To be fair, a big Paul Clough would be a top prop!

However much we hope it for, those buggers won't go away. Their pack will be pretty much as good as it has been and we've far from had things our own way against them lately.

You may take umbrage at them constantly bigging up their own players, but swinging things the other way is like putting chum in the water for Rogues and his gang of superpies to come on fill our board with their opinions, which no one really wants.

More because I can't be bothered going into real detail on here as it simply isn't worth it. Not for a group of supporters who label Gildart, who hasn't even played a SL game yet, as the best young centre in the comp (oh, how we laughed). Even here, we've got another of your daft lot ranting about how fast Hampshire is. Another that's proven all. If I wanted pace, I'd sign Kevin Penny. Means nothing.

Any group of supporters that truly try and tell everyone that Gelling is a good rugby player quite evidently aren't to be taken seriously.

A group - show me! I think it was one person

You mentioned the pedestrian Wigan halves, I just corrected you.

Gelling IS a better centre than Turner or Jones. I do like Percival and mentioned him three or four years back as one to watch.

Definition of pedestrian: lacking inspiration or excitement; dull.

Not sure what you're going on about but it's cool. You keep going,

Gelling is absolutely crap. Jordan Turner was a good enough rugby player to switch to first receiver mid season and lead his team to a Grand Final victory. Should Wigan EVER use Gelling at first receiver, somebody please let me know as I'd be willing to drive wherever to watch that comedy. Must see viewing. I do wonder how Wiganers would rate Gelling if he wore a HKR shirt. Doesn't even have the basic skillset of a rugby player, let alone a centre. Makes 2/3 errors a game that cost Wigan the game, but it's alright cos he made 700 metres.

Josh Jones is a back rower as he doesn't have the skillset of a centre. He does offer nice depth there though. At least Saints recognised this. Your incredibly overrated sack of from over the lump went from Ian Thornley to Anthony Gelling (icon_smile.gif). Then you've all got the comic genius to lecture the RL community on your 'depth'.

Brilliant.

Aye, it was me and as he'll probably know I later expanded on my point to say I thought Gildart was the best young centre about, yet to make his debut at first team level but that obviously doesn't fit in with his rant!

I struggling with people quoting SLS in truth though. He's literally the only person I've never been bothered about replying to as he's quite clearly on the wind up! He's the sole member of my blocked list but I'm still seeing his drivel!

So pace means nothing?

Give a player a full skillset in any sport then add pace and you have the full package. How many players have you looked at and thought "if only he had pace"?

Or have I taken your comments out of context perhaps?

SLS is in danger of looking very silly come October; a bit like the likes of bazdev did last year on here and other forums.

What I don't understand is how you can slate Wigan so much and rip their team apart, before saying our teams are quite even and it'll be a real tussle between us. That doesn't say much for us.

For what its worth I do think the teams are fairly even but our superiority at 1,6,7 and 9 tips the balance in our favour. A fit Lomax, Burns, Walsh and Roby is comfortably better than Bowen, Williams, Smith and McIlorum.

Wigan are probably stronger in the three quarters. Gelling started his Super League career as a laughing stock but he was one of the most improved players in Super League last year. He is still prone to an error or two and his handling needs improving but he is a strong runner and makes good yardage with the ball more often than not. Sarginson is another one who improved as the season went on and he looks like he has found his position now. He was excellent for England in the Four Nations. Wigan just about shade the wingers too but again there isn't much in it.

Wigan have the stronger back row I think but I'd have Bateman over Tomkins as I just don't get the hype with him. His surname carries him a long way. Bateman, Farrell and O'Loughlin are all top players though, the latter two especially.

I rate Flower and Crosby but I think we edge it in the props. Patrick is a hybrid prop/back rower and Mossop is overrated for me and also has shoulders made of biscuit.
Amor, Walmsley and Masoe all had excellent patches throughout the year and if they hit that form for longer periods then they will be very hard to handle. Amor would have played for England had it not been for his knee injury. Add Richards and Thompson to the mix and we have a good set of props there. We have the better quality at prop but Wigan have more quantity.

Overall there isn't much in it but I don't think there is a stronger squad than ours in Super League. That isn't to say I think we will win everything; I just don't look at any other squad and feel inferior.

I'm confident the silverware will be shared between Saints, Wigan and Warrington.

I wondered where you had got to? A bit of sense at last. Just two things though. It's a bit early to rate Burns and I think you underestimate Tomkins, especially his defence and leadership qualities. But it's all opinion.

This.
A very balanced summary and personally I hope that Catalan will also be in the mix

I don't know what it is with Tomkins mate but I just don't get it with him. Don't get me wrong, he's not a bad player, far from it, but he is overrated in general for me. He will probably be better in 2015 than 2014 but he was distinctly average last year.

I rate Burns because he provides that aggression and competitive edge that we need. He also knows how to pick a pass too, but it's that "bit of mongrel" in him that I like the most.

Catalans have some outstanding individuals and in Carney they have someone who potentially could be the best player in the competition.

However their away form will hold them back from winning trophies I feel. At home they can beat anyone and everyone but in the past they've always been inconsistent and unreliable on their travels.

If they manage to overcome that then they are real genuine contenders.

Re Tomkins I'm not sure there are many second rowers capable of scoring the try at Wembley in 2011 and at Headingley against the Exiles in the same season. I rate him as a leader and he will be our next captain.

Re Burns. He had a poor first season at Hull KR but improved drastically in his second when Dobson had gone leaving him to call the plays and take the kicks. He's back to playing second fiddle now and at a much bigger club too. I'm certainly not writing him off but let's see how he fits in first. I do agree about the mongrel bit though.

Pace is a big asset, no doubt.

Many on here have taken my posts and either can't read or have deliberately taken them out of context.

I don't rate Gelling at all and I'm not a fan of Bowen, who in tight games is a liability for me. I said Sarginson has improved a lot but needs to run a centre's line more. Too often yet, he takes the winger's space or cuts in. That's fine against lazy defences but again in big games won't cut it. Let's have some context, Louie Macarthy-Scarsbrook was able to defend him pretty comfortably at OT. I've openly stated that Wigan's wingers are quality; I've stated their back row is good with O'Loughlin the best player in the country and I've said McIlorum is enormous for them (their most important player for me). I rate Farrell highly also. Their kids all look good potential but still have it all to prove and only time will tell. Smith and Williams I labelled 'pedestrian' because they run the same system that all Wigan's youth do and they've been shown to struggle hugely when teams defend that system properly. Take them out of their comfort zone and how good are they ? Smith quickly looks a run of the mill scrum half whilst Williams, we don't know yet but he's hardly looked like breaking a tight game yet IMO for Wigan.

My thoughts on their props are that Crosby is decent but little else and he's been hammered by Saints' props on a couple of occasions. I haven't commented on Flower save his incident at OT at all. I'm not a huge fan of Mossop. He's a workhorse who'll do the donkey work but is he an upgrade on Taylor ? Not a chance. I've stated Tautau is a good signing (their best IMO as he's a quality prop forward). Patrick is an impact prop who'll look awesome against lesser sides where Wigan invariably run up 50+ points but I'm not convinced he'll go anywhere near as well against bigger packs.

Nowhere have I absolutely slated Wigan's side anywhere, I've hammered their fans because most of them leave themselves open to absolute ridicule. Their fault, not mine. Wigan's team is still one of best in SL. Nowhere have I said anything else. Anyone with a brain can see it's between Saints, Wigan and Warrington. It's not rocket science.

Re Tomkins: as with oh so many players, the one who came back from Union looks a shadow of the one who left - I've seen nothing thus far to suggest Tomkins can regain the form he once had - he still could do, but it's doubtful imo.

Re Burns: I think the fact Walsh and Burns have played together before and had a partnership is of huge benefit, and Burns has already said hell play a more free role, leaving the organisation to Walsh, everything we've been missing!