I can think of two absolute pearlers of long kicks, one in the first half where he got it from about his own 30 dep into their 20 and the one in the 2nd half that sat up in the in goal (which Tomkins managed to rescue very well).

Gaskell's a fine player, with some very rare traits.

Couple of things. I've liked gaskell from the start his kiicking game is something we have sorely missed for years.

Gaskell did have few kicks that went wrong on Saturday but thats what you get in a first season. But not all the kicks came from gaskell in fact it was only when he took control of the kicking in the first half that we started to gain field posistion.

Gaskell got alot of the glamour running lasdt night. But it cannot be under estimated that Lomax offered himself up to the wigan line which made the gaps for gaskell.

I think as a pair it was the best i've seen them work. There individual skills are a hand full but trying to stop them as a pair well that is another challenge. You go to lomax then gaskell will power through or offer a kick. Try to cover gaskell and stay well spaced and lomax can jink through a spread defensive line. The future is bright for the next two years at half back.

Is Tommy-God involved in kick training with him?

Gaskell has come on enormously over the course of the season and has done fantastically in the 2 playoff games. I wondered whether he had a longer term future at Saints during the Wire and Harlequins debacles where he just looked a bit like a rabbit in headlights at times, but he is starting to look more and more of a player with each appearance. I still worry a bit that one of his (understandably at this stage of his career) regular errors will cost us big next week though, and I can't shake the feeling that we might be wishing that Pryce and/or Wheeler could have had a few more weeks to get fitness/form in time to start about this time next week, but then I've learned to be pessimistic with O/T appearances...

I still don't know where he'll play next season though unfortunately - Hohaia will be taking a shirt off either Lomax or Gaskell (whether we like it or not) and Wheeler (if he can ever stay upright for more than 2 games at a time at any stage of his career) makes the team in front of either Lomax or Gaskell every day of the week for me. Just as well we always have plenty of injuries to give them regular run-outs I guess...

You [ican't[/i move Gaskell out of the halves! the subtle skills of distribution and long kicking are almost unique in the squad to him and he gives our team much more balance. Look at our inability to construct a try against Wigan in the CC when he wasn't playing.

I agree that, if we can get him fit, Wheeler has to be involved. The options are centre (but Meli has impressed and has 1 more year), or full back (or half back and move Lomax to #1) depending on Wellens development.
I'm loathed to break up what we've got going. I'm afraid Hohaia is just going to have to fit in where needed.
Lomax could play a similar attacking role from #1, but he is also a lot better than the average half at defending.

Long was still kicking them out on the full even in his final years. I think he just put too much on it on saturday. It will be interesting to see how leeds cope with his deep kicks and those bombs will really give webb a few seconds to think about whats coming down.

Next year we may shape up alot differently to this year so its hard to say how we will fit three half backs in. With graham not doing 80 minutes we may switch to going from a back on the bench to a back at loose. ( just a thought). Then a year later we may play one of the three at FB.

Perry Roby TP
Wilkin Soliola
Lomax

Lance Gaskell

with zLaffranchi. Flannaghan. Clough and LMS on the bench.

2013

Lance FB
Makinson
Shenton
Wheeler if he gets a season being fit next year
Foster
Gaskell
Lomax
Perry
Roby
TP
Wilkin
Flanghan
Lafranchi


LMS
Clough
etc
etc

It's nice to have these selection dilemmas isn't it? For me Lomax is still nailed on for a #1 shirt once Wello departs the stage anyway. If he bulks up a bit then Gaskell could make a good old fashioned #13, but they're a dying breed these days unfortunately and Royce clearly prefers another prop there. Noone else in the squad approaches giving us Gaskell's kicking game at the moment granted, so fitting him into the side somehere around the middle would indeed be a good move... I still can't see where though if everyone else is fit.

I'll just trust in Royce's judgement on these matters and leave it at that I think

Let's hope not, given his supposed involvement in Lomax's kicking game.

I don't want to move him to #13 at all, but we could do with his kicking game and I'm struggling to see where he's going to fit into the starting 13 next season if everyone else stays fit. He's still only a young 'un and already a strapping lad - if he puts on a few extra pounds over the next year or 2 #13 might end up as his natural position anyway.

I don't struggle seeing where we're going to fit him in because at the moment he's the first choice half back in my book.

If it aint broke, dont fix it

This ohia bloke can carry the water

Loved the way he bounced ratboy out of the way to score his try.