That's pretty much what Saints did with Gaskell. Last season Gaskell came off the bench once for half a match and played one full match. The next time he appeared at first grade was with Lomax at Leeds away in March. Since then he's played every first grade match bar five he missed with an ankle break and about three when he was played off the bench for the last 10 minutes (scoring a try on each occasion) after Leon returned and proceeded to do nothing at halfback. Today, Gaskell had the best match he's had at first grade all season. It takes a good coach, hard work and talent from the player and patience from the fans, but it can be done.

If we wanted we could just put Mellor straight in imo. We could beat most teams in the league with blindfolds on the standard is that crap. We need to stop faffing about and give the lad a proper chance or get rid.

It's not really though. We're talking about going in to the season with Mellor as the 1st choice 6. Not just getting his chance through injuries. Pryce still has the 6 shirt and Gaskell has played when he's out.

Nor had Daly Cherry Evans before the start of this season for Manly, English clubs need to start showing faith in their own and not go signing overseas players at every opportunity.

I see what you're saying, but has he not made that many appearances because of Pryce's injuries?

It's good to see local players coming through for teams (except when they run rings around Wigan), but I doubt he'd have played as much if it weren't for that.

I like what I've seen from Mellor, but throwing him in with no contingency is too much of a risk for me, we need a more experienced player to help him ease in for the first few months or so.

Spot on that - it's time all SL Clubs realise that the future is through development, not funding Aussie pensions. Every Club is the same - not just Wigan and they are all guilty of the 'overseas first' mentality to varying degrees.

Maybe it's time to give the lad a go even though I have not seen anything of him; only heard good things about him and also Matty Russell.

Exactly. There is no way Saints would have chosen to go with Gaskell as first choice half back from day one of this season. To suggest that they have deliberately given the guy these number of games and so have been very smart is wide of the mark IMO. If he'd been fit Pryce would have played all the games IMO and Saints would have been as guilty as Wigan for not blooding the younger half back's when they had at least one leaving at the end of the season.

Oh yes, I agree. I was simply pointing out that it is possible to grow a first grade halfback on the job, so to speak. It probably isn't ideal but it is possible.

Chase & Finch would work.

Sam is going to stay at fullback, the issue with Sam is he looks knackered and none of our other big players are stepping up.

Chase isn't a Wigan player. So if Deacon retires as we expect who plays 6 next year? Mellor or Powell into the halves as 1st choice on the back of zero experience in SL starting every game? Or move Sam back to 6?

Im well aware he isnt, Im basing my comment on several rumours Ive heard, then again, yesterday I heard Deacon is now considering going round again. Which would surely provide the platform to blood Powell & Mellor.

Anyway assuming neither of the rumours are true about Chase and Deacon (which I think is the most likely outcome ), would you put Sam back to 6 next season of go with one of the two young half backs as 1st choice start instead?