Time flys.........

I totally agree he’s definitely not shown his best form for most of the season but the lad is a fabulous rugby player. I reckon people are too hung up on marquee status. It was 100% the right call to keep him at the club and it took marquee money to do it. Form is temporary but class is permanent and I’m sure he’ll put a lot of egg on a lot of faces before this season is over.

I hope egg is on my face. I’ll quite happily give credit where it’s due, equally I’ll criticise when I think it’s warranted - as many do on here.

Look I don’t think GW is a bad player, on the contrary I think he’s a fantastic player, I just don’t think he’s shown it much. I mention the marquee as I think any player sitting in marquee wages needs to justify their hefty salary and status via performances.

I support GW and I wouldn’t want to see him at another SL club. I’m hoping the time he has out will reinvigorate him and will also make SW see that Powell shouldn’t be partnering GW in the halves!

Those stats are startling.

I don't think he's played well at all this season (granted I haven't seen the Hull game).

I'd rather have him here than at a rival because I fear they'd get the best out of him. He's very much shackled by the system.

Is that a yes or a no? Probably in the top 4 or 5 earners in the comp so I'll repeat the question in a different way (I too can be obtuse!) - has he or has he not been worth about 6 times the salary of Richardson at Saints?

Why not Escare at 1 and Sam at 6 this week?

Because Tomkins is clearly dictating which position he plays, to the detriment (this week at least) of the requirements of the team.

Or because Tomkins is far better and more effective at full back than Escare is and we have very good young half in Josh Woods chomping at the bit for an opportunity to prove himself. It’s why we have a squad. Escaré will be in the 17 and will play his part but I wouldn’t move Tomkins from fullback unless we had absolutely no other option. Woods won’t let anybody down.

At Wire Tomkins played #6 and Escare #1 when they made the switch, they did the same v Hull last Saturday. Escare's defence is a major concern for Wane.

He's missed 24 of 117 attempted tackles, by far the worst defensive stat in the team and probably one of the worst in the league.

I really like Escare offensively, but defense is very suspect and his positioning often suspect.

His organisation of the backs from fullback is also poor.

I bet 3 x grand final appearance in a row and 1 SL winning 2016 Plus a man of the match WCC Winner and england intnl George Williams at 21 wasn't on 6 x times the money danny Richardson is on now? I bet danny Maguire or Kevin sinfield or other international halves were on multiple times what George was on at 20/21?

Let's see if danny Richardson repeats what George has done by the time he's 22 and if so how much it costs Saints to keep him if they're under pressure from the NRL and other SL club.

George needs to keep improving and if he ends up 10/20% better than the 2016 early 17 George then we'll have one he'll of a player. He's and an up and down last 12 months but he been nowhere near as bad as some make out.
Nearly all players have some blips in their careers. Thank God most coaches and clubs don't make as hasty decisions as some fans.

I bet Williams wishes he had Ben Barba to ride on the back off as well. I like Richardson don’t get me wrong but it’s earky days yet and I’ll judge him when he faces up to some adversity and has to ride it out.

This!

What if Saints hadn't stood by Jonny Lomax 3/4 years ago when he was struggling in a struggling team and he was recovering from career threatening injuries? Now he's a fully fledged international player and playing the best rugby of his career at 27/28.

What about if Saints hadn't stood by Tommy Makinson when they were having a poor trot?

How much have Saints improved Percivals contract? Why have they done that when they have no idea if he will improve in next 2/3 years - How much more will Percival be on than say Jack Walker at Leeds or Tom Davies?

I like Richardson and he looks a real good player - He's nearly 22 and played 25ish games - George had nearly 100 with 3 Grand Finals (1 win), a World club challenge win and been selected for England at 20.
The whole club had a difficult time mid/back end of last year and obviously a difficult 3/4 weeks recently and no way was George the sole reason for this or the worst offender especially in 2017.

Seems to me the ones criticising him can never leave the "Marquee" tag out of any conversation about him.
To me that says that some people want to see an immediate return on that status whilst others may see it as reward for past performances when he VASTLY OVER PERFORMED based on the wages he would have been on at that point, an investment for the future, or simply what it took to keep at that point IMO the best British Half back in the game that would have cost easily as much to replace from either here or abroad with absolutely no guarantees on their performances either.