Why pick wello in front of him then?

Personally, I wouldn't. Makinson's performance in the GF converted me. To play as he did as the youngest guy in the team under that much pressure in his first GF in his debut season was amazing. The lad is already a star in my view! But the fact is Wello is now sole captain, has been around forever, and no coach is going to drop him. However, should Wello find himself struggling with fitness this season then it's Makinson for me every day and Wello should be encouraged to retire at the end of this season with Makinson taking his place. Ashe would then be the stand in fullback.

I agree.

Ashe looks like a very good confident player as well.

totally agree

Wello may be safe but he's coming to the end of his career , Makinson is the future and the only way you get experience is by playing

Would prefer Ashe to eventually be our Full Back. Makinson can play anywhere from 1 to 5, but I think his true position will be centre for the 2013 season. Meanwhile Royce has a problem in trying to get the right combination across that back line.

Wello wasn't safe under the high bomb at all last year, did he catch one at all?

I'd like to see Makinson there myself, but I think Hohaia may get the job to include a bit of experience in a play making role. I think the much reported evidence from Friday shows that Gaskell must start.

I would like to see Makinson as our first choice fullback this year. A definate international IMO. I like Wellens and he has been great for the club but he isn't as much of a threat as Makinson is anymore. My ideal 13 this year would be.

Makinson
Foster
Shenton
Wheeler
Gardener
Hohaia
Lomax
Laffranchi
Roby
Lms
Flanagan
Soliola
Wilkin

Clough
Puletua
Perry
Meli

Decent team but for me Gaskell needs to be in there, I'd also like to see Ashe given a run out, he's really impressed me in his limited run outs. An experimental team I'd like to see:

Nathan Ashe
Tommy Makinson
Michael Shenton
Gary Wheeler
Ade Gardner / Jamie Foster

Lee Gaskell
Jonny Lomax

Josh Perry
James Roby
LMS
Mark Flanagan
Jon Wilkin
Anthony Laffrinchi

Sia Soliola
Tony Puletua
Paul Clough
Lance Hohaia

Although I'd start with Lance on the bench I'd want to use him as much as possible rotating in and out of the Hooker and Half back roles. Whilst this probably wouldn't be what I'd choose as a 13, I wouldn't mind seeing it tried out.

Makinson at fullback, Gaskell at 6 and Lomax at 7 are essentials for me. I will personally organise the first 'Sack the board' riots if we start the season with Wello at 1.

Wellens, as much as I love him for his efforts over the years, is awful. He is easily the worst fullback in the league and contributes nothing. He can't judge high kicks, he cost us tries several times in crucial games last season. He doesn't contribute to the attack, doesn't chime into the line and never beats the first man from kicks.

His time is up.

Give over!!! I should ban you for talking such utter sensationalist claptrap but then our current audience would drop by 10% automatically!

I'm gonna run the risk of being hunted down by an angry hate mob but... I'd send Gaskell out on loan. I don't think his kicking game is consistent enough to warrant pushing Hohaia or Lomax out of half backs maybe it's just me but I don't think he is Saints standard. I know he is a favourite on here but for me he still isn't pulling off the right passes at vital times either and it's something that can only come with experience that i'd rather see him gain elsewhere and keep our halfbacks as they are. I agree that wello isn't the player he was though and last season was a bit of a liability but hopefully he can get some form back because royce wont drop his captain.

Problem is, he's not wrong, Wello was past his best 2 years ago which is strange because he isnt particularly old. Makinson for me is a better player now.
Ashe also shows promise and so Makinson may be of more use in the centres long term.

You'd never catch me arguing that Wellens deserves selection for past glories alone but he was outstanding in the playoff series and his early exit from the Grand Final was a major factor in our implosion in the last 20 mins.

No player deserves a shirt on reputation but as long as Wellens is in that kind of form he's the best fullback at the club.

If he slips below these standards Makinson is a fantastic deputee - what a sensational prospect this kid is. He's gonna be amazing and is already an exciting player.

Like most of Saddened's rants, he's never 100% wrong. I myself was calling for us to play with Eastmond at 1 towards the end of the season, but Wello finished the season very well. To suggest he's the worst fullback in SL is like claiming Wakefield have a better backline than us.

I can understand your claims to want a full back what can beat a man etc as thats the way the game has gone since Billy Slater burst on to the scene and showed playing at FB wasnt all about defence and catching high bombs...

However would all of you on here really leave Wellens out of the 17 every week? Is Makinson that good to replace Wellens straight away? Wellens experience and leadership this season could be vital with the loss of James Graham to the NRL.