I've read this a few times now and don't agree with it. He managed to hold on to him most times (got run over once) but looked to be struggling to do so at times.

He did a good job, but having Ablett in his pocket doesn't reflect reality IMO.

Some of our players struggle to hold on to Rob Burrow so I'm not sure why you criticise Percival on his first team debut for struggling to hold on to a lump like Ablett. The point is that but for one occasion in an 80 minute game, he held on.

Percival was player I mentioned a couple of years back. However he is still young and a little weak defensively. He missed four tackles v Wigan, but does look as though he has it in him to be a really good centre.

Another centre to keep a look out for is Oliver Gildhart at Wigan, he is still first year (U17) but has been very impressive in Wigans u19 this season.

True, but in the same match he made 3 clean breaks, so he certainly troubled Leeds a lot more than they troubled him.

Ablett is twice the size of Percival, what were you expecting him to do exactly? He hardly gave him a sniff all game, hence the 'in his pocket' metaphor. What more did you want from him?

Percival is a class act, and more importantly a natural centre. His pace and footwork are both exceptional, and he seems to know where to find space. What impressed me most against Leeds was his ability to time a run and hit the ball at pace running at the inside shoulder of his marker which is extremely difficult to deal with.

As pointed out, Jones is never a centre, but he would make a decent back rower.

Thought Joe Greenwood had a good game on the right edge as well yesterday. Get him running at the halves and centres on a regular basis and he will cause problems.

Any relation to the former Wigan forward Ian Gildhart?

Yes, it's his son.

Dave Hewitt is another one to look out for at Saints.

What do you make of Ryan Hampshire at Wigan, Rogues?

He can be anything.
Three ties against Saints on Sunday, really outplayed Charnock, his pace if frightening. I have a feeling Wigan may give him a run at fullback.
If you remember last year in the "fastest man" springt comp at Headingley he finished fourth at the age of 17.

If you watch the juniors then he and George Williams are probably the best pair of halfbacks I have seen come through together, but I also think they may end up as #1 and #9 as that seems to be the way in the modern game.

I'm not criticising him, just saying Ablett wasn't "in his pocket" and his defence will improve as he fills out.

Young players aren't perfect; I'm just saying he's looked a bit lightweight in defence at times. It's not criticism, it's perspective when people are saying he had a player who ran over him once "in his pocket".

You'll note I said "he did a good job" in defence, how that is criticism is beyond me. He looks all class in attack and his defence is decent in the circumstances and will improve.

You are "under-playing" his defence effort against someone "double his size". Maybe I was "getting a little carried away" with the metaphor, but he did really really well against "Ablett".

Like I said, he did a good job!

We're making the "same" ( ) point - you're saying he did well given he is undersized, I'm saying he is undersized so will struggle physically at times (and he did at times against Leeds, despite doing really well) but his defence is decent in the circumstances and will improve.

Does that mean you're resigning yourself to Tomkins leaving, or do you just mean when they ease him into the first team?

As I mentioned to you once, I was suprised he's a stand off and not a 7 as the videos of him I've seen on you tube (plaing for england) make him look more like a first receiver type.

I was a bit dissapointed that we only got to see Charnock in a snow storm and then he's been dropped for Wellens (especially given the way many other youngsters were given a chance against Cas). Its almost like he played him against Salford as a statement of intend to Gaskell