Wow the creativity in that team Is awesoooooome.
They'll nil us.
Super Lance straight back In,Gaskell and Mackinson no were to be seen.
My pre season enthusiasm for Brown is ebbing away.

This reminds me of a time not too long ago but the other way round! It'll still end up a close game which could go either way.

This squad saddens me. We'll do well to get close to them.

Flanagan is back, which is great, and I'd put him at LF.

Lomax
Gardner
Turner
Percival
Meli
Hohaia
Wilkin
LMS
Roby
Laffranchi
Soliola
Jones
Flanagan

Puletua
Manu
Walmsley
Clough

Not much optimism from fans of both sides is there? Saints think Wire and Wire think Saints. Perhaps we should ask the Crusties for an unbiased opinion?
I'm sure it will be tight but our pack is weakened without Waterhouse, Morley and Harrison and that might prove the difference.

No Briers aswell, which lulls your attack slightly too.

I think we're in with a chance, but I fully anticipate Wire to be favourites. I imagine you'll be too clinical for us and our lack of creativity will be the main problem. My only hope is our forwards turn up for a big game and our good record at the HJ continues. We seem to enjoy playing there, moreso than any other ground.

Joel was injured last week, but he should be fit for friday.

Saints record at Warrington is probably the main reason why we're so pessimistic. Briers is a miss but we coped without him for spells last season and Ratchford has proved he's able to replace him. I'm more concerned about our forwards and the fact that Soliola, Pelutua and Roby always have great games against us.

Who would you have added to the squad to make things better? Neither Makinson nor Gaskell would have changed things significantly. Yes we have crap half backs, but short if picking a wonder kid from the reserves, then we go with what we have got. Gaskell hasn't taken his chances, he ain't a great half back that we maybe hoped he was going to be. Sad but true. Brown has been left a squad with no half backs and is trying to find a combination that works. I personally have no problem with that, especially as he has shown that he is prepared to give players a chance.

The squad saddens me as it is weak. The thought of having a HB pairing of Hohaia/Wilkin makes me want to cry. I was at no point suggesting that Brown has made a clanger with the squad.

Although the only critique (or query - however you put it) would be that I thought Gaskell would have come in for Wheeler. I think that having only Wilkin as a half decent in-play kick option is disastrous (especially against a team who applies a lot of kick pressure) so Gaskell kind of adds that extra element to our game and can be an excellent place kicker - although I feel Percival will take this up on Friday.

To be fair even when both Gaskell and Wilkin were in the team for the 1st three games, Gaskell didn't really put in many kicks in general play. He took a backseat for some reason and it was pretty much Wilkin doing it anyway. Gaskell was disappointing, he seemed to be playing within himself.

No Gaskell? I am surprised, does that mean another 20+ rounds of shuffling the ball.

Doesn't it seem, though, that Wilkin has been given that job, even when he's not officially playing in the halves? I might be wrong but that's how it looks to me.

If we're not signing anyone then I'd like to see Gaskell get a run at 6 and be given more responsibility - give him the job of moving the team around and engineering the last tackle and see how it goes. He'll make a few mistakes, but at least he'll be a half-back doing a half-back's job.

For me team would be:

Lomax
Gardner
Turner
Percival
Meli
Hohaia
Wilkin
Laffranchi
Roby
LMS
Soliola
Manu
Flanagan

TP
Clough
Jones
Walmsley