A utility player is invaluable in today's game. Would you class the Tomkins brothers as a jack of all trades master of none?

FB or SH, SR or Centre?

Joel's played in the centre's less than 10 times in his career so far, so I think it's safe to say he's a backrower.

Sam although he started as a SO has been a FB for us for more than a year now, and against many fans wishes on here hasn't reverted back to SO for a quite a while. Also I think it's pretty safe to say that Wigan are still working on finding Sam's best position at his young age. While Hohaia at 28 really should have found his position and settled in it.

I wouldn't argue anything against utility players as you say their invaluable. But it's my opinion that if I'm signing a top class overseas player who I'm paying a lot of money for on long term deal I'd want him to be more than just a utility player.

to be fair though, a player who hasnt got a settled position for his world cup winning side, but is usually in it, and has been for 10 years, but will still only be 28 when he gets here isnt all that bad is he?

On his day I think he's a very good fullback from what I've seen. And by all accounts he's a good half back too. I think people are too quick to jump on the assumption that if a player doesn't play just one position then they can't be a quality player.

If you play him at FB in place of Wellens good move IMO. If he's asked to play in the halves then I wouldn't be as happy were I a Saints fan. I'm just glad you didn't manage to sign Cronk that's for sure.



Reading your board and some of the other names your linked, I think you'd be better keeping who you've already got. Graham would be a huge loss, you don't need me to tell you that. But the longer he goes without resigning the less likely he is to stay imo.

I've been imprssed with the Lomax Gaskell combination to be honest. They seem from what I've seen to be playing some good stuff. I'd be tempted to stick with those two next year and like I say go with hohaia at FB.

The huge plus point for you guy's is the stadium you'll have soon. Something I'm a little envious of considering what we gone through recently with the DW.

so he is the same standard as Hock then

why not? he'll still a class act a 6

We know Eastmond is gone and Pryce may also go. With Lance in, that's 1 half back to replace 2. I'd very much doubt we will be offering Lance the combined Pryce and Eastmond value. So I think Gaskell and Lomax still very much have a future at Saints.

Gaskell has been kinda thrown in at the deep end this year. Some games he's had to be rested for the final 20 to make sure he does not burn out. Player development wise Saints tend to drip feed our kids into the side. It's less of a sink or swim attitude, more a try it with water wings.

The issue at the moment is our plan has been disrupted with Leon being injured and Eastmond being Eastmond. I can see the thinking behind having a little more experience in the half's next year. If we did not sign a half, we would only have 2 relatively inexperienced half backs with no back up. In the last few years we have let go half back wise of

1. Long
2. Smith
3. Eastmond
4. Ellis
5. Pryce???

That's alot of experience gone leaving very little for the young players to learn from.

Gaskell has a 2 year contract, so that effectively gives him 2 years with an experienced player to learn from if he can prove himself to the board and coach in that time to be ready to take over full time. Lance will then be able to take on a more utility role and with Wellens possibly ready for retirement in 2 years we would have a natural replacement.

It's all about balance and as much as we would love a team full of Saints born and bred, sometimes we need that extra level of experience that cannot be brought from within house. Outside experience and international experience sometimes has to be bought.

Saints new half back, what ? not Michael Dobson, thats not what all the Hull FC fans have been saying

Because he hasn't a particularly good kicking game, and when ever I've seen him play for the NZW in the halves he's been indifferent.








Good post. Just waiting to see who else you recruit.

Only Dull and HKA fans are concerned. Keep it on your own boards.

Good to see the wigan fans give a good honest verdict on saints signing lance hohaia.

Nearly all except one think it's a good signing. IMO he'll bring alot to our backline and will be good signing.

What like Pimbletts and Carlsberg

?

I agree. Hohaia has always seemed like the weak link in the Kiwi team whenever I see them play.

I think we should worry about our "mob" before we discuss what player Saints may loose or sign as we have got enough on our plate at the moment. As for Finch I hope he comes good but the jury is still out on this guy

If Saints have signed the guy to play in the halfs I find it a strange move tbh as he's not played their for a long time and with guys like Gaskell and Lomax playing so well there at the minute I can only presume Pryce is a certainty to leave.

Most of the Stains fans I know reckon Pryce is going back to Bradford at the end of this season when his contract is up so Hohaia playing at 6 next year will make sense. I reckon Wellens will hang up his lead-lined boots at the end of the 2012 season so maybe Hohaia will end up at FB after a year in the halves, seeing as he's signed a four year deal pparently

It'll be interesting to see how things shape up for them.

I'm really happy to see Lomax progressing well. His footwork around the middle of the field looks electric now he's running at forwards instead of outside backs and he's a cracking long term prospect.

Hang on a minute, a Wigan fan making a pie joke?! That's surely a cardinal sin? I'm surprised your mods haven't been onto this yet.

Decent signing and not to old either, look forward to see him in Super League even it is for Saints.

Absolutely no idea what you're on about.

My take - good signing and adds pace, but hope he doesn't shift Lomax from 7.

Yes but I think it may be about the inferiority of Pimbletts

haha

I know

but it just generally shouldn't be allowed

Hohaia's been inconsistent when I've seen him play. He can turn a game one minute but he can also spectacularly balls it up the next. It'll be interesting to see how he's used.

I tend to agree lol