Paul Loughlin was a big lad for his age, made his debut when he was about 17 or 18 years of age. I don't recall the coach playing safe and sticking him on the wing or in the pack.

I really have a bug bear and that's when coaches don't play the young kids in there preferred position. That's where the lad has trained and played at Academy level so why do coaches persist on moving good powerful centres into the Second Row or Loose Forward? I really cant think of too many players that have been successful at Saints doing this apart from Josh Jones who turned out to be a solid player. I don't really like following the 'Australian Way' but at least when a kid has come through the ranks they are played in there position they have come accustomed to in there Academy. Super League has a whole has probably lost numerous players because coaches wont play them where they play best. I accept at times you can come across a player that might suit another position more in the first team but for me it happens way to often where coaches simply get it alarmingly wrong.

+1

I said the same thing when Saints decided to select Bailey for the first team then shoved him on the wing. Had an awful game, confidence dashed and shoved back in the academy. Never got a look in again and we got Quinlan in instead and the rest is history.

The lad might not be good enough to make the grade at Saints, who knows...but at least give them half a chance by playing them in a position that's more familiar to them. It's like having all your driving lessons in a Ford Fiesta but having to take your test in a Jaguar.

Apart from Wigan who are guilty of doing the opposite!

I don't think there is a problem with giving a player game time in a safer position. As long as they do give this player a go in their preferred position once they are established. Iestyn Harris for example played a year on the Wing for Warrington before being moved to 6.

Jamie Foster would be a good example of a centre being played on the wing but then not moved to has best position later.

Having said that Wello and Roby were both stand-offs as academy players. I don't remember anyone getting on a soap box demanding they be moved to their "real" positions.

There are always exceptions to every rule. In the main players invariably suffer when moved from their normal positions.I shudder to think how many players have been lost to the game due to an irreparable damage to confidence upon stepping up a level, and being asked to play out of their natural position.

Yes, just not trusting a player to play in a key position is a bad for the sport.

Scrum Halves to Hooker, stand offs to fullback, centre to second row. Teams do need to give young players a chance in key positions.

The campaign starts here!!!!

Haggarty on loan at Salford for the season, so he will not be in the squad. www.totalrl.com/haggarty-joins-r ... s-on-loan/

Haggarty on loan at Salford for the season, so he will not be in the squad. www.totalrl.com/haggarty-joins-r ... s-on-loan/

Lomax now has a hip injury

I really think Lomax is done sadly.

Do you know any more than that? Are we talking serious injury or minor hiccup?

all I know is that he's been down to Coventry for treatment and the hip was on the agenda too. No idea on the extent of the injury.