I find it very hard to believe that - for want of a better term - too many "soft" players are given first team squad numbers at Saints. Whilst the junior grades aren't anywhere close to SL in terms of ferocity they are still tough. If Wheeler is prone to crying off he'd have been so in the reserves. I accept that Wheeler did pick up injuries in the academy - but many were bad enough to put ANY player on the treatment table.

Look, it's not just Wheeler. Lomax, Eastmond, Foster and the rest have all been out with niggling injuries recently. I think this is more a reflection of their physical immaturity than anything else. I don't care how talented you are - if you've not matured physically (usually between 21 and 22) and you're being asked to play repeatedly against SL's leviathans (who may be four inches taller and two stones heavier than you) the end result will be injuries.

Look at boxing. Think of the colossal advantages 7lb extra on the frame of your opponent gives. Ricky Hatton went from being the most feared man in his weight division to a huffing, puffing featherfist by moving up just one division.

Whilst I can see where you're coming from, some players just ARE more prone to injuries than others. There is every possibility that Wheeler is one of these players. I hope not, but he might well be.

I don't believe in the idea that a player can be "injury prone". Or not least the commonly held notion.

Yes, I accept that a part of the body - say a ligament, or a bone - may be weak for some time (or permanently) after injury and that the player may be prone to re-injuring himself because of that weakness. I also accept that some people may suffer from congenital conditions which render bones weak, tendons stiff etc. (although I doubt such people could make it to academy level, much less SL).

I think the jury is out on the theory of "Pain Threshold". It's commonly believed that someone can function whilst suffering the same injury as another who finds it impossible to. But given the uniqueness and vast complexity of individual physiology and neurology how could you even begin to argue that the injury (and its effects) are EXACTLY the same for both parites?

At a more general level - human beings are highly adept at discovering patterns in nature. But we often get things wrong and attribute meaning where there is none at all. It's easy to find meaning when we see a player repeatedly fall victim to a succession of injuries whilst others around him stay injury free for months. But how reliable is the assumption? Perhaps he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time - many times. To many this doesn't sound convincing - but we witness improbable events all about us.
If you flip a coin and it comes up heads ten times in a row do you see some grand plan at work (some do) - or do you just say - "that's lucky"?

Yes, Gary Wheeler's had a ban run of injuries. It seems odd. But could this just be ten-heads-in-a-row played out on a bigger scale?

And how do we KNOW for sure that if we could put James Roby (arguably the toughest lad at Saints) in EXACTLY the same circumstances as those surrounding Wheeler when he was injured he would be completely unscathed?

We don't. What we DO know, however, is that Roby is not injury prone and Wheeler is. Whether you agree with the definition of "injury prone" and its application, Wheeler is prone to getting injured and Roby is not.

You're right that it might be a huge dose of "wrong place wrong time", I don't dispute that and I desperately hope you're right and that Wheeler goes on a run without injury now, but frankly some human beings just have stronger bodies than others for whatever reason.

Anyhoooo,
With Eastmond of of the game on Sat, we'll need eith er Wheeler or Lomax to play 6. If its Lomax, a centre will be required out of Wheeler, Makinson, Foster, (Ashurst maybe) or shuffle round to use Flanders, Meli, or Sia (if fit) or even recall Armstrong.

I'd go:

Wellens
Gardner
Shenton
Meli
Foster
Gaskell
Moore
Graham
Roby
Perry
TP
Dixon
Flannery

Clough
LMS
Magennis
Lomax

Lomax can cover the outside backs and halves and could also spell at hooker if needs be.

If Wheeler is fit, he plays centre and Meli to wing, Foster to drop out.

Good enough to beat this Leeds team IMO.

I'd swap TP for Clough. Give us some impact a few minutes in.

I'd also keep Meli as far away from the centre as possible. Personal preference.

Wellens
Meli
Wheeler
Shenton
Gardner
Lomax
Gaskell
Perry
Roby
Graham
Clough
Dixon
Flannery

Moore
Puletua
LMS
Foster

I think I'd prefer Moore to Lomax at scrum half, he at least has a kicking game that is no worse than Eastmond's has been so far this season.

Without any medical evidence to support the assertion we cannot rationally say Wheeler is prone to injury. As stated, all his injuries might very well have been sustained by Roby if he had replaced him at the exact time and place of the injury.

We certainly can't draw any future conclusions as it would be akin to arguing that because a coin has landed on its head ten times it will probably land on its head again, which is the classic "Gambler's Fallacy".

You say that Roby is not injury prone. But he might suffer a knock at the weekend which results in numerous and increasingly lengthy absences and then ultimately early retirement. Meanwhile, "Sicknote" Wheeler could go on to achieve a SL record for consecutive appearances.

We just don't know.

Wheeler will play on Saturday. Maybe Wheeler at 6 and Moore at 7.

Why drop Gaskell? Surely the lad deserves his chance to develop his spot?

Moore shouldn't be in the team simple

I'd rather have Gaskell and Lomax in the halves. Scott Moore is never a 7

Would me self been disappointed with Moore since he came back not the player he was at Huddersfield or even Castleford