He is. But it's been a LONG road back to form. Something has gone drastically wrong somewhere when a talented kid goes from a stellar opening season to the championship within a couple of years.

And Wigan are running precisely the same kind of risk. Perhaps bigger because Gaskell didn't make his debut with every Saints fan in the house already having booked their seats for the Second Coming.

That's my concern also. Somebody has suggested getting Shorrocks in. He too is a very good young player but nowhere near ready for first team yet, especially in such an important position.

Sadly, and it comes back to my point above, that's the position they have been put in.

We haven't replaced Green so we have to play one of the youngsters. We also cant keep swapping and changing our 6 for each game.

Let me ask you a question - what's worse, picking/sticking with Hampshire and asking him to deal with the pressure or keep rotating three lads whilst picking them to play different positions? For me the latter is the worst of the two as its setting them and the team up for a fail. Williams isn't a 6 and Rocky isn't a 1. Asking both to play in unnatural positions whilst occasionally playing 6 every 3 weeks is far far worse than chucking them in the deep end in positions they are comfortable in.

Ideally we'd have signed a Campese type guy and brought Rocky through slowly at 6 and Williams though slowly at 7. The current situation isn't the best but it's one needlessly created by Wane/Radders/IL.

Then why didn't we go in for him?

If Wheeler's worth a spot at Warrington then Gaskell is definitely worth a run at Wigan. Maybe not now you've committed. But certainly last season.

:1fq449mk


[url:1fq449mkhttp://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=10286&type=1[/url:1fq449mkRyan Hampshire started at Full Back instead of Matty Bowen. On the change, Wane said: "He did enough, he showed some good pace. They're two different kinds of full back but Rocky did well tonight. I'm a big Matty Bowen fan but I won't shy away from making tough decisions. Once I watch the game back tonight I'll make a decision about next week.'"

Id play Hampshire on the wing with the pace he has and learn just like Sean Edwards did .

He only had Bowen to displace from the Full back spot. Put him on the wing and he will have to shift Charnley, Budgie and Manfredi.

Not to mention he will not be able to cultivate any creative attacking skills.

Bit left field, but I'd play him in his actual position, stand off.

That'll never catch on

Me too.

Thought he went well at fullback yesterday, nothing spectacular but towards the end he was causing real problems with his pace. Watching Bowen against Leeds last week, he was really struggling to keep up with play and get round the back on our attacks and this was one of the main reasons Smith and Williams were being hit over and over again.

Against a strong defence with quick line speed, your play needs to be quick and with Bowen at FB I think we get caught out. As mentioned, Leeds showed that last week and Saints will be no different. I realise the aerial threat will be high but Hampshire offers a hell of a lot more in attack and must start for me.