Wheeler has just tweeted that he doesnt think the injury as bad as first feared. Also said he probably shouldnt have played.
Medical staff wont be happy with that but the lad probably feels he needed to put It after all the stick he gets about injuries.

To be fair - the club has been exceedingly patient with Gary. Some certainly would not have granted him a contract after the injuries he's sustained. I've supported him throughout but he really has to start showing some serious form THIS SEASON. Another year wiped out and it's going to be very difficult to defend the lad. I feel sorry for him. I really do. But League is a tough business and if he can't produce the goods then we really must look for someone who can.

If Puletua is looking at 3 months out we might as well write him off for the best part of the season.

It'll take him at least 4 - 6 games to get back up to speed. And there's the issue of confidence.

The whole season is a write off and has been since the day they drew a line under the recruitment. Two props, a halfback and a fullback light.

plus two Darren Alberts

One if you count Makinson

I see the doom merchants are back.







What I'm interested in not having seen the game, how did Lance and Wheeler combine prior to the injuries. Once a half goes off then who ever is left ain't going to be very good especially after being down to 1 sub already. But early in the season there was alot of clamour for Wheeler to have a run at halfback, rather than Gaskell. I argued Wheeler gave us more in the centres but given that Wheeler had not had a chance it was not fair to judge without him having a go.

The reports from the Bradford game were that he an Lomax (I think it was) did not combine well. Is Wheeler a long term half or are his talents better suited to the centre's?

For me he looks good as a centre.
I think most people would agree a fully fit wheeler has got to be in the team somewhere.

Lomax and Wheeler are way too similar in style to play together effectively in the halves. Wheeler looks our long term #6 for me, but if Lomax is going to be our number 7 for the forseeable future (and it's hard to see much choice) then Wheeler is probably best used at #4 for now. Gaskell or Lance (ish) are better foils for Lomax' style than Wheeler is.

At present, we appear to have a shed load of 6s (Wheeler, Gaskell, Hohoaia) and no 7s. Lomax, I think will end up at FB. For me, the best combo of the crop would be Hohoaia at 7, Wheeler at 6, Lomax at 1, although that does rear the ugly question of a kicking game, which appears to be our major sticking point, meaning that Gaskell really has to be shoe horned in there, somewhere. With the emergence of Jones at 4, we really are getting to an unsustainable amount of backs pushing for first team footy (barring injuries), and sooner or later, a couple of them are going to have to be shipped out. I can see Saints listening to big money offers for Lomax, or Wheeler, if an offer was received.

Wheeler will never make a halfback, he doesn't impose himself on games enough. In the few games he's played at 6 for Saints, he's been anonymous. He should be given the centre spot with Makinson on his wing going forward.