Whilst he may not be a world beater, lets not try to underplay his role now he is going back to Warrington.

GOB has allowed others to shine. Like has been said above, he's added another kicker at halfback. That alone makes it harder to defend Saints kicks. Now we are back to one kicker and Wilkin will get battered in the playoffs by defending sides as we will have just the one option. The only option we had mid-season to combat that was to kick on the 4th.

That tactic will get us no-where against teams peaking at the top end of the season.

Fun really, that after almost a full season out, we need the return of Wheeler to bring some balance to the side.

Now that London are looking nailed on for the wooded spoon and not going to Wembley, I wonder if Soward might be up for a loan spell to cover our last couple of league games & the play-offs?

Or perhaps Chase?

Don't forget too that GOB was a pretty handy defender. Some of his tackles, especially for such a skinny guy, were amazing. So we lose that side of his game also. He hadn't been with us long enough, in part due to dirty play from other teams, to adopt much of an attacking role (although he was making progress in that regard) but his defence was definitely a plus for us as of course was his goal kicking (not to mention his almost suicidal willingness to take on the line).

I think we will miss him.

Josh Charnley is only four months older than Gareth O'Brien, and was recalled when we had injuries (at the age of 19)

I think he is a relatively solid young player, with a top class goal kicking game.

Don't think he is as good as Matty Smith was at the same age, and he is no world beater.
For those of us of a certain age, he is more Gus O'Donnell than Sean Long

Personally think he is a lot less talented than any of the young halves we have brought through in recent years eg Gaskell, Lomax, Wheeler, Smith and Eastmond. Going way back he isn't anything like as impressive as the young Lee Briers.

I think his lack of even a sniff of X factor has been born out by Wire choosing to sign Ratchford and Myler, while retaining Briers.

Something else to consider is that he is only 11 months younger than Joe Mellor at Widnes. Mellor had his career put on hold for over 12 months with serious injury. However Mellor is already significantly better than O'Brien, and is a genuine threat in a very ordinary Widnes team.

Correct. IMO of course.

The truth is that the majority of players who go out on loan for any length of time rarely make it at the team they were loaned from.

The difference is we need him now. Not next year. Basically we need any halfback. As we have none.

If we where in a position of strength at halfback then his return would not even get a mention. As it is in the league we have the weakest half back combo. ie none.

It's no fluke that with GOB in the side, we have had a more composed side.

We need him just as much next season as this. Possible he can play 6 as wheeler cannot yet be relied upon.

rlhttps://twitter.com/gareth_obrien/status/368806499008512000rl

Looks like that's the end of his spell at Saints.

"Wanna thank @Saints1890 for the opportunity to play for them these last 8 weeks (the time I wasn't k.o), great blokes enjoyed my time there."

And if there was any doubt... www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3287

And if there was any doubt... www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3287

Lets not pretend he was the messiah (just a naughty boy!) he's no Longy, tommy God, Wheeler is a better halfback if he can stay fit for the playoffs I'd be happy with him in there, also swift has done nothing wrong and is probably as good as GOB already. With Robes due back soon we won't do too badly.
Just remember for us to get anything out of this season would be amazing

Shame that Warrington are recalling him as a back up.

I don't think anyone is pretending that. We desperately needed a halfback - and one with the goal kicking prowess of O'Brien was a bonus - and because of that he helped us progress, because it's clear he is an out and out halfback regardless of how good he is or isn't as a player. We looked a better, more balanced team with him in it and I think we will miss him. He met a clear need in the side.

I agree he isn't Andrew Johns but wheeler is a crock. I think with the loss of our only halfback any chance we had of upsetting the apple cart has gone.

We'll miss his goalkicking too as the guys we have are too inconsistent