Agreed, I think had Leeds not got the drop goal against us last year, we'd of gone on and given Wigan a better game then they did, alas it was not to be.

His recruitment is one of the best things about Brown, time and again he has the ability to see the obvious about squads and improve them accordingly - not many coaches can. Amor, Walsh, and (if rumours are to believed) burns address absolutely everything everyone has said about us in the last 2 years. Some fans have a want it now mentality though...

Talking of which, how did McDonnell go last night? 2 tries on debut generally indicates a good performance but got told he was quote quiet...

Good support player, seems to read the game OK. He couldn,t chime into the attacking line too much because we didn,t have the half back experience to execute it.
He seems OK for speed, just needs a couple of games to try and influence some possibly new attacking options.

One thing I liked about McDonnell is that he was buzzing in and around the forwards all the way trough the game looking for an offload. Lomax tends to prefer to be more of an attacking threat out wide or support breaks up the middle, you don't often see him pushing on the shoulder of one of the props looking for an opportunity. As soon as McDonnell builds up an understanding with the likes of Amor, Mose and Alex, he will get plenty of scoring chances. He wasn't part of any free flowing handling moves but coming into the side at such a late stage with no halfbacks, that's to be understood.

I thought having three pivots in Wello, Turner and Wheeler seemed to work better, going back to my preferred structure of having a ball playing 13 rather than another prop on the field.

I think Brown identified early in the job he lacked props and halves. He's Brought us walmsley, Manu, Amor and Walsh that have been top notch signings. Also big Mose has been excellent the last 2 month.

He's also been excellent with the young lads. He's used them well and not over used them and had them killed. The way he took Percy out last year was great man management as he told Percy why he was took out and it's it's not you've been dropped.

I honestly think if he brings in Vea and 2 or 3 other signings we will be more the Brown saints team that he wants and barring injuries I think we will win something in the next year or so.

I thought McDonnell did ok. He wasn't excellent but supported well and looked full energy. Looked sloppy in defence IMO.

I thought it was a great performance last night. Wheeler come up with some decent passes before he got injured and did well to stay on the field. McDonnell's support play was top class but disagree with pete i thought he defended well and organised our line. Turner was my MOM by far.

He struggled with some of his defence and I noticed it when he was at hull.

On first viewing would he be worth keeping around next year?

To hard to say. Fullback isn't really a position we need to be honest. We have lomax, makinson, swift, Hohaia and wello that can cover fullback.

Might be worth thinking broader than that.

1.Even with Travis burns it will be Easter before two Half backs on are on the pitch together.

2.There is no real backup for Roby.Hohaia might be going and is still a casual enigma.

3. Wheeler is gone. That leaves Wilkin as a make do half back.

4.The only real cover in the backs is Dawson who looks like a second row in the making.

5. How long will it take for Lomax to get right ?

A one year deal that provides a strike player with pace who can cover FB,Wing, HB and Hooker.
In a year he either cements his worth, earns a deal in the NRL or is released.
I think that would be a smart low risk bit of business.

I would keep him if we don,t sign Burns, that would give us the option of Lomax going to 6 and Lance playing minutes at 9.

Going back to Turner, he may not be the most gifted half back, but he bloody tries. He can also give the ball a fair boot.

He try's when he wants to. For 80% of this year he's not been interested at all.


He's certainly got a hell of a boot on him.

Well, he's certainly not hidden from the extra responsibility when shoved into halfback.

I was a bit like you (and Saddo), frustrated because (as a centre) when he's good, he's very very good.

Let's be honest, he's had one good game in the halves. That doesn't make his season a good one based on that. He's been poor and he's said so himself in the press a few times this year.

I not even praising his performances as a half, I'm just glad that, after a season when his commitment/application has been a big question mark, he can really pull the tripe out for us. A sign of things to come, hopefully.