QUALITY

Don't worry about that. We'll just move Matty Russell in. If you think Sam can move and step then watch this kid.

He'll go too. I saw both of them on the rec with Kyle Eastmond the other week practising kick offs, goal kicks and standing still.

This thread is full of utter $h!te spouted by saints fans that have no knowledge of rugby league.

Yes wellens is slow and his attack isn't brilliant. However, he has never been picked based on his attack. He pulled off an amazing tackle on a player that is 3 times faster than him. No one else in our team would do a better job at full back.

Makinson did nothing wrong. He is the most inexperienced player in the team and is already better than Gardner.

Shenton can't do much if he doesn't get the ball.

Meli was superb minus one bad pass. Constantly looked a threat. Joel Tomkins is a very good defender and looked after Meli well but Meli was the main reason we scored any points. Anyone saying he is not a centre, go back and watch fosters first try - unbelievable centre play.

Foster certainly isn't the fastest or best winger ever but he finishes tries and kicks goals. He's better than 80% of wingers in the league.

We lost for 3 reasons only:

1. Wigan finished their chances. They were very clinical.
2. Too many poor last tackle kicks in good positions. Pryce and lomax didn't have the best of games. B
3. We had 4/5 lapses in concentration, Wigan scored 3 tries. Wigan had no lapses in concentration.

Foster is rubbish, if he didn't kick, I doubt he would be a SL player.

Oh and Wellens is hopeless, if I was coach, Saints would be a better team and Eastmond would be in at fullback, him coming into the line at speed with his passing ability would give your team another dimension.

I think this sums up the match perfectly.

I disagree with you on Meli though. His lazy defence, so notable in all our big games, cost us twice. And he also makes dumb decisions about when to pass to Foster. I do hope Wheeler manages to regain his fitness. I'd have him back at centre in a flash because he is dangerous in attack AND committed to defence.

Esstmond was injured.

At times he puts in shocking passes but he has put tries on a plate for foster all season. Beeline was a lazy defender but is a saints hero. Tricky decision when wheeler comes back though who I think will still become our 1st choice number 6 at some point.

Have to disagree. Admittedly wellens is a fantastic fullback and I have the upmost respect for him. However the role of fullback is changing and they are more like a third halfback now. Billy slater and Sam Tompkins are just 2 examples. Ratboy was superb in Attack and defennce as is slater. Wellens is lacking in attack but does support well.
I think lomax would adapt ala Tompkins to fullback and give us that extra dimension. With regards to wellens he could take the spot on the bench because I think he still has lots to offer the team but lomax or maybe makinson or Ashe should be given the chance to prove they are the future and wellens is the ideal mentor.

I agree that they should get a chance. There's a time and a place for that though and a cc semi final against Wigan one of those times.