Quote: Rogues Gallery "How come all those great Saints youngsters Dean, Wheeler, Ellis, Ashurst and Dixon were playing against Wigan reserves on Saturday?'"
Dean and Wheeler are just on their way back from injury; Ellis has only had two games so far this season and the playoffs are not the time to be integrating newbies; Ashurst and Dixon are both contracted to the first team and have had lots of game time due to injuries. They are both young players promoted from the academy squad and so they should not be over played at first grade level. We have had Fas and others back recently and they should rightfully play since that is what we pay them well to do.
All our young players have done very well in what have been very trying circumstances for them this season. At no time have any of them shown themselves up. They have not had the luxury enjoyed by Sam Tomkins of being protected and assisted as they have been integrated. Due to our awful injury situation at one time they were all just thrown in at the deep end. Hopefully, assuming we don't suffer yet another injury crisis next season, we will have a better chance to see what they are all made of next season when there will be a more settled team playing.
Of those you listed, Wheeler is the stand out player at present. He settled right in and won the confidence of fans very quickly. He is a year older than the rest you mention, being of the same cohort as Eastmond. Wheeler has a rugby brain, good hands, quick feet, has pace and can kick when called upon. He also is totally committed, enthusiastic and seemingly will injure himself rather than concede a try. I'd like to see him play more games, which he would have done this season had he not been blighted by injury, because I really think he is a talent.
