The way he played in the last 6/7 weeks was reminiscent of Briers.
Prior to that period of improvement wasn't Briers away from the club on training programmes?
If correct then there's a coincidence I could buy, not so much the influence of Agar.

Half back play is all about confidence and the run of games at the end will have helped so much. He's a good player. He needs to learn how to protect himself and when he shouldn't be putting his body into situations where he is going to get flattened. No one minds getting crunched to create a break or make or try but clever players like him have to be selective or they won't last very long. (from my book on playing rugby with a frail body ... there isn't really a book ... but I reckon I could write one)

I like Chris Bridge but in your post you illustrate my point. In that infamous Saints defeat Bridge tried his 'grubber' (or whatever it was) when we were deep in our own half, in front, and with only a couple of minutes remaining on the clock. O'Brien's kick was made from a position well into Wigan's half, with Warrington behind and not long to go. Who showed the more mature judgment?

O'Brien is the best goal-kicker in the first team squad. The only reason I can think of as to why TS doesn't have him as first-choice kicker is that he doesn't believe that O'Brien will play regularly for the team and thus needs a definite regular to take responsibility. Let's hope that changes next season.

Maybe he doesn't want to add the extra responsibility, preferring for him to concentrate solely on his own game.

It could be, but the previous poster is right, GOB is head and shoulders the best goal kicker in the current squad. When I watched him back in 2010 for the U20's he looked like a carbon copy of Hodgson - it came as a surprise when he missed, even from the touchline. If he can cement his place in the squad we will get the added bonus of his goal kicking.

Smiffy27's point about him protecting himself is spot on, it should have been one of his earliest coaching lessons, there's still lots of time for him with his skills I feel he's now at the stage where he will be honing them as games permit.

He just needed a run of games, with the forwards working and settle And not feeling the axe hanging over him for any little mistake like it was at the start of the year

OR...did TS give the following talk "Ok, everybody knows that up until now its been merely warm up games. Now start to earn your place."

I can't believe that Gareth could treat any game as a warm up