Quote: Tez the Saint "I'll start off by saying that for me, he shouldn't be in the 17 for the Warrington game. Not influential enough to start, and with Masoe/Walmsley on the bench that final bench spot is crucial. We'll have to wait and see how that develops, but it's pointless criticising his inclusion before the first squad is named. As I've said before, he has taken a few sacrifices behind the scenes this season and I can see why the club have made the decision they have.
The way I see it is that we have a player at the club who knows exactly what it takes to win trophies with the club. He understands what is required. Anyone who speaks/knows him will tell you that if he wasn't in the first team he would be in the West Stand with us for the Wire game. He knows what the expectations are and what it means and takes to represent the club. With the emergence of younger players this season that could be influential in ways we won't necessarily appreciate. They will learn a great deal purely by watching the way he trains and conducts himself. He'll want to be in the 17, of course he will, and if he is picked in the 17 on form that I don't see how people can have an issue with that. If that makes me one of the 'sentimental group' then so be it, but it's my opinion.
What I'm saying is that we will have to see how it develops with him before jumping to conclusions. He was our top try scorer in 2012 wasn't he, playing at full-back? I could have sworn he won the MOM thread against Leeds (I think) playing at full-back last year? He scored a double in Perpignon when he came on. We could have a worse second choice, although we do have the option of playing Lance at full-back and Wheeler at stand-off if needed. Likewise, I understand the argument regarding the lack of pace/running threat in the halves without Lomax at full-back. I don't think he's as poor as people believe, but I don't think he is worth of a place in the 17 if everyone is fit. Maybe I'm slightly biased, and I'll admit that I've always had a soft spot for players who are prepared to go out and run their blood to water for the club, but we'll just have to see how it develops.'"
Just about spot on, good post