or bringing in a hooker and putting tommy at 7

I am not seeing the complication/problem here.

There are two young players (one with experience at Championship level) surely next season should be about giving one of them (or even both at times) the chance to stake their claim. The only way they will get experience is to play, it is not rocket science. If the club thinks they have the potential then give them a chance. Keep Deacon as a player for another year, if necessary but as a backup/cover/teacher for one of the young players. Lets face it, there is no shortage of experience in the rest of the team to act as cover (Lockers/Deacon/Sam have all played 6 surely they can help out).

Saints (more by necessity than design) have gone down this route and are now reaping the benefit.

The problem is that Mellor hasnt been used at all this season, either when Deacon has been injured or rested, or off the bench. If Deacon is to retire this season and we dont bring in a replacement, we'd be giving the number 6 jersey to a young, untested player with no SL experience.

To be honest we could do with dropping Deacon now imo. If Mellor had of played a few games this season he may of got a start vs Catalans but theres no chance madge will start him after not playing a game. A bold decision by us now could make the difference. Trouble is if we wanted to move Sam up theres nobody competent/experienced to put in at full back either as i think madge has lost any faith in Roberts.

Absolutely not.

Leuluai's a 9.

Thurston, Sandow, Cronk or the little prat who minces for the Dragons. Failing that has Carney found someone who'll sign him yet? Half back is a overseas roster position.

Why oh why has Gasnier retired?

If Deacon goes around again then it's a bench spot or from out of the 17.
We need pace in the halves and neither Deacs or Finch have it. Mellor can provide it. A number of times yesterday there were gaps in the Saints defence for a fast half back. Neither had the pace to make the break.
Finch has the experience as has Lockers, Mellor could learn big time from those guys provided he's given the opportunity.

So? Why not - how will someone like Mellor get experience if not by playing - he will have Finch alongside him, surely we have got to do something and signing a world class half-back looks unlikely

He has to retire for me. The worse thing a club can do is hang onto player who's well past his sell by date, just because it's the easier option. Saints are hanging on to Wellens like mad, perhaps at detriment to the youngsters at the club.

Deacon should retire at the end of this season on a high. His form and ability are only going one way and that's downhill. The wise and long term view is to bring in Mellor and Powell IMO.

Exactly. And the only alternative being suggested (other than sign someone which doesn't seem realistic at the moment) is Deacon goes round again and he just can't IMO.

Even if he does it is no solution because we are back to square one in any game he plays in that the half backs won't be good enough and without pace.

I agree to a certent extent but I think he should be drip fed in to the team, playing underneath a more experienced half back, this year seems like it would have been the perfect opportunity but Madge has chosen not to, so does this suggest he doesn't think he's ready even for first team action, let alone to be first-choice stand-off. Most of the time a player is given their first team squad place, then they break in to the team and then if good enough become first choice, a la Sam. Mellor hasn't even got past the first step yet. I've never known a player get a 1-13 squad number having never made a SL appearance!

We need to look at a centre and a halfback for 2012, seeing as the kids for whatever reason aren't going to be ready for a full season.

Now in case anyone has forgotten, we have an import sitting in the reserves taking up a fair slug of our cap which could be used for the aforementioned purposes. Are we stuck with him for another season, or are we still waiting - 18 months on and counting - for him to come good.

Chase is going to hull fc.Told me himself yesterday in the box pub in leeds

Hate to say it but the saints 6 n 7 next year are going to take some beating,they have played with kids all year and its worked.

Does anyone think our 6 next year may be Amos.

I would be tempted to give him a run there in pre season as he has the pace

It's an interesting idea and he's played well at 6 for the under 20's, but why would you want to deny an opportunity for a player who has caught the eye on dual reg and has bags of potential and also for the current under 20's player of the year. Both Mellor and Powell have been impressive and to stick Roberts at 6 when those two have been working hard to force their way into the first team just doesn't seem right to me.

Hohaia will be in the Saints halves next year, interesting selection dilemmas to come...

Given Saints injury record he'll probably end up playing prop !!!!!!!!!!!!

The answer to that is because the implication of what you are suggesting is that Mellor or Powell are given the number 6 shirt full time. They would not be being given an "opportunity" but they would be being the job full time from the off.

If we [udo not recruit a half back [/uthere is only one sensible alternative and that is to move Sam back to 6 and put Roberts at full back. Mellor and Powell to be given games in preparation for when Finch leaves.

Sorry but that is one sensible option, there are others.

Given that Mellor has been on loan at Widnes it could be assumed he has gained enough experience to be the starting 6 next season but with options of Deacon (go round again but as backup/cover only), Roberts, Lockers or even Tommy as cover in case he does not perform. At some point a young player has to be given a chance (recent history shows quite a few at Wigan who have and the Saints halves did ok against us in the last game for young players).

Obviously the best solution would be to sign a world class half back and ease the younger players in gradually but that seems very unlikely given the current market.

But if we put Sam at 6 he would be fulfilling the role of theworld class half back (not saying he is a world class 6 but you get my point).

As you say there is little chance of signing one so it's either do as I suggest or risk it that the experience Mellor got in the championship is enough to give him the job full time because that is what it amounts to. It is the wrong way around. Having to play Roberts, Tommy or Lockers at 6 because the new kid at 6 needs a break is going to spoil the formation of the team elsewhere (bar Roberts playing 6 but that is a really left field suggestion IMO).

Basically we could see, for example, Tommy back in the halves and McIllorum doing the full 80 to give Mellor a break. Even worse Lockers playing at 6 which is always far too big a compromise regardless of why he ends up doing it.

All because people are obsessed with Sam at 1 in my opinion.

Given next years team as it stands Sam at 6, Roberts at 1 and Mellor and Powell getting a few games has got to be the logical solution that compromises the rest of the team the least. It means Tommy and Lockers can do what they do best and we don't disrupt the formation of the team if the young half back goes off or has to be withdrawn from first team footy if things do not work out.

Unfortunately you probably aren't too far from the truth. On the face of it, we really dont need another half back, but given this year we were down to our 6th choice at one time, then its not a bad option!

Out of interest, what exactly has Roberts done to earn the fullback role?

I'm also wondering this, some people have got him nailed on as having the fullback shirt for next season, taking over from this seasons Dream Team fullback, after only playing 2 games during 2011 and only making a total of 5 appearances all season, not sure I agree if I'm totally honest.

It is a case of needs must. No experienced half back to partner Finch means Sam to 6 and then we must find a full back. Roberts is capable of playing full back. Unlike others I am basing my proposition on players we know we have on the books next year not ones we may sign (which currently does not include a half back) or any other fantasies. I am just being realistic given the squad we will seemingly have.