Very short sighted over the close season.

Clear after a full season together that neither Lomax and HiHo were the answer (individually or collectively).
Given Gaskell was in exile most of the it was unlikely that he would come back permanently.
Wheeler is made of balsa wood and clearly could not be relied on despite talent.

Therefore you go into a season without hbs and full back who is not "fit for purpose" but stubbornly
clinging on.

After the rather stage managed transfer of FB duties , Wellens is still yet to play LF which was
the "plan".

All very bizarre. Looks very disorganised and short sighted at best.

It almost like Wellens must be accommodated at all costs and is literally Mr St Helens.

He's going to stick with Wilkin at #7 which I'm ok with. He can do it when we're on the front foot, so if we let him settle there,he may improve in the role to do it I the closer battles.

Whle he'e learning, however, he's not going to be ale to carry a hunk of dead wood as big as Wello.

I would have liked to have seen Swift or charnock to get a proper run while Hhaia was out. Wilkin's general experience combined with someone who's comfortable playing in the halves would have been best. IMO.

Wasn't I slaughtered on here when I said that the "young superstars" wouldn't be here in few years time and its a massive rusk putting all our eggs in one basket ?

Few years down the line the so called golden era of the likes of ashurst, Dixon, Tyrer , Gaskell, foster and co ain't here.

I'm pretty sure I predicted they would end up at Salford as well.

The big gamble has cost us big time and its mostly down to having no halves. Jon wilkin IMO is doing a great job but even he admits he's not a halfback.

The recruitment and retention has been nothing short of utter shocking and now we are stuck with wello and wilkin in the halves.

Most on here called it going with youth, I called it doing it on the cheap.

I agree and although there are no real perfect options Hiho is a better bet at 6 than Wello as are several of the young lads in the squad.

You need some creative half backs deffo,today was the worst creativity wise from a SH side ive every seen !

Big raps to the Saints fans who made the trip,terrible view but hopefully North stand next year,good luck rest of the year guys !

Agreed and IMO he can't play at LF either.

Fullback or not at all so IMO he shouldn't play

Fully agree, we thought him at fb was bad, it was nothing compared to this pain! xxx

You and Pete got something going on?

Only just; and they will both be earning big vhunks of our SC.
Makes moving Gaskell out look even more insane. He couldn't do worse.

Isn't it strange that both rush and Brown both opted not to play Gaskell?

I've felt strongly for a while now about this half back situation but was a little scared to post for fear of being shot down, but here goes....Don't get me wrong , i luv em both but Wello n Wilkin have got 20+ yrs between them at the club and IMO have had enough training sessions to know what 6 n 7 do in a game, but they seem like they haven't got a clue.!!! Haven't we fired Gaskell off for bein sh*t at 6.? ( or has he been pushed).? Wilkin hasn't been any better in my opinion and before people start to say "He isn't a half back or a 7" he put his hand up to play there. His ball distribution in the last 4/5 games has been appauling and his kicking game not much better. If you play RL you should be able to at least pass a ball, it's a "Core skill" done at junior level. If a kicking game was designed to find a Fullback or a Winger then yea, he's agreat kicker...We seriously need some half backs.

Yes it is.

Apart from the obvious but not necessary correct conclusion that neither rate him (although he has made 33 first team appearances including 10 substitutions in his career at the club); do you have any other ideas why ?

In wilkin's defence he does give a really good interview.

Wellens' defence is shabby too! He was at fault for Paterson's try today and his head always seems to be in the wrong place when he's tackling.

Txting the mrs and posting in here fail !

But if he can get wellens out of the team and get us a halfback I'd love him lol!