Taken from Gellings new Blog the reason why he has gone... https://anthonygelling.wixsite.com/mysi ... in-a-bit-1

Taken from Gellings new Blog the reason why he has gone... https://anthonygelling.wixsite.com/mysi ... in-a-bit-1

Personally I really want to see how Tomkins would go as a halfback. Its a position England are desperate for and Tomkins has all the skills required (except possibly kicking). As for his defence, I think his one on one is fine, and I'd say there are plenty of SL halfbacks around who are a lot more shaky than him. Its obviously Wigan's call, but I'd love to see him at 6. Regardless of where he plays though, you also need Williams to kick on. I'm fed up of seeing young English halfbacks with obvious talent just stop developing or even go backwards. If Luke Gale is the best we can hope for we'll never beat Australia.

With a Wigan hat on its obviously great to see Williams still here but with an England hat on, he’d have been far better served going testing himself in the NRL.

Superleague isn’t forcing him to work on his weaknesses. I thought it was one of his biggest weaknesses that probably held him back from going and that’s a lack of confidence.

No where near goof enough to play NRL. Not even a stand out in SL.

Eh?

We on about Williams? I get it that you may not think he’s good enough for the NRL but to say he’s not a stand out in superleague is absurd. Young player of the year in 2016 and the top assist maker in 2017 whilst not having his best season.

The problem for him is it’s probably too easy in superleague for him sometimes.

I think SW will play Powell at 7 and leave ST at 1 with Escare as back up.
Wouldn't be my preference but SW tends to go with safety first particularly on defence and Powell's defence is petty sound.
I think I saw Escare on one of the videos training in Wales.

Morgan has done a lot of work alongside Powell as a half last few months, not sure whats happening now GW is back in full swing...it would be massively surprising to see him playing as a back-up full back to Sam (who is nailed in as #1). Sarge will now be covering any ST absences.

I would not be surprised to see Esc/GW as our starting halves with Powell as starting #9. Powell will plug any absences in the halves with Tommy/Ganson in at #9. Only spanner in the works as far as I know is the enigma around Jake Shorrocks...

On a separate, unrelated to the topic note, Tom Davies is looking immense! Going to have a massive season!

Well if Wane's idea of change is to play Powell at 7 I can't see how that is going to improve the team. In many ways he is younger version of Matty Smith in that he has many of the same limitations he had to his game, lack of pace, lack of vision, not particularly good passer. Don't know what Wane sees in him but he is a player Wane will always pick. I suppose, like Sarginson he trains the house down and that sort of thing counts for a lot in Wane's world. Someone on the other forum quipped we could sign Cameron Smith and Wane would spell him with Powell just to get Powell in the side. That made me smile.

The only "logic" I can see as to why he would end up at 7 is because Wane has decided to play Sam T at 1. Given Sam T has voiced the desire to stick to playing 1, I wonder who is picking the team!

Still feels a bit like moving furniture around on the Titanic to me.

I'd love to be prove wrong (and it wouldn't be the first time if I was), but we are desperately in need of some star quality.

I have no idea how Escare would do at 6.
Yeah ST has publicly stated that he wants the No 1 shirt so I am assuming that is what he will get.
With Bateman & Sarginson inside him Davies wont get a pass all season. Has he ever played centre as a junior?

I am with you on Powell but if he can develop his kicking game then he will be a shoe in from SW's perspective.
I suppose we wont know until the squad numbers are announced.