If you read the OP, I make it quite clear that Gaskell was not a long term solution. I'm talking about some way to improve the current catastrophy. Whilst Gaskell may not have been here in the future, he is a halfback and would offer more than Howarth at 6 and more than Wellens at 6 and more than Lance.

However if it's written in the contract he can't come back then the point is null and void.

Either way we need to improve on Wilkin and a' another player at halfback, just for the short term of this season.

For me, Jon wilkin has to stay at 7. He's a senior player and try's to lead us. Hohaia can't lead the team at all and I doubt anyone in the squad can. So IMO wilkin is the best of a bad bunch for the 7 spot.

At stand off, I'd give swift a run there in the next two games. He can't be any worse that wello or Howarth.

When roby is back, I'd 100% have lance and wilkin in the halves. Its not good enough but IMO its the best we've got.

So if go for - (6) - lance (7) - Wilkin (9) - Roby

Anyone with pace & a step would be better than Hohaia. So Swift should be given a go. Hohaia should get nowhere near that side, he's rivalling Damien Smith & Mark Bourneville as one of our worst overseas signings. No creativity or kicking game now a liability in defence & the telegraphed show & go the only string to his bow.
When Lomax returns, Makinson & Ade on wings, Swift & Wilkin the halves & Roby at nine.

I'll raise you Phil Adamson and Henare

Of course we overhype our youngsters now because its the only way we will see quality in the team.

We shouldn't be relying on their performances to win matches. But we are.

Cayless was the last attempt at recruiting a top class player in his prime.

We've hyped a lot of recruitment since but they haven`t been top class or gamble signings.

But we still had a world class spine that dwindled down from Scullys exit all the way to James Grahams.

We're now down to Roby but we have Soliola, some promising youngsters and we have got very lucky with Warmsley.

Personally I think you waste as much money trying to sign 2/3 players where one class player will do and let a few others step up.

This is how Saints used to recruit for years of mediocrity before we started to bring in real proven quality like Newlove and Sculthorpe etc to add to our own talent.

But wether you agree or disagree with that analysis I just can`t understand why we have no scrum half.

Its a massive recruitment failing. And yet last years coach has been made CEO?

I think we know the coaches have little input into recruitment but surely they identify positions?

And who is scouting older players for us?

We keep buying 2nd rows which argueably are the easiest position to recruit or develop yourself and then ask them to play other positions as well.

Wilkin at 7 is ridiculous. And then we start playing Wello at 6.

Please just buy a quality 7 - it would have an instant impact.

We haven't had a 7 since Longy and then eastmond left and you could argue eastmond was still a gamble at 7 at that stage.

The names I keep getting mentioned Smith ( why did we let him go - he wasnt good enough), Dobson etc are NOT the quality we need at 7.

Of course theyd do at the moment but that's the recruitment policy we have fallen in to making do and filling gaps.

If we cant get them in SL then we need to be raiding NRL reserve grade.

Dobson was a loan initially and never made it in the NRL. Chase was a reserve grader.

I've suggested a look at George Ndaira - he`s still a gamble but I`m no scout there must be other guys just under NRL.

Its a reflection of the league that I still think we are 1/2 quality signings away from making a good run in the league playoffs still.

I suspect that is true sadly.

The simple reason you have no halfbacks? Impatience, and throwing them in early and expecting them to be the same player they were when they were unknown to the rest of the league. That, and the unfortunate situation of the one you actually stuck with being turned by a code that can pay more.

Halves and props, they take a long time to mature into the players they can be.

Yet Hohaia is one of the fastest players we have, and was quite an elusive runner...

Elusive runner? When, its his usual show & go or nothing & his blistering pace of yester year is long gone. He is ponderous & so slow decision making any pace he still has is ineffective. I accept he still has some pace but hes been burned on the outside a few times this season in defence....

If only he could defend, pass (at the standard expected of a halfback) and organise.

We took a punt on lance and it failed, a few of us (most) were worried about the length of contract and now that's come to bite us. But without spending real money on a transfer fee we're going to be stuffed. The extra 12k Wigan offered Matty smith looks like small change now doesn't it??

Loan a 7, I say.

I wonder if we could get Trent Hodkinson ... not a regular for the Bulldogs at the moment

If he's not needed for their first grade, surely the experience of playing first team Superleague would be seen as a positive for him (or someone like him)?

Ryan Brierley played well for Leigh on Friday at Wigan.