To be fair Gaskell and Lomax were not the reason we did not win the GF. Even if Gaskell had got that right, it would not have stopped Shentons elbow dislocating, leading to the Meli Sia partnership that just gave Leeds the green light to attack attack attack.

Spot on.

I think the inexperience of both Gaskell and Lomax did cost us in the GF last year, but that's what you get with having two inexperienced half backs and as long as they learn from it then there's no problem. It's probably also the reason that Hohaia was brought in, to give us some experience. It's just getting the balance right between the three, and at the moment Lomax and Hohaia are too similar to play together for me.

Having said that, I don't go against the argument that Shenton getting injured was a major part of that defeat.

Agree entirely, and we still havn,t really got a team leader in the calibre of Joynt, Sculthorpe or Cunningham, this is one of our major concerns. We might have the talent in the team but some games we will be playing like headless chickens.

I'm shocked how one persons posts on this thread (Lyono) can turn our support so sour. I don't think we can or should blame losing the GF on Lomax and Gaskell, I think that's absolutely ridiculous and deluded. If memory serves, Rugby Leaguer/League Express gave Gaskell Saints MOM for his part in the GF.
If anyone can dispute that Gaskell's appearance, and the subsequent turn around of the game against Widnes had nothing to do with him, then IMO they have something personal against him.
Come on Saints, most fans are behind you and can't wait to see our young talent come into their own. Hotel booked for next weekend and I cannot wait for kickoff to the season.

Its the old talent im worried about, We'll persist with Wello at full back when its doubtful if he's even our 3rd best option there. We'll put Lance and Lomax in the halves when Lomax and Gaskell ripped into every team last year.
Either have Lomax at 1, Lance and gaskell at 6/7
or Makinson 1, Lomax and Gaskell 6/7 and Lance as impact hooker with Robes switching to effectively a creative loose forward.

I'm holding back a little for now, see what next weeks game brings about.....

A ridiculous exaggeration - Gaskell looked like a rabbit in headlights (as was only to be expected to be fair) for most of the season while Lomax only sporadically looked good at #7, particularly against the top teams where he usually frankly looked out of his depth. Both are young players with a lot of potential and quite likely to form a good HB partnership as the months/years go on, but they are far from the nailed on certainties at #6 and #7 that some seem to think that they already are.

You're right, that [iis[/i a ridiculous exaggeration. Whilst they may have had moments when their youth was exposed, they, especially Lomax, were a joy to watch last year.

No Gaskell Lomax combination, No win verse Wigan.

Simple as.

yup, thats about the truth of it

Agreed.

Simmons is willing to wait until the last minute to see if Wello is fit to start against London...

Why for the first game would we wait till the last minute to see if anyone was fit. It could be Roby or Lomax or lance, I could not care less. If we can't play without one of these in the opening game against London then I'm sorry we just are not going to be at the standard this year.

We played London last year with half an academy side out there and they did a better job than the all stars did at home early in the season. There are alot of games and if we are just going to trundle out the same faces for every match regardless of their preperation time then it does not exhume confidence for the first game never mind the rest of the season.

AHHHHHHHHHHHH