Try Swift In the halves that was his position when signed. He cannot be worse than Howarth,Heyho or wello and he has speed and good feet at least.

If Swift is capable of playing #6, why hasn't he played there yet?

Because Brown has chosen to go with Wello, Wilkin, Howarth or indeed just about anyone else other than our young halves. That he isn't playing there isn't necessarily a comment upon his ability or readiness to do so, you know.

I dunno how come Wello and Howarth have?

He was injured at the beginnning of the season and when Hohaia was injured. I think.

In todays League Express Martyn Sadler suggests we keep Makinson in the full back role and put Lomax in the halves when he is fit again.

Exactly...if he was capable you would think he would have played over said players.

He suggests it as a more appropriate temporary solution to what we are doing now, which sounds sensible. Makinson is doing fine at fullback and the team will adapt to his way of playing there. Until such time as we have a 6 and 7 on board, it makes sense to play Lomax in one of those positions. Six would be best so he can still roam and not have the responsibility (we would have to concede to Wilkin at 7 most likely), and six is where he always came top of his cohort according to Mike Rush.

Not really. He may not have the balls to do it.

Well if hes no better than Howarth we should get rid now.
Thankfully I think the kids a lot better and would do a better job than both.
Incidently Brown said that Gaskell was exactly the type of player we needed at standoff but changed his mind after three games.
So maybe he needs to have a rethink if hes ruled out Swift

Playing Lomax at 6 might work but would probably tempt the club to cut corners again and leave him there when I suspect 1 is his best position (in the modern game). Hopefully he will be our Darren Lockyer , he will rip it up at fullback for us for a few years and then as he matures as a player he could be moved back to 6 or 7.

Simple Solution is sign Longy for the rest of the year



1.Lomax
6.HiHo
7.Long
9.Roby
Waterboy. Wello
Rochdale Subs bench. Howarth

When Lomax is fit you put him in his best position which is Fullback.

He is electric in that position.

Putting him in the halves will turn him back into an average player.
People seem to be forgetting that in the modern game teams dont play with a scrum half and stand off. They play with a halfback who controls play down the right and one who controls it down the left.
If we therefore moved him back to the halves we would be reintroduced to the ineffective Lomax we saw earlier in the year.

The way i see it is that Makinson is being given an extended run at fullback rather than having Wello or Swift there, because the coach wants to improve Makinsons game awareness. He needs to learn how to read plays better, so that he knows when to be "johnny on the spot" to finish off an attacking move. Fullback is a position that demands you read the game both in attack and defence. In attack its about being able to spot the gap and know when to join the offensive line. These are all skills transferable to a winger or centre and its an area Makinson currently lacks.