Quote Roy Haggerty="Roy Haggerty"I'd certainly want him back in there. I think Wilkin is a proper loose-forward with an ability to pass the ball as well as run it (he's quite fast for a forward) - similar in style to O'Loughlin. But he needs to be out wide running at gaps and with a centre outside him putting the defenders in two minds. However under the last couple of coaches, this sort of passing game has been discouraged in favour of percentage biff-bash play, and he's not really big enough to be an out-and-out second-rower, so it's hurt his effectiveness. He's also a tackling machine, and best used defensively as third man in to help out the three-quarters.
I think Wilkin would be my first choice of loose-forward every time. There isn't another back-row on the squad who has his skill with ball in hand plus his work-rate. Manu can use his hands, but can also be a complete liability who will lose us possession several times a game and won't make the tackles Wilkin does. The rest are just Clough look-a-likes : too small to be props, but play exactly like props.'"
That's fair enough. I've argued many times that Wilkin's abilities have been marginalised by forcing him into a workhorse role, but for me, I don't think he's worth (to us) what I assume is a large salary.
Look at the forward pack and bench we've got going out against widnes. Its big. We know our senior props need a rocket up their , but the back row talent we have is impressive. Soliola (although injured) has been our player of the season, Manu is a real attacking force and has shown up well defensively and Flash (also injured) adds some real steel (and I reckon has more skills on the ball than we've fully seen). Whilst Wilkin's tackle count is always very high, he's not as physically dominating in the tackle as our other back rows and young Ant Walker has shown he can match Wilkin's tackle tally. Add to that we are normally seeing a prop start in one of the back rows slots and have two good youngsters in Greenwood and Thompson, then I can't really justify spending the wage an England International would demand on John Wilkin.
I'd get him shipped to salford (for whom he'd be a real boost) and free up valuable cap room for the areas we need improving.
I'm sure my following veiw will change if we lose again tonight, but I'm reasonably positive about the future at Saints. We have a young, exciting back line, we have the makings of a very good pack once we get it into shape and we have some very good developing players. I think the young lads will come through this a lot stronger - while we're losing, we're not hanging them out to dry (something a lot of people felt was going to happen if we continued with Lomax at #7 with Hohaia as his partner).
Hopefully we'll sign this luke walsh and he'll be a success, but I'd also be tempted to sign another half back (one that could preferably play 6 and 7 and even cover hooker in emergencies - Hanbury, Hanbury, Hanbury) and try and force Hohaia back to the NRL at the end of this year. Successful teams have to be ruthless, and I think the kiwi gnome needs the old arm round the shoulder talk about how its just not working out, but don't worry, rochdale's lovely this time of year.
I'll miss Meli when he goes, he does add a lot to our attack, but we just have take the oppotunity to find an ample replacement. It may be swift, although I'm temped to think he'sdestined for a position in field.
