Completely disagree with that, particularly for a half back.

that is not to say I don't agree Gaskell should be playing in the first team, but young halves are constamntly learning, even in the 20s. He may be being asked to work on certain aspects of his game under less pressure.

So why as the club won't let him go Widnes or Salford in loan I no for a fact both have approach saints

They probably think (wrongly in my opinion) that there's nothing to learn at Widnes or Salford which he can't learn at Saints.

Because he's in our plans for this year, given he's making the 17 at Saints recently?

I watched him closely during the warm up for the Bradford game (in which he didn't feature) and he seemed in very high spirits. Read into that what you will.

Rush on Gaskell, Foster, Meli and others www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/2107 Looks to me like we are lining up to give Meli a new contract.

Rush on Gaskell, Foster, Meli and others www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/2107 Looks to me like we are lining up to give Meli a new contract.

I'm still adamant they should sign a winger to ensure Meli could play centre for usnext year.

Well we will have to agree to disagree there. He needs to be building on his experience of last season. Going down to the u20s is a backward step, at halfback or anything else.

And like I say, the lad played in a Grand Final. Short of playing against the Aussies in a World Cup, there is no greater pressure than that.

I really don't like Rush and his attitude towards the young players. Why do they have to work harder yet the senior players can just be excused poor performance for year on year.

Not just work harder either but do so while dropped to the u20s. There are a few senior players who should have been dropped to the u20s to 'learn their trade' this season but that aint gonna happen.

Would you entrust Betts to develop one of your brightest young talents?

I don't see the problem with what Rush has said there, Gaskell is still learning the game and you do have to work harder to force your way into a 1st team spot, that's always been the case.

One thing that does go in Gaskell's favour though, after watching the tries from the Salford game I think all of them came with Hohaia at dummy half. I sign of things to come perhaps?

I think the main boost from having Lance and Robes in the pack at the same time at Salford was that the energy level was significantly higher amongst the forwards.

I was meaning Gaskell will probably get dropped for Perry. If it was down to me then Gaskell would be in, but at least fans voices have started to force good words for Gaskell. That is progress. Gaskell is obviously in someones plans or we'd be letting him go to Wigan permanently, or go to Salford or Widnes on Loan.

Everyone is crying out for halves.

Wigan (for finch and tommy)
Hull (for horne and ellis)
Salford (smith leaving)
Widnes
Warrington ( after chase)
Castleford (looking for a replacement for chase ?not sure about Ore is he retiring?)
Bradford (well who knows there)
Huddersfield ( will they lose brough? brown is going)
etc