I love Wello. Love him to bits and was in tears watching him slap the badge and struggle with the emotion of it. He'd throw himself in front of a bus for the club and you have to respect that. I have gone overboard at times when expressing my frustration at the most obvious target. Jordan Turner as well is another I've vented at at times, but he was superb tonight and has cut out the goose step and was very committed to the cause. I'm pretty sure his tweet with the trophy from the changing room was meant for me and again I probably deserve that too.

Having said that did Wello play that well tonight? No, he didn't. He almost cost us the game with the ridiculously poor defensive effort in shooting out of the line for Wigan's try. It was very poor and there were many attacks he stopped dead through arriving late or just taking too long to shift the ball. He's not good enough to play in the halves in SL and he's too much of a defensive liability in the line because of his lack of mobility. His kick was Makinson's try kind of made up for a difficult night for him with the ball and I was delighted to see him celebrate at the end.

Where does he go from here?

I really hope he bows out now. He's been superb for us over the years, a true great. But he doesn't come close to Lomax, Makinson (Who was utterly sublime tonight), Swift as a fullback and he's not up to playing anywhere else. Another year of forcing him into the 17 for the sake of it would be wrong. I'm very drunk now and I'd even take the suggestion of him getting a new deal, but only playing when we're down to academy players who aren't ready. He really shouldn't be getting in the 17 next season if we're even close to full strength.

Post more on the forum when you're drunk, it makes your posts tolerable to read.

Yeh thought once or twice Swifty was back to his old ways.

But thankfully we managed to cover it in the end and 2nd half although we got opened up a couple of times, it was a more solid defensive display.

For me, its time for Wello to hang up his boots. He's exercised a few demons with a win tonight and I wholeheartedly thank him for everything he's done at the club.

Realistically, I'd like to see either Makinson or Swift used as cover for fullback, with Gardner coming back onto the wing (now brown's gone, I don't see much here for Dawson). Past that, you could even be using Hohaia.

The victory at OT has made men out of some young lads, galvenised the squad and also hopefully given them the belief that they're winners. I hope that they no longer need Wello on the pitch to look after them and gee them up.

I would like to give him a slow burning job in the juniors in order to give him a long apprenticeship in coaching. Take time to invest in him, don't rush him up the ranks like we did with KC. Send him over on exchange with one of the NRL clubs. Get him out in the community, building bonds with the local youth teams.

Thanks Wello, you are a club legend and a great ambassador for our club AND our sport. You've literally won everything in the domestic game. 10 grand finals, is it, of which you've won 5; Two WCC wins, harry sunderland, lance todd (I think), 5 Challenge Cup winners medals.
I'll always remember the sight of you and Longy after the win over Brisbane in 2001, you eye closed by the fractured cheekbone you played on with.

I'm happy for wello to play on but only as cover. He shouldn't be in the 17 next year but what a player to have if we get injuries. He's pure saints to his core and at times you need that.

I'd give him a 1yr playing/coaching role. Let him help coach and if we need him we play him.

This +1 he should be named as part of Kierons coaching staff for next year with Longy as well.

A true Saints - the way he ran in on Flower surrounded by Wigan players was immense - as was the way he celebrated with clenched fists in front of all the Wigan fans. Whether he'll be around next year on the field will remain to be seen.

His celebration at the end was ace. Getting to me now thinking about it. Talk about pure elation.

Whatever Wello decides to do will be fine with me. There's no doubting his leadership and inspirational qualities shone through on Saturday, and like many others I was emotional watching him at full time. No one deserved the win as much as Wello.

Can't help thinking though that this is the best time to bow out.

I was thinking the same as Pete, but I did think that would be his role this year.

Whilst his selection at the back end of the year at FB is the role he should be playing. I think with him in the team the temptation is to try and squeeze him in positions that are not suited giving less of a chance to others.

As a reserve FB I'd be more than happy for him to play on, but would he just end up as the back on the bench if Lomax was fit. Which would be 2 backs on the bench if Lance was there too.

A true leader of men by example & epitomises his effort by the way he ran in on Flower after the unsavoury incident.

I think he is very close to 500 career appearances so I think that he will give it another year in the hope that he makes this milestone & joins an elite band of warriors.

It would be a fitting end to a fantastic career.

There will be times during the 2015 season that we will be on the bones of our a**e with injuries, suspensions etc Give him another year as backup, and get him into coaching the young lads.

I disagree with you Saddened. Wellens was inspirational on the night. I'm really not sure we'd have won that final without him. Charging in on Flower. Calming the lads down right afterwards. We could have started playing desperate rugby and losing our composure the longer the game went on as the pressure of trying to beat 12 men would have been getting to the younger lads. He kept us focused.

I agree.

I'd love to see an announcement saying that he is joining the coaching staff but remains on the playing staff, to be used sparingly if we need him.

That would be my preference. He's done a grand job since returning to full back, and still has plenty to offer in terms of leadership. But I don't think there's anyone in the halves or the forwards who should be left out for him on that basis, particularly now that Thompson has come on in leaps and bounds, LMS seems to have found his position and Wilkin will be back. He generally makes me nervous when he's defending in the line. I'd give him a nice coaching job and a 1st team run out whenever Lomax is injured or needs resting.