Not for me. George Carmont took some stick last week, but he put in an excellent performance on Friday and caused Leeds all sorts of problems. On form Carmont doesn't deserve to be dropped and neither does Goulding. For me they both play and Phelps has another week to recover and get fit for the hectic Easter period.

If it wasn't for Carmont's strong game on Friday, Goulding should have taken his place on Good Friday.

Carmont's been generally average this year in my opinion. However I note Maguire's quote in the local rag that he's been impressed with him and it goes without saying he knows a hell of a lot more about RL than I ever will.

Even if Maguire was 50/50 about the left centre spot however, Carmont's showing against Leeds means in all probability that Goulding (unfortunately) will miss out. Unless of course he opts to leave out Phelps due to injury/tactics. Wouldn't do that myself, the lack of cohesion due to the lack of our playmaking fullback was evident on Friday.

we'd take him back in a second! i love watching him, no nonsense winger completely reliable....


...if you decide you dont want him, let him know we're here for him ok?

No chance. 7 tries already this season - alternating him and Carmont every game or two keeps them both fresh and enthusiastic!

That's a ridiculous statement. If Goulding has performed brilliantly this year then he deserves his spot. If Madge is true to his word and people are true to their beliefs that players on form should be picked then Goulding has to play on Friday.

Cameron Phelps was evidently not fit against Castleford and wasn't right for the Leeds game. I would give him another week to get himself fully fit so he can be used as part of the squad rotation for the hectic Easter schedule. I would rather go with Roberts as fullback where he is the most dangerous and back Goulding on the wing where he put in an excellent performance in a tough match rather than alienate Roberts' attacking threat on the wing and go with Phelps who hasn't played prior to the match and will be lacking match fitness.

On paper, yes I agree, but on form I disagree.

Roberts is on fire at FB so leave him there for the saints game, bring Phelps in at FB against Wakey at home!

Goulding has done no wrong IMO, his commitment and attitude to come in to the team this season and play so well is superb.

yeah i know its abit of wishful thinking on our part if im honest with my self. you think you will keep hold of ainscough?

I disagree. I thought we struggled in attack due to the juggling of players throughout the match with Riddell coming on and off, Sam Tomkins going off and Leuluai having to keep switching between hooker and scrum half. Leuluai even mentions this in his interview after the game. I don't think the fullback had anything to do with it all, which would make sense IMO because Amos Roberts setup three tries from the fullback position against Castleford and has 6 to his name this season which has all come from when he has played at fullback. He has played in the halves before in the NRL so he has the distribution skills to setup tries and link up in attack.

That depends whether you agree with my belief that we are stronger with Phelps at FB and Roberts on the wing, than with Roberts at FB and Goulding on the wing.



My belief is that we put out our strongest squad. There's no room for sentiment here; if there are better player's than Goulding fully fit and performing, then they have to go in ahead of him.



I'm obviously assuming Phelps is fully fit. If he's not, then it's a no brainer, he doesn't play. I also don't buy into giving him another week's recovery for the Easter period; if he's fit, he's fit. Maguire's not stupid.



That's fair enough. As I said, it's a tough decision for MM, and potentially a match winner or loser.

To be honest, I'm happy with whatever Maguire opts for. He'll be making the game plan, and he'll have seen both players in training all week.

Yeah, I can't say I'll be stressing about the decision - either way we'll be strong.

It doesn't. To say someone has been performing brilliantly, but should miss out is a ridiculous statement IMO.



Our strongest squad though is not always what looks strong on paper. Games are won on grass and not paper.It's whose performing and playing well at the present time and at the moment that includes Darrell Goulding who is in fantastic form. I don't see how there is any sentiment in that.



I would still go with Goulding regardless of Phelps' fitness, but for me Phelps wasn't fully fit against Castleford. However I'm not Michael MaGuire and the coaching staff will know far better than me.

I back MaGuire's judgement and it should be interesting to see who he goes with. It's a tough decision for Friday and it is really great to be having these positive debates IMO about which players deserve to be played because they are in such fantastic form.



My thoughts exactly.

To be honest I think Maguire will be thinking long and hard about this particular selection dilemma this week and it won't get much easier the closer we get to the game.

For me, I think we need to look at the players each one will be up against. Saints will have Gardner and Meli on the wings, both of whom are very dangerous in the air when attacking. Goulding is quite small, so there's a danger he could struggle with Meli if they kick to the corners.
One of Meli's weaknesses, however, is his aerial ability when defending. In my opinion Roberts would be better suited to cope in defence and to make the most of challenging for kicks when attacking.

As much as I feel it would be very harsh to drop Goulding, I think it tactically it might make sense. Although, Maguire will know better than others how Goulding could cope with that particular threat, and it may be that he doesn't believe it will make too much difference.

Although, if Riddell is injured (is he?) then maybe Phelps, Roberts and Goulding could play.

Yes we'll keep hold of Ainscough.

Goulding claimed every high ball that went his way on Friday. Most of the Saints fans I know bemoan Meli's stone-hands under high balls at both ends of the field. It's pretty tough to defend against a well-kicked ball where the attacker has a ten-yard run-up on you and you have to compete from a standing jump.

Our team selection pretty much depends on the fitness of Phelps and Riddell really. If it wasn't a two-day turnaround before Wakey I think they'd probably both be patched up and thrown in