Thurston, Sandow, Cronk or the little prat who minces for the Dragons. Failing that has Carney found someone who'll sign him yet? Half back is a overseas roster position.

Why oh why has Gasnier retired?

If Deacon goes around again then it's a bench spot or from out of the 17.
We need pace in the halves and neither Deacs or Finch have it. Mellor can provide it. A number of times yesterday there were gaps in the Saints defence for a fast half back. Neither had the pace to make the break.
Finch has the experience as has Lockers, Mellor could learn big time from those guys provided he's given the opportunity.

So? Why not - how will someone like Mellor get experience if not by playing - he will have Finch alongside him, surely we have got to do something and signing a world class half-back looks unlikely

He has to retire for me. The worse thing a club can do is hang onto player who's well past his sell by date, just because it's the easier option. Saints are hanging on to Wellens like mad, perhaps at detriment to the youngsters at the club.

Deacon should retire at the end of this season on a high. His form and ability are only going one way and that's downhill. The wise and long term view is to bring in Mellor and Powell IMO.

Exactly. And the only alternative being suggested (other than sign someone which doesn't seem realistic at the moment) is Deacon goes round again and he just can't IMO.

Even if he does it is no solution because we are back to square one in any game he plays in that the half backs won't be good enough and without pace.

I agree to a certent extent but I think he should be drip fed in to the team, playing underneath a more experienced half back, this year seems like it would have been the perfect opportunity but Madge has chosen not to, so does this suggest he doesn't think he's ready even for first team action, let alone to be first-choice stand-off. Most of the time a player is given their first team squad place, then they break in to the team and then if good enough become first choice, a la Sam. Mellor hasn't even got past the first step yet. I've never known a player get a 1-13 squad number having never made a SL appearance!

We need to look at a centre and a halfback for 2012, seeing as the kids for whatever reason aren't going to be ready for a full season.

Now in case anyone has forgotten, we have an import sitting in the reserves taking up a fair slug of our cap which could be used for the aforementioned purposes. Are we stuck with him for another season, or are we still waiting - 18 months on and counting - for him to come good.

Hate to say it but the saints 6 n 7 next year are going to take some beating,they have played with kids all year and its worked.

Does anyone think our 6 next year may be Amos.

I would be tempted to give him a run there in pre season as he has the pace

It's an interesting idea and he's played well at 6 for the under 20's, but why would you want to deny an opportunity for a player who has caught the eye on dual reg and has bags of potential and also for the current under 20's player of the year. Both Mellor and Powell have been impressive and to stick Roberts at 6 when those two have been working hard to force their way into the first team just doesn't seem right to me.

Hohaia will be in the Saints halves next year, interesting selection dilemmas to come...

Given Saints injury record he'll probably end up playing prop !!!!!!!!!!!!

The answer to that is because the implication of what you are suggesting is that Mellor or Powell are given the number 6 shirt full time. They would not be being given an "opportunity" but they would be being the job full time from the off.

If we do not recruit a half back there is only one sensible alternative and that is to move Sam back to 6 and put Roberts at full back. Mellor and Powell to be given games in preparation for when Finch leaves.

Sorry but that is one sensible option, there are others.

Given that Mellor has been on loan at Widnes it could be assumed he has gained enough experience to be the starting 6 next season but with options of Deacon (go round again but as backup/cover only), Roberts, Lockers or even Tommy as cover in case he does not perform. At some point a young player has to be given a chance (recent history shows quite a few at Wigan who have and the Saints halves did ok against us in the last game for young players).

Obviously the best solution would be to sign a world class half back and ease the younger players in gradually but that seems very unlikely given the current market.