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?

The one thing I'd be very surprised about would be if the new coach moved Sam back to 6. I don't buy this "teams have found him out" business. He was poor against Saints, but so were a lot of players. The forwards didn't lay a good enough platform, we spent a lot of the game on the back foot and then when we did have possession and territory our attacking plays were woeful. Sam couldn't chime in to the line at speed because the passing to get the ball wide seemed like it was in slow motion!

The players look shot, Wembley's completely taken the wind out of their sails. Madge has now got a week to prove he's the best in this league to get them ready for Sunday. A good performance and we can forget about this weekend, though at the moment I don't like our chances of getting to the GF.

But if Wane does not do that who plays 6?

People seem to be ignoring the fact we probably won't have one next season as things stand.

We're not going to go in to the new season without a recognised 6, realisitically (hopefully!!). If Deacon is retiring (which he should imo, one more season is beyond him) then I'm sure IL and SW are working on identifying and bringing in a suitable replacement.

I think Mellor could handle being thrown straight in at 6. For starters he'd be partnering Finch, someone with all the experience in the world. No doubt Brett would be doing the majority of the organization, taking the pressure of Joe, allowing him to play his own game. Mellor's served a reasonable apprenticeship for mine. A year on loan out at Widnes playing every week, and playing well every week from what I've seen.

As for the comparisons with how Lomax has fared this year. Lomax had to be partnered with Gaskell another inexperienced half. There lies the problem. Had Jonny been put aside Pryce for the season, I've no doubt he'd have had a much easier start to this season. But it wasn't to be. And even though Lomax and Gaskell were introduced into the team through adversity, it doesn't appear to have had any negative effect on them. Yes they had a few tough games here and there, but other than that I think they've coped extremely well.

I think sometimes when we consider playing youngsters we tend to over complicate things. When really the league other than four or five teams is quite poor. If you were bringing a youngster into the NRL, well fair enough that's a tough non stop environment. But that's not the case in SL. Some weeks we go through the motions and still rack up forty points. That's not the kind of competition that a youngster like Mellor is going struggle in IMO.

or bringing in a hooker and putting tommy at 7

I am not seeing the complication/problem here.

There are two young players (one with experience at Championship level) surely next season should be about giving one of them (or even both at times) the chance to stake their claim. The only way they will get experience is to play, it is not rocket science. If the club thinks they have the potential then give them a chance. Keep Deacon as a player for another year, if necessary but as a backup/cover/teacher for one of the young players. Lets face it, there is no shortage of experience in the rest of the team to act as cover (Lockers/Deacon/Sam have all played 6 surely they can help out).

Saints (more by necessity than design) have gone down this route and are now reaping the benefit.

The problem is that Mellor hasnt been used at all this season, either when Deacon has been injured or rested, or off the bench. If Deacon is to retire this season and we dont bring in a replacement, we'd be giving the number 6 jersey to a young, untested player with no SL experience.

To be honest we could do with dropping Deacon now imo. If Mellor had of played a few games this season he may of got a start vs Catalans but theres no chance madge will start him after not playing a game. A bold decision by us now could make the difference. Trouble is if we wanted to move Sam up theres nobody competent/experienced to put in at full back either as i think madge has lost any faith in Roberts.

Absolutely not.

Leuluai's a 9.