Because he is a young lad and wanted to impress.

I was thinking of putting a post on here about Gary Wheelers decision in the last few minutes which would have read something like thisHe let nobody down. What's to say anyone else in that situation wouldn't have done the same thing?
Last night, I felt proud to be a Saints fan - the proudest I had felt in a while. To see the youngsters (products of the academy system) playing in the first team and acquitting themselves so well was a pleasure to watch.

Gary Wheeler has nothing to feel sorry for and we need to get behind these youngsters - they are going to become real stars for many years to come.

I was hoping no-one would post anything negative about Wheeler on here and I feel it very unfair to send negative comments in his direction.

Nuff said.

Come on you Saints!

Am I thinking about the right one? Is this when he decided to run in rather than pass to Armstrong about a couple of minutes from the end when we were racing towards the tryline? If it is that moment then I felt right sorry for him because it was all happening under my nose and I saw his face after he'd taken the decision and gotten himself tackled. He looked crestfallen. I think it was Long who ruffled his hair afterwards in a gesture of sympathy.

I couldn't blame him for that. At another moment it would have been the right decision. Why he made it I don't know - perhaps he thought touch was too close, perhaps he wanted to impress, perhaps he had a moment's madness. Who knows? But he'll learn from it I'm sure and that's what it's all about. He's got some ability so far as I can see and hopefully we'll keep on seeing it as the season progresses and he learns more.

The experienced players had some accounting to do last night though. Their ball handling was shocking. Whether we had won or lost, to play like that really is not good even if it does happen now and again. It probably didn't help that for some reason Potter kept changing people around. Hopefully he'll be a bit wiser next time too!

We could have taken the drop goal, but, that ain't the Saints way.RL has got exposure on BBC news, before 0830 on a Saturday morning, because of our defeat.We have got to look on the plus side, there were four kids on the pitch tonite, who tackled their heart out.Hull kr played well, with the dodgy referee in the middle anything could have happened. But here is a thought, he disallowed our try for a forward pass on the advice of the touch judge.However, on the Hull kr - Fox try - the touch judge indicated that there was a foot in touch, but, Smith awarded the try,even though he was 10 yards away and watching the grounding.Double standards me thinks!

Inexperience that's why.

He didn't know what to do, i felt sorry for him, the cover was flying across and the chances are if he had give the ball to Armstrong he would have been in the same position, and probably been knocked into touch.

Wheeler is another Hardman-esque runt. He'd be stopped by a strong wind, let alone a proper Super League player.

Me thinks you are one very envious and no doubt a very sad individual. You've obviously developed your ability to recognise rugby talent from the (no doubt soon to be ex) Warrington Coach.

What's even more obvious is that you have never seen Wheeler play.

The only runt here is you ... ... I do genuinely feel sorry for people like you.

Quality comments.

Give over. I am a Saints fan for a start. What I said is true he is physically capable of being a top rugby league player at the moment, whether he's talented or not.

I'm willing to bet you £20 that he's not at Saints in 5 years.

There are some very harsh statements on here after just his second match, i thought he played very well and not even the best senior players never make some mistakes. I would definitely give him this season to see how he goes.

Then we agree!

I missed the game as I was away.

Can someone tell me what role he played and how well he got on with it? It was mentioned somewhere he came on for Gidley?

He came on for Gilmour, in the left centre, who got one in the mouth early on.

Played about 50-60 minutes and did well.

He came on for Cunningham originally, Roby went to hooker and he went to stand off. However, Gilmour got injured about 2 minutes later, so Wheeler had to go to centre, which left Wilkin at stand off.

Oh, didn't know that, just saw Gilmour coming off and that Wheeler had gone on