I'd be inclined to agree but I do like gaskell so I have to be aware that one game does not really test the lomax and lance combination fully nor is it enough to say they have not developed a kicking game that works. So i'm cautious to say gaskell is a must in the same way shenton or say roby is.

I think we'd have to get very very lucky for two non hakfbacks with no natural kicking game to work but it's not impossible.

For me gaskell is a must you dont get a good kicking game over night it takes years to learn and if lance and lomax aint got it now they never will plus gaskell brings a lot more then a kicking game

What does Gaskell have to offer except kicking that Lomax and Hohaia don't?

I'd say that's a pretty important when you don't really have a natural field kicker in the team.

Gaskell to me is the most natural half of the three. His passing is better, he runs the more natural lines and I think he's a good organiser that will improve given more maturity. Mid way through last year I thought a loan spell would benefit him, but he's come on massively and the Play Offs & Grand Final were big games which he handled pretty well. If I was picking the side he'd be the 1st half I'd pick alongside Hohaia or Lomax.

It's nice to have options for a change, unlike last year.

I'd add to that the ability to read the game and to think on his feet, eg when he couldn't reach a ball in the first play off against Wigan he turned it into a very good grubber which won us a drop out if memory serves.

He can also drop goals!

I'd agree with that too. He's just more natural than the other two who are good individual players, but I'm not sure they really have a true position. I think they're good supporting halves who are so good they can play 3 or 4 other positions strongly.

I know kicking is important but it was a question to an earlier post. Personally i don't think his kicking is consistent enough to warrant a first team place. I don't want to come accross too negative because he is only young and learning but he's not the player a lot of you make him out to be. IMO he's the 3rd choice stand off at Saints. Do you think he is a better passer, organiser and runner than either Lomax or Hohaia? I think Hohaia is stronger than him in all area's except kicking cause i'm yet to see that from him. Gaskell for me picks the wrong option a lot of the time I don't know wether it's down to experience but a loan spell would do him good and would allow Saints to have a look at his game when he isn't surrounded by world class players.

I was picking out his kicking game but it is far from his only feature. He is a better organiser and passer, as for runner, I'm not so sure. I would say Lomax is a better runner at the minute as he has that very attractive explosive running style. But for me Gaskell is quick, but with those ong legs he looks like he is not really going at pace. I'd go so far to say with a bit more meat on his bones those runs from Leon Pryce that we used to see will become more common from Gaskell. He hits holes at pace at the moment. Sometimes busting through with just pace. But without the bulk, stronger players can just about hold him.

Once he bulks out, that pace and momentum added to the muscle will give him all the attributes. Not many halfbacks have all the attributes, but this lad can have it all, passing,kicking, running, add in a fend and well, scary is the word.

He did pick wrong options at the start of last year, but as the year went on you could see his percentage just get better and better, same with his defence his position and strength in the tackle saved us many a try.

All great teams need 3 pivots it used to be halfbacks and loose for Saints. But if loose is now becoming a prop role, then a pivot at FB it will have to be, we can accomodate 3 half backs, Wigan accomodated 4 last year. It's just about making some tough choices, and showing players they can be what they want to be no matter the number on their backs.

I am not too impressed by him if i'm honest. I've got a few video's from the grand final that i'll try to upload where a simple pass from him would have left us with a huge overlap but he decided to run everytime. I don't think hes much of an organiser. He may be a good passer but for me he's dummying and taking the ball in himself too much when all he needs to do is a simple pass. His defence did improve but i think being moved next to Shenton played a big part in that. I don't remeber him going through many gaps last year never mind people struggling to hold him down. I know it's early days but i don't think we'll see Gaskell at Saints past his current contract.

Lee Gaskell must have an identical cousin or something because you are describing a completely different individual to the one I was watching last season.

Some of his one on one tackles were outstanding; he ghosts through the line, Leon style; his presence on the pitch on Friday changed the game; he has pace, speed of thought and a degree of craft. You can't hold his inexperience against him and that was his first GF so if he made mistakes then that is just part of his learning process. He certainly learns from his mistakes as was witnessed during the 2011 season.

Spot on and I agree with everything you've said, no better way to sum it up really.

Gaskell appears to divide opinion.
I have ALWAYS been a big fan as you will all know on here.

However, at a party over Christmas I was talking to a Saints season ticket holder whose son played for one of the Saints scholarship sides. His point on Gaskell was "He can't pass accurately" and is a poor decision maker

He asked me to watch carefully the next time I see Gaskell play (I will).

it's certainly something I hadn't noticed in his game, but then thought back to our last game at Widnes when he made the break and then went completely in the wrong direction away from his support.

As I have said before, I've watched him at U18 and U20 level and he has always been a danger and IMO never really got the credit he deserved as he was moved between fullback, centre, stand off and scrum half which made things difficult for him.

Interesting, I've not noticed the passing accuracy, although its been a long time since we've had a 6 who I'd describe as accurate.
He made some poor decisions in the GF, but before that, no one really picked up on a problem.

Regarding the break at Widnes, i remeber the full back and the chasers sheparding him quite well, but it look like he ballsed it up.

What we know is things look a lot better for Saints when he's on the pitch.

I have been saying this for the last 3 years at least. I think we need Saddened as a Moderator.