Fixed it for you.

From pre-season:

[urlhttp://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/429[/url

"And, Gary Wheeler proved he could be the man to fill the centre role this season."



Don't blame you for missing it, it was after a big defeat and you were probably busy knee-jerking about how we were going to finish behind Leeds/Hudds/Hull/Catalans etc this year and wanting to swap our backs for Wakefield's because we'd lost a friendly.

Without Saddened, the rest of us fans would seam quite depressed, with him even the most depressive Saints fan seams completely over optimistic.

He brings balance to the force, obviously on the dark side.

There is some talent in Wheeler but his injury record means we can't take up a salary with someone who never play

He is contracted to 2012 anyway. So getting rid now would cost us more.

Also we can't buy in any more overseas so unless someone else can outplay him in the academy whats the point in getting rid of talent.

He was fabulous against the Quins and I don't mean because the Quins are dire. I mean because he showed great hands and feet and pace and step ... if he is indeed injured (rather than he is being rested for later but that can't be admitted) then that is a real shame. He didn't look remotely injured after the Quins match. Far from it. He was most people's MoM on Saturday.

It was me yes, and yes you've been proven right this season. There's no point releasing him until his contract expires which is the end of next year. He has a year to prove he can string a run of games together otherwise there is no way he can be offered a contract, it's simply not worth our investment. It reminds me of Nigel Wright, who was a great talent at Wigan but could never string games together.

The talent is most definitely there, but it's so frustrating with him as he NEVER strings more than 4 or 5 games together, sometimes it's 1 or 2 games and then he's out for 3 months!

As for the squad, big disappointment to have no Kyle, Wheeler and Pryce - 3 creative players who we need in the big games. It'll be a tough ask going there and getting a win IMO.

Not in my opinion. it was late and hoffman knew exactly what he was doing in that there was a good chance of injury.
It changed the game entirely.

Still can't blame hoff for wagon wheels latest quad injury.

We can't keep sticking with wheeler. He's a waste of salary on the cap. Let's get someone in who's going to play games.

I agree its frustrating for everyone, probably mostly for Gary himself, but i'm happy to give him at least next season to prove his body is up to it. He is still very young so his body will still be developing

There can be absolutely no chance he is being rested this week - he needs games not rests - therefore he must be injured again. Personally, if he was out of contract this year he would be released IMO. However, there can be no reliance on him in 2012 - we have to plan the team as if he isn't in the squad, then the odd game from him is a bonus. Very disappointing from a lad who is obviously very talented.

In what will be a very thin squad next year and our injury record we can't afford to risk him missing most of 2012 like he has this year.

His wage could have been used to bring ratchford from Salford.

Wheeler has good potential but you have to play to show that potential.

Really, would they be on equivalent wages?

In terms of dropping him or getting rid, and replace with who? I'd doubt he is on alot although you will know better than me Pete. If you gave me a list of players whom I would not keep, Wheeler would not be at the top of that list and considering that some players are due for retirement any time soon, ie Meli, Flannery. Just binning Wheeler makes no sense, unless there is a realistic prospect in mind, otherwise we are just thinning the squad out further.

also Wigan are due to lose Deacon and finch at some point, Warrington too will be looking for creative replacements. How gutted would we be if we carried Wheeler through his injury years to let him have a run of 5 or 6 years injury free at another club. We'd be calling the board fit to burn for letting him go.

We almost did that with TOmmy God and he was great when he sorted out his injuries.

Wheeler has torn his thigh during training on Monday, and will more than likely be out for the rest of the season.

I agree that binning Wheeler makes no sense right now,next year however will be a make or break season for him i feel,if we cant get reliable game time out of him then at the end of next season it will be time to let him go.

Tommy was a cracking player theres no argument,but over a 10 year period his number of appearances is very low,he never ever played more than 30 games in a season and whilst a good player for us he played in a team of some true legends who could cover his absence.

We cant keep players in crucial positions who are not going to make enough appearances.

I doubt wheeler would be on the equivalent wages as ratchford but it would certainly have used most of wheelers wage to try and sign him.

Let's be honest, with the players we have leaving we have enough cap space to signed ratchford but we don't have the ambition of Warrington.

Ratchford would have done our backline the wold of good as he can attack.

I agree at some point you have to cut your losses. But I fail to see how we could do it this year. Makinson and Gaskell have been rewarded with contracts as has megeniss. Wheeler has not been extended and neither has dixon or ashurst. So the club are hardly blind to the issue of injury and none performance. We have four half backs next year. And three the year after. Its simple really if Wheeler can get a run he will go. But there is no way we can bust his small contract this year or next. If he is a wonder boy next year and plays all year. Ill expect he'll get rewarded. I just hope those wanting him binnedstick to their guns.

Didn't gaz sign new deal last year?

Couldnt say but his contract on the contracts page says till 2012. Either way the guy is 21and thats far to early to consign him to another team. Especially with the derth of half backs in SL. They are hardly being produced at all. Hull have one of ours Salford have one of ours bath have one of ours. At this rate everyone will have one of our half backs and we'll still be harping on about experience half backs whilst everyone else makes progress with the ones we had trained.

If he does not get 17-20 games next year then sure it does not look like he will stay but if he gets a run of games together we may actually see what his qualities are over a decent length of time.

If we released Wheeler, I can't help thinking that it would come back to haunt us

Not sure it's his thigh he's torn but he's certainly tire something and won't play again this year

This season should have been his break out year, with Shents coming over from Cas it gave him the chance to be our other centre and provide us with 2 promising young ENGLISH centres. Luckily Roger has filled that role well but he isnt going to last much longer.

Now i dont know how many more chances we can give Wheeler, he is a great prospect but like many have said after a while you have to cut your losses and gamble your doesnt get tickled.

If his deal is up in 2012 i would expect a few whispers around the club and the smell of blood will attract other teams to a player, when fit, can influence a game heavily.

Last chance saloon next year IMO

Could it be like what Steven Gerrard used to be like, and be injured a lot because his body is still developing?

Yes it could, i had the same debate tonight with a couple of liverpool fans

I hate to cling on to lame ducks, but when Wheeler has been on the park this year, he has looked like a tremendous talent. For that reason alone, I would give him time to overcome his injuries. He appears as though he could be Saints best player for the next 10 years, so the gamble of sticking with him seems one worth taking.