Easy to forget Welsby is still only 22; still plenty of development in his game and he knows that. Given Wigan fans saw the rise of Tomkins (the talented one not the other two) I’d have thought Wigan fans would have understood that maverick and smart arris are the different sides of the same coin, depending on the colour of your shirt. Like him or loath him his time is now; he’s top of the try assist charts, becoming ever increasingly senior in the Saints squad and his personal highlights reel is basically complete already, scoring down under in the WCC, at Wembley and the match winner in the 2020 GF.

Obviously being in the hunt for a historic quadruple makes next week huge for us, but it’s the trophy of least concern for me. Given how congested the league is at the moment I don’t think the usual “just get top two; get the home semi and plan from there” is going to work; it’s going to take a run of performances and most likely finish top. We have both an advantage and a hinderance at the moment with the game in hand. If us being knocked out the cup gets the game arranged as not a midweek dirge, then that’s a small silver cloud.

We won the GF last year with long term injuries to Grace, Dodd and Walmsley. The year before it was Fages and Bentley. If we lose Lomax, of course it’s a blow, but we adjust every year, and it’s far more about combinations of injuries which become a concern. Last year ahead of the CC semi we lost Hopoate, Bennison, Dodd and Lomax’s left arm all in rapid succession. The spine was our weakest depth already and we ended up with Davies in the halves and having to hide Lomax at fullback so he avoided contact on his arm. Still took a poor individual performance from a kid on the wing and a rogue one armed pass from Lomax for us to lose that day. Fast forward and we beat Warrington with basically our first choice pack and backline missing. Attitude is everything at Saints this year and we should be confident if Wellens gets that right (that I am less convinced on…) irrespective of who is or isn’t on the field

Have you took over the role from Stu explaining why Saints are the goat re-all the injuries you get especially the one with Lomax losing his left arm.

He certainly does make mistakes. I don’t even think he should play FB, he’s poor defensively especially positionally. Wigan know that which is why their two kicks came off although granted he slipped for one of them.

He’s a 6 all day long for me. He’s also still only 22 and has the mentality not to go into a shell if he makes mistakes and he’ll come back better. Friday being a case in his point after his slip.

I meant it’s more of a big game for you because you’re on the back of 2 big losses and nearly 80 points conceded. I’ve said on this very forum that Peet is extremely hard to dislike but watching his interview after the game it’s the first time he looked a bit rattled. His answers were short and tetchy so I think he’s feeling it a bit.

Personally I think the 5 in a row is our biggest target. I’d love a CC win as well but given we lost 5 in a row then to win 5 in a row would put that all to bed.

I think you’re the type of bloke who loves to dish it out but can’t take it back. The type that revelled in Smith and Smithies rubbing Welsby’s head and screaming in his face last year but then gets annoyed because Welsby goads the Wigan fans after they taunt him all game. Throwing beer onto the Saints players for celebrating tries was very classy from your fans. Some kids hit with pint pots too but let’s blame Welsby eh.

I didn’t have a problem with Tomkins giving it to us in his Wigan days. He was a class act, took it and dished it out. Remember the V signs? Didn’t bother me in the slightest.

He shouldn’t be mentioned in the same sentence as Sam Tomkins. He’s a good player and could be a very good one but Tomkins was smashing out numbers Welsby could only dream of at 21/22. He put 25+ try’s and 25+ assists on the board on a regular basis.

Being a bit of a nob at times is probably the closest comparison on an individual basis.

Spot on.

Welsby is a decent player, no qualms about that. I don’t like any player irrespective of their team that play the big I am and says he detests opposition teams. He’s not a young lad. He’s got 4 or so of first team rugby. I just expect better from experienced players.

He’s not said that to be fair. I assumed it due to his reactions when he plays against them.

However on reflection “detests” and “despises” are two very strong words and I don’t think that’s genuinely the case.

Ah! You've decided something have you? Do you even know me in the slightest to be deciding what I am? I can take it just fine. I also condemn the beer throwing idiots as I did at the game. Where, exactly did I "blame Welsby" for anything? I'd love to see the quote. What? There isn't one and you're just making it up? Surely not Stu. You're clearly a decent individual who "loves" to see people "despising" others so that can't be true. Do you "love" a nice bit of homophobia or racism as well or is your bigotry solely reserved for Wigan fans?

My issue is with you, not Welsby.


*BTW. Nice to see your empty words acted on again. I thought you were walking? Apparently, that's gone the way of your "not posting, win or lose" (sic). Why am I not surprised?

Ah I don’t know you but now I’m racist and homophobic? Quality comeback.

I’ve also just applauded Wigan on Twitter for their Daniel Anderson gesture. I live in Wigan and have a lot of Wigan mates. There is a rivalry and at times emotions get high. Personally I like the sub plot of how Welsby and Makinson react to playing Wigan. It’s similar to Rooney when he was at Utd playing against Everton in the first couple of years.

To be fair nearly everyone apart from you and a couple of others have moved on and have gone back to discussing rugby again. That’s the part I like about being on a Wigan forum.

I tell you what we’ll do Phuzzy if you like….

You PM me and I’ll give you my Twitter username and Red Vee one. You can see for yourself what type of bloke I am. Naturally according to you they will all be homophobic and racist of course

Find the ones where Rogues Gallery was being called all sorts on Red Vee and I’ve jumped in on his behalf. Or the ones where I’ve praised Wigan for various initiatives.

You must think I’m some sort of Neanderthal knuckle dragger or something.

Also be very careful making references to someone you don’t know on a public forum being homophobic or racist. I’ll argue with you all day long but there’s a line. And you’ve just crossed it.