Got to be said, two very good young half backs who link and compliment each other very well! Saints have got the potential to build a very good team around them!

Well whoopee for them then.


More concerned with what our own club is doing,to be perfectly honest.

I they do look like two cracker jacks.

I'm hopeful that either Mellor or Powell or possibly both, can prove to be just as good for Wigan.

Speaking to other fan's at the under 20's GF, a lot were very optimistic about Williams and Hampshire in our 18's. Although a few years away yet, those two are said to be very special. Fingers crossed they can progress all the way to the first team.

So why comment?

Two very talented youngsters. Lomax should be in with a shout for an England appearance, he's played very well this year and thoroughly deserves his young player of the year award. Gaskell is still a bit hit and miss for me, although I believe he's a year younger than Lomax, to be fair he definitely "hit" against us! If they continue to progress Saints will have the creative backbone of their squad set for a fair while.

As for Wigan, I think Mellor should be handed a first team shirt for next year, and be told he will be judged at the end of the season. Tommy back to 9 with McIlorum rotating, and Deacon to call it a day. Mellor should give us the pace in the halves we've been lacking, should contrast well with Finch.

I think of the two Gaskell is the better player and a more talented 'halfback' in the traditional sense, but I agree that he's hit and miss but that's what can happen with a young player in a key position. Gaskell seems to be a better kicker and passer from what I've seen and more capable of doing the organisational role whereas Lomax is a direct runner and excellent support player. The role Gaskell has leaves him prone to making more mistakes because he has a harder role. Of course Saints fans who see him every week would be able to correct me on that, but from what I've seen Gaskell is the organiser and Lomax the strike player.
Either way they compliment each other well. I think at Wigan Mellor and Powell compliment each in a similar way, although since his injury Mellor seems to have focused a little more on (and improved) the playmaking aspects of his game, perhaps because of the knee injury.

Gaskell looked the biz when I saw him playing Under 18s for Saints a couple of years back. So not much of a shock to me to see him do well.

Bit test for them next year will be when Graham leaves. It's a huge hole to fill but time will tell. They should be ok.

There's something about Gaskell when he plays that reminds me of Leon Pryce. (No not his ball handling skills) but the speed he attacks the line and his ability to step and ghost through the defence is frightening. At the start of the season I thought he was just an average player with a good kicking game but he has improved a lot.

As for Lomax for me he has to start alongside Widdop for England in the 4 Nations. Best to get the youngsters in playing now and Lomax certainly is capable of making the step up!

Also I hear Wheeler is another great talent but is has had some bad luck with injuries recently. What's his best position? Because I'm sure he has played at Stand Off and at Centre before for Saints.

They've been great and as a Wigan fan I'm still very pleased how they've gone. As a country we need as many young players coming through as possible and these 2 have something about them. I've said before I think Lomax is the better player but Gaskell the better halfback if that makes sense.

The way Saints get these lads playing like that is a credit to them. Their hands been forced at times but the environment they bring these lads in to must be very good. At u20's level we have a better side and better players but when both teams youngsters get in to the first teams they seem to level up. I think it may be due to Saints having very good and experienced English leaders these past few years.

Lomax is a terrific player who will only get better by playing against better class opposition ( NZ / AUS ) . Sadley he might not get the chance this season because of Mr Bannana 's selection policy .

Wheeler is a fantastic talent and you are right, he plays at centre and stand off. He's been injured more than not this season though. He needs to step up next season and hopefully be injury free, or he'll get left behind.

Both fantastic young players, Saints should be very proud to have developed both of them.

It's nice to see other showing some respect towards saints players for a change.

It's strange how things turn out during a season. At the beginning of the year all saints fans where loking forward to see Eastmond & Pryce finally getting to play together at 6 & 7

But we all know what went on with these 2, so Lomax was given the number 7 shirt and originally Whealer was playing at 6, but he got injured at the DW on Good Friday, and this is when Gaskell took his chance.

Both have got better week by week, they compliment each other well, and like some have mentioned, Lomax is a more dirrect player of the 2, whilst Gaskell has more of a directing role. Also with the support of Wilkin, who is very underated.

Interesting to see what happens next year. For me they should be given the 6 & 7 shirts, but with Lance coming over, I'm not sure where he is going to fit in? Maybe at FB? Next year will be make or break for Wheeler also, when he gets his chance he will have to take it due to competition for places in the halfs.

So the future is bright, but we now need to find a replacement for Graham, because he will be a huge loss for 3 years.

The other interesting point is that I hear alot about these halfs that Wigan have in the junior ranks, will they get there chance next year or will you bring in somebody from the NRL (Carney for example)?

Your interest in RL is admirable.

Thanks guys. Nice to see there can be some reasoned debate and objective opinion.

It's funny how they have emerged though. Last year Lomax was showing potential but as a utility player and nobody seemed to be quite sure where he was gonna fit in. If we are being honest he's only emerged at 7 this year because of the Eastmond saga; similarly Lee Gaskell because of Leon's injuries although they would now be considered as our first choice halves and quite rightly. I'd agree with one of the comments above that Gaskell is probably the more natural half back and once he matures (he's 20) then I reckon he could be a really great player.

To be honest I think Saturday was probably his best game for us so far. He hits the line at great speed, as evidenced by his try, and he's now learning when the right time to do this is and when not to. He makes errors but that's natural and part of his learning.

For me Lomax is still a bit of an unknown yet. He's been an absolute revelation this year at 7 but many, including me, are not convinced he'll play there next year with the impending arrival of Lance Hohaia. When we signed Lance earlier in the year many eyebrows were raised at the declaration that he would play at half back. If that's still the intention then I question the wisdom of breaking up what's turning out to be a very young but very dynamic half back pairing. Personally I would be inclined to play him (Hohaia) at 1 and use him as half back cover if necessary; leaving Lomax where he is.

From a GB perspective how good would it be to see Lomax/Gaskell at 6 and 7 (maybe not this year), creating space for Tomkins devastating running from FB?

I hope you do bring more of your youngsters through next year as, above all else, I am an RL fan and believe that we should be developing our own players so the more of them that get chances the better no matter who they play for. I am a bit disappointed with a couple of Saints signings next year in Laffranchi and Hohaia but pleased with Flanagan as he's a Brit.

If the rumours are correct I am also a bit baffled by yours too (Gareth Thomas/Lauaki??) - these guys are not good enough for your team and it's good to see posters on here clamouring for youngsters to be given a chance instead. As Alex Murphy used to say 'if you're good enough you're old enough'. Our game would be better all round of more clubs adopted Saints/Wigan's/Leeds approach to youth development and first team opportunity.

Both have looked better as the seasons gone on. They're both fanatical Wigan supporters as well.

I don't think so, I know Jonnys family.

As Bilko said anyone who has watched the U18/U20 should have been aware of their potential, particularly Gaskell.

Just a word of caution. Wigan were in a similar position seven or eight years ago with Robinson and Brown, but sadly it didn't work out.

At Wigan there are two very young lads, George Williams and Ryan Hampshire who looks a class half back pairing, it'll be very interesting too see how they progress over the next four years.

At that age who would you compare them to Rogues? Not living in Wigan I don't get to the U18s/U20s.

They are both only 16 and are the current England half back pairing for that age group. Williams is a strong running scrum half with an excellent kicking and passing game, he is also a very good defensive player.

Hampshire oozes class. Very quick and seems to be in the right spot at the right time. Just to illustrate how good they are, the Wigan U18 team was very poor this season until July August time when the U16's season finished an the young lads were brought into the team. It's no coincidence that when these two half backs came in we destroyed both Saints and Leeds. Up until them coming into the team, Wigan had won four and lost six games. They then won five of the last six games.

They are two to keep a look out for, but you never know with kids (Robinson & Brown as a very good example)

It's easy to see what's made the difference to Lomax's game - physical maturity. Compare his size last season to this (most notably his legs which seem twice the size and provide the power to propel himself forward with intent). Instead of hitting the line and stopping dead (or being swatted off in the tackle) he now has the physique to challenge established players on an equal footing. Couple this with his natural ability to quickly respond to defence around the ruck and change direction he is now able to make yardage on just about every possession. Whether he is a scrum-half or not I'm not sure. To me his game seems naturally suited to the hooking role as he must be a nightmare for any tiring big forward to defend against close to the play-the-ball.

Gaskell is interesting because he is anywhere between twelve and eighteen months behind Lomax, Wheeler etc. in terms of development. Yet, for the most part, he is performing to a similar level and threatening to break the line repeatedly. Once he fleshes out (and provided he keeps his head together) I expect he will carve open defences for fun.

It's great to see some quality young English half backs it really is.

Both have been a revelation this year but especially Lomax for me and i hope he's trotting out at Wembley on the 5th November with #7 on his back for England.

Having seen Mathers & Bailey destroying Aussie kids I am reluctant to give undue praise, but both seem set for careers at the highest level.

Would you put these two in as a pair and try and mould them into a great pairing that could be England regulars for years? I would certainly give them a game together against Wales at least. Or do we think its too soon?

Exactly the point I was making regarding Robinson and Brown. I could also have used Craig Hall and Darrell Goulding as examples.

It shows you can never tell how well players will develop, to be fair to Bailey he does seem to have improved again this year. Mathers never reached the expected heights he could have developed in Aus but the broken leg finished that. I watched that academy team beat the Aussies at knowsley rd Bailey took the aussie pack on, Gardner (Ades Brother) tore them to bits.

Credit to Saints the emergence of Gaskell this year and the partnership with Lomax has more than made up for the loss of Pryce and Eastmond. Im sure other coaches would have stuck Wellens or Wilkin in one of the half back slots.