Quote: Offside Monkey "So, we've blooded a fair few youngster over the past couple of years, and given the boards apparent reluctance to sign many new experienced players, I wondered what everyone things their going to see next season from our whippersnappers.
I'm going to avoid talking about Eastmond, as he's well debated, and we don't want to put the cart before the horse what with all his contract stuff, but please give me your expectations of the following -
Clough (I know he a regular, but still has a lot of room to develop imo)
Wheeler
Lomax
Emmitt & Frodsham
Ashurst and Dixon'"
Clough - An undersized prop or a backrower lacking in mobility and skill, take your pick. He is great defensively and makes the hard yards, helping our light front row. He's obviously a regular and will stay as such, but he's not going to make it at international level due to the reasons mentioned.
Wheeler - Looked good early last season. He looked like he could turn into an excellent player. However we've not seen anything like enough of him as he seems to be made from biscuit and spit. I'd like to see him given a season in the centres personally, he's not up to displacing Leon yet but if they think he'll make it, he needs to be playing regularly.
Lomax - Looked excellent against Wakey in his debut. Since then he's shown he is a one man knock-on-athon and I don't know if you can ever remove that from a player. But it's hardly unknown for Saints backs anyway and his speed would be more use in attack than Wello.
Emmitt - Looks big enough to make it as a SL prop. Seems to be lacking in skill and doesn't have the bite or aggression that suggests he'll be anything more than an average SL plodder.
Frodsham - Everytime I've seen him play he's been smashed about like a rag doll. I've seen absolutely nothing to suggest he'll make it at any level, despite how highly rated he seems to be. Too small and too weak.
Ashurst - Solid, dependable defensively and utterly anonymous in attack. Dixon - Ditto
Clough I wouldn't rate as a 'youngster' anymore, he's now a senior player. Of the others I can see only Wheeler and possibly at a push Lomax making it at Saints. One of Ashurst and Dixon will probably do a Bennett/Jonkers stint but ultimately be at Salford by 27.