I don't want to derail a thread by talking about Saints but given this is a Team against Saints thread, I thought it would be better going in here

FWIW, Knowles isn't as good as SOL or Sculthorpe and is some distance off both to be fair. Completely different type of player. I actually think he has been relatively poor this season overall and I'm not quite sure what the reasons are, he seems to be playing less of a ball handling role like the past two seasons and more of a tackling machine and taking drives.

On a different note we are now seeing our worst fears coming home to roost. We went heavy on the salary cap with our halves and we all knew that these were the positions where we had little or no depth. To give Wigan some credit they go the other way and ensure that they always have cover in the halves and will go weaker in the forwards in terms of the cap. Smith, Leulaui, Cust, Field and French can all play in the halves.

We have been extremely unlucky though to have two long term injuries to Lomax and Dodd. I know that Lomax is playing but at what long term cost and at what percentage is he playing to his maximum, only time will tell.

Personally I think Bell will move into the halves and that will be the plan for the season. The only other feasible option is to move Welsby there with or without Lomax and play Bennison at FB which is his natural position. However he is still a young inexperienced lad who has not played many first team games at all. It's a big risk in such a pivotal position.

Oh there's more than hope mate. Wigan and Catalans will both have a say. I'll stick my neck out now though and say it'll be a Saints v Wigan GF. I said on Saturday night that that defeat to you at the weekend will fuel us. Sometimes you need a defeat and a big one at that to get the fires burning again and motivate you and I'm hoping that's the case with us.

It’s difficult for him in fairness. I see him as a guy who can play 60-80 minutes and put a mark on a game. He’s getting bits and pieces and it’s tough then to really influence things. I thought you guys might have started him more and benched Roby, just to help him settle in quickly. I don’t see why Roby would retire with how he’s playing and you wonder what Lussick thinks about that.

It will for sure. Had you lost last Saturday with a fully fit Lomax and Dodd in the team, I’d be confident to put every penny I have (£31.24) on Saints retaining the superleague trophy but that halfback trouble has cracked it open. The form of Walmsley also brings Saints back to the pack a little. He is looking human recently and whilst he’s still the best, he’s not mangling teams like last season.

Sorry mate, you misunderstood me. I meant a miracle to go to the end of the season without injuries. I'm certainly not writing you off but I don't think I'm over egging it to say you're on the cusp of derailment. A worsening of Lomax's injury away in my opinion and that's not at all far fetched. I'd even say more likely than the alternative.

Yeah, but he has played #1 tho. Not unreasonable to call him going to FB and Welsby to FB is it.

You've just been unlucky to have three injuries. Like us having Tommy, Cust and Field injured. One isn't a HB, but will have been factored in for cover.