IL has stated there will be no new signings for next year, so we will have to go with what we have got at the moment, cover Gleeson, Lockers ,,but if a new coach comes in I am sure he would bring new player(s) with him.

Phelps to 6 and Chris Ashton to come back as FB?

Phelps needs to stay at FB for me.

Yep, he's making that position his own and getting more and more confident. I like the way he comes into the attacking line which creates overlaps for our wingers. I think he could be a vital player for us for the next few years.

Alot of people will probably disagree but i would love to see Ashton back at Wigan. He would automatically be the best English FB in SL due to pure natural ability.

I dont think Phelps is good enough to warrant a key place in the team on a regular basis. I think he was bought as backup and does a great job filling in but he doesn't really excite me.

What an avergae pairing at half back.

Good job that as a pairing they don't exist then, isn't it.

Any injury to halfbacks will generally end up with either a young lad getting a game or two or the side being rejigged to accomodate with a player that can fill in there being put in for the time being. Neither option is likely to be as good as your first choice pairing (obviously) but every team has this issue when key first choice players get injured. Thats why players that can be multi role are important in a squad these days. Phelps for me is our main multi role player and for that reason is quite important to us at the moment.

FWIW if we did get an injury in our halfbacks i would initially try Phelps there, move richards to fullback and bring a winger in (Ainscough when he is fit again). If that doesn't work i would try O'Loughlin there as a straight replacement. Personally i don't think its that big a problem at the moment.

Gleeson can (and has) played at 6.

No he didn't!

The Gloom merchants twisted what he said to make it look like there would be No new signings for next year!

He said the right players were'nt available at the time in OZ and if the right players didn't come available we "May" go with what we have.

He never even mentioned English talent!

Forgot about Gleeson. We have loads of cover for the halves.

I suppose it depends how you look at it, some would say that one of are starting halfbacks Leuluai isn't really a halfback so were already at a disadvantage from the start. As for replacements it seems on the face of it that we have reasonable cover, perhaps not as good as other clubs but certainly better than some.
I would expect when the new coach comes in he will use 2010 as a year in which to find individual players best positions, such as Leuluai, meaning we could well need a new 7 in 2011 whether from overseas or homegrown, but for next year we should be OK in the half's although it's not ideal.

I sooner have Myra Hindley lining up for us.........

Quote ="Owdpopularsider"I sooner have Myra Hindley lining up for us.........'" Appears Northampton are using him as their "face" of the new season, assuming that is him in the press releases! www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 65,00.html

Quote ="Owdpopularsider"I sooner have Myra Hindley lining up for us.........'" Appears Northampton are using him as their "face" of the new season, assuming that is him in the press releases! www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 65,00.html

We are better than most for cover at half back really.

Tomkins
Leuluai
Lockers
Phelps
Gleeson
Roberts
Goulding

Can all play in the halves if needed

Didn't Piggy play 6 at St G or the Eels?
Add him to the list then!

No. The photo showed him being the victim of a spear tackle. He played Hooker that day.

that would be a suprise

Very poorly.

Only the first 3 are any good at it though, I think O'Loughlin is one of the most underated in SL.

Phelps to 6, Richards to 1, Ainscough to 5. I worry about our kicking game though, was pretty rubbish this year and isn't likely to improve. Gleeson is pants at stand off.

Until we get a 7 ala Dobson/Fien/Orford (3 players who we havent signed for various reasons) our kicking game and last tackle options will suck, because Tommy doesn't have it in him.

Quote ="SomersetSaint"Appears Northampton are using him as their "face" of the new season, assuming that is him in the press releases! www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 65,00.html'" Think thats stephen myler

Quote ="SomersetSaint"Appears Northampton are using him as their "face" of the new season, assuming that is him in the press releases! www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 65,00.html'" Think thats stephen myler

Our kicking game badly lets us down, and is one of our main worries for next year. I always wonder why Phelps doesn't have more of a part in the kicking game. I have only seen him once or twice controlling the kicking, especially against Saints on MT, where his kicking game was very tidy. Also on Friday he put a really good kick in which nearly resulted in a 40/20. What are people's thoughts on Phelps as one of our kickers?

yeah phelps showed on friday he is an option and i would like to see him used more. i hate seeing lockers kick, especially from range. pat should be used here.

back to the title though i actually think our halves are good enough to mount a challenge. most teams would kill to have sam and i think tommy is vastly underated. he is very threatening with ball in hand and has a great short kicking game.