I like both players and think that both have their qualities. Gaskell is also a lot younger than Smith and that should be remembered when comparing both players. Gaskell has a great all round game and for me is a better half back than Lomax or Hohia and I cant believe he is not in the Saints team. From what I believe we are signing Smith anyway and Gaskell is not an option. I have always liked Smith and couldnt believe he wasnt given more of a chance at Saints. He has a good all round game and I think in a good team with a good experienced stand off, Finch please, then he will go very well. I really like the idea of a good young English half back alongside an experienced import to provide stability and continuity going forward.

No, he's next season then off contract. I honestly can't see us letting him go for nothing.

I think he will give a season under Brown and see what happens.

He's got 2 years left on his contract after this season. He signed a 3 year extension last year, but what do contracts mean these days?

I don't think smith got a chance at saints because we had much better options at the time in long and eastmond but in my honest opinion I don't think he's good enough for top side like Wigan.

However, I think smith would fit in much better at Wigan than he would at saints. Smith ain't very creative but as Wigan play are more drilled structured style of attack it would suite him more than being heavily depended on st saints to create something out of nothing as we have no structure to our play at all, it's all off the cuff hope someone can make something happen crap.

Neither fill me with excitement. The only English halfback I would actually be happy to sign is Danny Brough. The rest on the list Smith, Gaskell, Lomax, Myler, Briers, Brown, McGuire, Sinfield are just a who's who of rugby league averageness. And Brough isn't that much better than them, he just has a world class kicking game which is what we need. It's a massive problem, I can't even remember the last decent English half.

Cant see the Hud letting Brough go anywhere, not having just let Brown go to Widnes. By all acounts Brough is going to be their captain next year.

Brough is Mr Average himself though. He is a journeyman who has never really settled anywhere but more worringly he never plays well in the big games and always goes missing. This has been seen time and time again throughout his career. I would much rather have a young half back with potential who can be molded and made into a much better player than someone like Brough who is on the downward slope and who was never that good anyway.

That is a good summary. Brough is the best of an average lot due to his kicking game.

Tommy isn't what you might call a classic 7 anyway but none of those can fill his boots for me. He lacks certain things himself such as a good kicking game but if there are two words that sums his game up they are "power" and "strength". All the names on list are pretty feeble in comparison.

In that sense he is irreplaceable and I don't see the point in signing an average player to fill his slot. As whoever plays 7 will not be a Tommy clone we need to get the best half back we can. I would therefore play Rusell at 1, Sam at 6 and break the bank to keep Finch to play 7. Sam is certainly not as powerful a player as Tommy but as his other skills are so far beyond the other candidates we will be a different team but just as good if not better. If we sign any of those we will be different but not as good.

Not a chance in hell saints will pay transfer fee.

I would be happy with Smith. English, in his mid 20's, IMO he is exactly what we need. A half back who (if we want him to) will stay for 5/6 years. Not a world beater but a decent organiser, a pivot with a good kicking game. With the coaching and structures in place at Wigan I think he could well blossom into a very good player for us.

I'd love Gaskell to be true but I just can't see stains selling him to us. Maybe if we gave Bradford a few quid to do a Higham/Newton style deal.
IMO he has more potential than ANY other player over the hill.

I'd be happy to pay a transfer fee for Gaskell. We're not going to use all this salary cap money/Joel Tomkins money signing expensive Aussies this time round. If Gaskell is unhappy then go for him.

He might be a bit more happy this afternoon. He is on the bench against Hull FC.

Agreed, but Finch should be priorities 1, 2 and 3.