People are saying Wilkin won't be able to revert to the pack again, but I don't think it'd be a problem. He'll happily give us 45 tackles a game, which will take the pressure off the big guys.

Wilkin has a stinker at 7 now and then (this weekend a case in point), but as a converted backrower I think that is inevitable. He's still the best option as a main playmaker outside of Burns and Walsh IMO. I would like to see Burns doing a little more kicking, though.

What I find irritating is the kind of suggestion you tend to see on here and the other forum that Wilkin has a massive ego and is hogging the playmaking duties because he loves himself and thinks he's an awesome 7. This sort of thing has followed Wilkin around for years, probably because he's a good-looking lad who can string a sentence together and doesn't mind speaking up. I suspect the reality is that he's just doing the job he's been asked to do by his coach. Most weeks he makes a decent fist of it.

But so would flash.

Yes he would. I would personally prefer flash as a player. I think his extra physicality in defence makes him a better bet, but Wilkin is our captain, so will play. What he lacks in physicality he tries to make up with those more intangible contributions, I suppose, but either way the difference between Flash and Wilkin in the back row (on the whole) isn't much.

Wilkin is a far better player than Flanagan.

It's strange the amount of stick Wilkin got for his admittedly poor game on Friday but nothing said about Burns who missed six tackles, gave away two penalties and only carried the ball for 43 metres.

Saints are building up to full speed for Good Friday Thanks

I'd much prefer Wilkin to Flanagan in the back row. He has a similar work-rate and is, for me, streets ahead in attack. He's pretty physical as well, when he's not got game-management to think about.

As an all round player, I agree, but I'm still haunted by previous seasons in which an underphysical (yet talented) pack stifled us - especially in the derby. Wilkin was probably the prime example of this. Admittedly , those days are gone and, as I say, Wilkin on work rate alone is a decent member of our pack.

I might disagree, slightly. Whilst his targeted defence is very good, he really struggles to dominate in defence, which Flash excels in. Flash is more likely to cause a slow PTB and Wilkin is more likely to give a penalty trying.
His best application in attack would be picking those lines outwide, in which Greenwood and Vea had so much success in the first two rounds.
I think Flash may be a little underrated in attack, but admit Wilkin brings more.

I reckon Wilkin has the edge on Flanagan with play options, don,t forget we have struggled for 4 or 5 years to get some decent half back partnership, Wilkin dropped in bulk to provide the "stop gap" which really hasn,t got filled until we see the Walsh/ Burns pairing.
In the absence of Wello we seem to have dropped into "Wilkin Bashing" mode, Wilkin will never be a half back so he won,t have a consistent performance, but fans will demand it.
This is Walshy,s last season and we need to establish a good postion in the league because of the new format, this might mean Hewitt might not get his chance yet until a backlog of injuries start to bite.
Walsh and Burns will take a lot of pressure off Wilkin, so until that happens I think we need to give him some slack.

I agree but I don't think Wilkin will wabt to take the ball up anymore and that then becomes a problem.

If that happens he needs to be sat next to Cunningham or in the commentary box

No different to Flanagan then.

Yes and that's my point. It took some time but we got there in the end.

I am told by a sponsor that when they asked that was the reply from the management i.e. "out of favour" and he will not get a new deal.

Personally I'd prefer to see him in the halves over Wilkin but this is what I was told.

And he doesnt want to stay either.