The injured players aren't exactly fantastic. You let your one genuinely dangerous forward leave and sign for Widnes. Realistically there are only Lauaki, Mossop, Prescott and Hansen who could come into the side and Lauaki and Prescott are pretty terrible. Hansen would improve you but he's another workhorse so I'm not convinced he'd make much of a difference.

And Dudson.

That's five. What it would do is allow us to rotate the younger players. I could also add Gelling in there, he is a really strong ball carrier, if somewhat raw (or poor) depending on your opinion in his decision making.

Exactly, it would allow rotation of these young players.

More to the point, Dudson, Prescott, Mossop and Hansen are big units. Something we're sorely lacking.

After watching the game and all the pre match arguments that Lomax is first choice fullback now, where do you guys actually see Wellens. Theres no doubting his heart and commitment to the cause but I just dont see him at 1, 6 or 13. The problem yesterday wasnt just the lack of creativity in your halves but the lack of pace and agility defensively which killed you especially in that first half. Wellens and Wilkin just couldnt cope with the speed of the Wigan attack coming at them with the short off the shoulder passes. Is it time for him to be a rotation back up player because where ever you play him he seems to be the weak link. Age gets us all.

On another note Percival looks a frightening prospect. Very impressed on the televised games ive seen of him

I agree. Lomax is a better fullback and Lance a better stand off IMO. I also think him being at 13 will limit Flanagan and Walkers game time just to accomodate a legend.

Loyalty is keeping him in the side. I'm unsure why Brown still thinks he is one of the first on the team sheet as I think Lomax is first choice FB, Hohaia first choice 6 and Flanagan is first choice 13. That leaves him pretty much stuck as he wouldn't get in over the players listed or the players who could rotate with them (even FB, I think Brown recognised that we need pace from that position, so I think Makinson is the next best option after Lomax). He obviously adds much needed experience to a youthful Saints team, but he looked lost at 6 and couldn't handle the tackling.

In reality, he's gone one year too many. Last season Rush played him whenever possible and that may have persuaded him to go another season. I cannot see him playing for Saints next season and he'll probably get on the coaching staff alongside KC.

St Helens need to rebuild around Lomax at FB. Great player in his time Wellens but all good things come to an end.

Have to say my opinion is that without our two star players, J-Lo and Robes, that we didn't do too bad, the props apart from Walmesley were poor, but them apart not too bad

After nine games we have had a look at most of the squad so has Nathan Brown, we are going in the right direction. If and it is a big IF we can get all the squad fit for Sept / Oct we could shock one or two. This would be my best 17 based on a third of the season;

Lomax
Makinson
Percival
Turner
Meli
Lance
Wilkin
Puletua
Roby
Walmsley
Boof
Manu
Flanagan

Subs
LMS
Clough
Soliola
Howarth

No Wellens, no Perry!

The back 5 is fairly pacy and dangerous especially with Jonny looping round the back ala Tomkins. Obviously the weak link is at 6 and 7 but that is the best of what is left and they are two experienced pros who can steer the team around the field. Lance is growing on me a bit, he doesn't do much but he does seem to have a good calming inluence on the team and is dangerous close to the line.

The forwards are big and powerful with an off load on them and with Howarth on the bench we have the option of moving Roby to loose forward without losing Lance from the halves.

Prescott and Lauaki offer nothing. Crosby especially is much better already.