Brown will be despèrate for that type of character to emerge from the ruins so to speak and demand the chance to prove themselves. If Charnock can't grab Brown's attention right now then he's simply not ready because if he can't get Brown's attention, he certainly won't be strong enough to guide 12 other more experienced, first team regulars around the pitch.

Believe me, i've heard alot of stories about charnock. He is most certainly NOT the guy to lead us forward.

You can't say that and then not tell us.

And of course all stories are automatically true!

We need someone with a kicking game. Wilkin is out long term, Hohaia is out long term and Walsh is gone. We have no kicking game.

Does duel registration not work in the opposite direction? Have Rochdale or Workington not got a half back we could take on duel reg?

Well after the initial oh no.

I must say get well soon Walsh. It's been a breath of fresh air having him in the team. I would let him have his time recouperating back in OZ. let his family have that much needed time there.

Our main problem is a kicking game working off our tremendous pack that we have at the moment.
I would be tempted to try Percival or Charnock at 6, Wellens should be in at 13 for Wilkin, O'Donnell in at Full Back. We,ve got plenty of options in the centres and wing.
Didn't Swift start at the club as a stand off.

They have Ryan millard.

We can't go with wello in the halves. He's just not a halfback and certainly not good enough.

I think Brown has had to focus on bringing the young guns forwards through when we had a depleted pack for a spell. Somehow Brown has managed to convert Lance into a half back this season, Simmons took a gamble which worked for a couple of games the rest is history.

I guess Sundays under 19s game will be watched very closely this week

Luke's injury is dreadful, I feel for the Guy. I hope he makes a full recovery.

May the force be with you Luke and hope you make a full recovery

Clutching at straws there! Let's face it, our trio will be McDonnell, Wellens, wheeler or Wellens turner and wheeler.

I'd rather the latter

I think he's putting wello there as he's more of a leader and looked up to by the players and will talk and try and direct. Turner is a little to laid back IMO and won't try and get to grips with the game.

At least we got a week off to prepare.

McDonnell at 1

Wheeler at 6

Not a bad idea, no 7 in the 19s??

Eh? We got to the Grand Final with young halves.

Turner impressed me when he took over halfback duties last night. He did more in his stint than Wheeler did in the whole match.

Interesting. In all the hoopla I haven't heard any assessments in how wheeler went - the stats don't show him doing much (2 errors too)

McDonnell/ Wellens
Makinson Percival Jones Swift
Turner wheeler/Wilkin

?

He did but let's be honest, Widnes was shocking in defense. I can't see Leeds, Warrington, Wigan etc letting him run across like he was last night but I agree he did do ok there.