Do you not think that our attack stutters when the ball gets to Wellens in the 2nd pivot position? I do. Wellens is slow joining the line and his hands aren't slick enough to execute those type of moves as effecively as good attacking full backs.

I think combining Roby and Lomax (or someone else) at nine is the only way we're likely to see Roby reach thirty in a Saints shirt. Unlike, say, James Lowes who kept himself clear of the bulk of heavy traffic by employing guile and subtlety around the ruck, Roby is putting A LOT of miles on his clock early in his career. Yes, he may be lucky and stay clear of injury - but I wouldn't say that's the [ilikely outcome[/i. All fans of league are impressed by his ability to play 80 minutes whilst putting in some barnstorming displays. But playing well IN eighty minutes and playing well FOR 80 minutes are two different things. Over the last few weeks (as well as last season) I've noticed periods when he just seems to fall away from the game. Yes, he's still playing well overall. But his influence is being exerted in bursts with quiet periods in between. It's cool to think of Roby as superhuman but we have to realise there are limits even to his constitution. If we keep flogging him for 80 minutes his body will break down just like any other.

Add to this the fact that fielding one hooker for the entire game makes us very predictable - as Wigan are only too sure. By combining Lomax at nine we allow Roby to throw everything at the opposition for, say, forty minutes and when they are out on their feet we inject Jonny. Yes, we're swapping a running hooker for a running hooker - but Lomax also has the skills to bring some much-needed clever play around the ruck (his experience at half-back would be invaluable here). Roby and Lomax together would make us far less predictable (I wouldn't like to chase down Roby playing 100% for forty minutes and then face a fresh hooker who can kill you either on foot or with clever distribution) and provide a flexible platform on which to build attacking play. With twenty minutes to go I'd look to bring Roby back onto the field but this time at loose forward, a position which he could fit into seamlessly (not to mention do well in). This means that at the business end of the match we have ALL our aces on the field at once (Gaskell, Lomax, Roby & Hohaia - provided he finds some form).

I can understand fans wanting both Lomax & Roby on the field at the same time for eighty minutes. It's perfectly rational. But this doesn't automatically mean we're making the best use of our resources - for now and for the future.

All sensible points.
If you did move Lomax to rotation hooker, who would you play at #7, Lance?
To be fair, I could see a Lance - Gaskell partnership working, with lance playing at 1st receiver.

However, if we we went down this road, my personal preference would be to use Lance in the hooking role. I just have faith that Lomax could really work out at #7 for us following his showings last season.

Saving Roby's body is a good call, but regarding our predictability with him on for 80, can this also be at least partially put down to our inability at #6 onwards to test the defence, meaning a Roby carry is not only the best option, but since we're lacking instruction from wide it has also become the automatic selection?

Swain was a good 80 minute hooker and Warrinton always look a lot worse for it when Monaghan goes off.

Well, I'd prefer a genuine scrum half but since we can't even field a reserve Hohaia is the only realistic possibility (unless you're thinking of a shot-in-the-dark such as Swift). Provided Lance concentrates on moving the ball quickly and accurately to his play-maker and doesn't entertain any delusions of grandeur I think we should be ok. It's better to keep him in the defensive line where his defensive workrate will be most useful rather than playing him at full-back where it would be irrelevant.



I don't have a problem with using Lance at hooker. I just don't think he has the ability to outshine Lomax in that role. At best he'll be another running hooker (if he decides to run - something he's done very little of so far) too close to Roby to cause defences to change their patterns.



Having no width certainly doesn't help Roby. After all, it's hard to bluff your way through the ruck area if you don't have any cards. However, whilst Roby is an extremely damaging runner - [ithat's kind of all he is[/i. Defences are only too aware that they need to shut him down at the point of origin because once he gets out of the ruck the damage is done. They also know he's very unlikely to split them apart in any other way (say with subtle hands and trickery) and so whilst dealing with him is [idifficult[/i - it's not [icomplicated[/i. If you know what I mean.

We need to add some complexity to the dummy half position. That way the opposition is always forced into making split second decisions when adjusting their defensive pattern. And more decisions equals more mistakes.

Thats a few pages of reason... Quick email them to Saints!!

You don't need to. Mike Appleton has been reading RLFans this morning so he'll be well aware of the 'few pages of reason'!

Should mike appleton be worried he has Saints fan and Saddened peaking through his window to see what is on his PC. Or should we all be worried that Saddened and Saints Fan are on and the same person. talk about split personality!!!

seems only like last month that we where all shouting the praises of lomaxskell,but seeing Gaskell might be on his way J-Lo seems to be wilting as a scrum half.But as folk say he is not one,tho didn't do a bad job with Gaskell around. Lets try & keep hold of Gaskell.On another slant surely Saints ought to keep all their players apart from them that have announced they are going home,Brown might want to keep Gaskell,Foster etc.etc.As Rush is only this season coach he should not have any input in saying who is going or who is staying for next seaon.Come to that he has not said a great deal anyhow.The season is over for us for silver ware,top 6 or 5 is the best & maybe shock people by going to O.T. C.O.Y.S.