Quite agree the above. When we were releasing players at the end of last season, Howarth should of been the first to go. Can only imagine he must be Nobby's love child

Howarth is only versatile if you consider him playing turd in all those positions. He's good at being mediocre in a number of different roles.

As for predictions...

Who knows?

On paper you'd say Saints, but like most things RL, the team that doesn't 'turn-up' is going to lose.

Saints by 8.

I hope we make a good fist of it to entice the floating fans who'll be watching it on the tellybox.

any injury news update? noble on bbc website said Darrell Griffin and Shannan McPherson went off, Jake Mullaney picked up a knock . Hope Mullaney ok as i thought he's been great in the last two games

Don't worry faddy - Howarth can play in every position so we've got cover at full-back.

I don't think it is very easy for young players in this day and age,with the demand for immediate success and the player pathway difficulties.
Young players should be given every encouragement and blooded correctly.
I could provide a link of all the young players through Wigan Academy,some selected to represent their country,and you could have followed their career path;not all of them instantly successful,in the same code,or the same country.
I could also remind you that a certain round-ball kicker,soon to 'earn' 300k a week,was treated with utmost caution at Everton by David Moyes.
I could remind you of a poster on here last year stating Theo and Marc Sneyd were not Super League standard.

[url=http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=5337&type=newsHERE[/url is a happier reminder of the potential of Stuart Howarth - note the opposition.

2 former hookers in Nathan Brown and Brian Noble have selected him for first team action.

I hope our supporters take their voices to support our players and the Super Josh mascot on Thursday night and our young players take all the accolades.

He isn't in the squad named today.

When we spoke to Paul Highton on the DITD he said Howath was signed as a loose forward.
He would be a Diddy one but we had had Diddy forwards before Brad Hepi, Mark Shipway, Martin Crompton played loose fwd for us back in the day.

If he can play 9 which he can, then he can play 13, if he can play 13 then he could fill in for 20 mins in 2nd Row .

If lee can play 7 when chase went off why can't Howath both hookers, both simular body frames ? Wouldn't be my 1st choice but your pivots are important less disruption during the game the better.

Personally think Howath is becoming a bit of a skape goat fair enough he did throw a interception v Wakefield but did read the play and catch the Wakefield chip n chase to win the game...swings and rounderbouts for me.

Brian Noble will choose his side from:

1. Jake Mullaney, 2. Danny Williams, 3. Martin Gleeson, 4. Junior Sa'u, 5. Francis Meli, 7. Tim Smith, 8. Adrian Morley, 9. Tommy Lee, 10. Lama Tasi, 11. Tony Puletua, 12. Gareth Hock, 13. Harrison Hansen, 14. Theo Fages, 16. Andy Dixon, 17. Shannan McPherson, 19. Matty Ashurst, 23. Greg Johnson, 24. Stuart Howarth.

according to saints website this is the squad. im suprised that Junior in the team as he was 50/50 and chase was almost fit. theo had a cracking game last week so lets hope he does the same again.

Yes,you're right,he is a bit of a scapegoat primarily on the back of the soft interception.
However,the better question to ask whether he's good enough and he isn't.
He's ok as an emergency but not as a 'first choice' interchange player.

No Griffin or Rapira either. I expect we'll see Morley and Puletua back in for these two, with maybe Andrew Dixon back in for Jason Walton to give us an extra forward on the bench, and possibly S'au and Meli instead of Meli and Williams on the left.

Of all the posts on this forum, you have a pop at the spelling in [ithat[/i one?

How is he being made a scapegoat?

He isn't being blamed for anything!!

People are simply pointing out he's crap regardless of whatever position he plays!!

scapegoat? No, he's just not good enough. I've said this for the last 2 seasons. He's had one decent game in a Salford shirt and that was the friendly against Wire the other week.

Phil Bentham to ref. Can anyone pick him up?

Howarth has been consistently poor for a long while. The Club even deemed him surplus to requirements for most of a season, while we fielded the worst Salford side in a many a year.

When Koukash took over and we were flinging-off the chaff like Mauro and Foran, everyone expected Howarth to disappear, never to be seen. The fact that he's here seems to be a mystery to most, and that mediocre versatility seems to be keeping him on the fringe. He consistently gets a hooking role even though he chooses to stand-up, look for his Mum in the crowd, smell the fresh breeze, before deciding to throw a pass to the first receiver. Don't mistake this as a criticism of his intercepted pass the other week, it's an example of every play-the-ball he ever stands behind.

The constant carping about Stuart Howarth is bang out of order.
He would have played in more winning sides last year than the Salford hookers did,as he was at Saints.
Having left Wigan he was unlucky to go to Wakefield as they were racing towards administration - not the best time for anyone to be at their best.Then to Salford,at a time when it is now common knowledge that the set-up was rank amateur.
Not much chance of attaining maximum potential.
Of course,one of the main reasons why he is disliked was that Stu Howarth,according to some,stood up to some verbal abuse,aimed at him and his teammates,following a second half capitulation at London,2 years ago.

I would like to think he can go from zero to hero if given the opportunity on Thursday night.
Seems to me Nathan Brown goes with Roby for the full 80 without him being spelled and without a recognized hooker on the bench.( Though I could be wrong )

I think Howarth would like the opportunity to prove a couple of things in this game.

If he really isn't good enough then it could be the fault of the system.

Here is my video of the week - spot the difference - [url=http://m.penrithpanthers.com.au/video-display/2014-IS-HERE/27209A Sporting Country[/url

That'll be it

i suggest next time he plays, have a look at what he does and how slow he is around the ruck. This is nothing at all to do with anything other rugby, he offers nothing to the team apart a bit of size. He never scoots and catches the markers out, he's so one dimensional its unreal. In fact watch our recent highlights from against Wakey, one of tries comes of a terrible pass from Howarth, it was slow and high so Smith had no option other than to turn the ball back inside to Hansen, fortunately we scored.

Not sure if this is the funniest or stupidest post I've ever read.


[i#baffledto[/i

Are you his mum?

Sorry but he is nothing more than average, and that's being kind. He makes Paul Wellens look like Usain Bolt.

Not sure why you are so intent on making excuses for him but as the old saying goes, you can't polish a turd.

Glad to hear it's not just us Salford fans oblivious to Howarth's class!

Haha. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean any disrespect to him. He worked his socks off for us last season and his effort was one thing never in question.

But he just simply isn't good enough. I've never seen him take the line on and his lack of speed in distributing the ball from dummy half is painful to watch.

His defence is decent though to be fair.

No,I ain't his mum



Not making excuses.It is a leap for anyone to go from Academy and into Super League.

His career does contrast with others from that Wigan Academy side.

The fact that John Kear,Phil Veivers,Nathan Brown and Brian Noble have given him Super League games must mean something.