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 [udo not recruit a half back [/uthere 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.

But if we put Sam at 6 he would be fulfilling the role of theworld class half back (not saying he is a world class 6 but you get my point).

As you say there is little chance of signing one so it's either do as I suggest or risk it that the experience Mellor got in the championship is enough to give him the job full time because that is what it amounts to. It is the wrong way around. Having to play Roberts, Tommy or Lockers at 6 because the new kid at 6 needs a break is going to spoil the formation of the team elsewhere (bar Roberts playing 6 but that is a really left field suggestion IMO).

Basically we could see, for example, Tommy back in the halves and McIllorum doing the full 80 to give Mellor a break. Even worse Lockers playing at 6 which is always far too big a compromise regardless of why he ends up doing it.

All because people are obsessed with Sam at 1 in my opinion.

Given next years team as it stands Sam at 6, Roberts at 1 and Mellor and Powell getting a few games has got to be the logical solution that compromises the rest of the team the least. It means Tommy and Lockers can do what they do best and we don't disrupt the formation of the team if the young half back goes off or has to be withdrawn from first team footy if things do not work out.

Unfortunately you probably aren't too far from the truth. On the face of it, we really dont need another half back, but given this year we were down to our 6th choice at one time, then its not a bad option!

Out of interest, what exactly has Roberts done to earn the fullback role?

I'm also wondering this, some people have got him nailed on as having the fullback shirt for next season, taking over from this seasons Dream Team fullback, after only playing 2 games during 2011 and only making a total of 5 appearances all season, not sure I agree if I'm totally honest.

It is a case of needs must. No experienced half back to partner Finch means Sam to 6 and then we must find a full back. Roberts is capable of playing full back. Unlike others I am basing my proposition on players we know we have on the books next year not ones we may sign (which currently does not include a half back) or any other fantasies. I am just being realistic given the squad we will seemingly have.

But why would it make sense to play an out of form fullback in the place of a very much in form fullback in Sam Tomkins just to move him to 6, rather than give an opportunity to one of two in form young halfbacks?

We are Wigan, we can do better than Amos Roberts at 1, 'needs must' isn't a term we should be using, that's a term for the wakefields/harlequins of this world

I know, people seem to be panicking that we havent anounced any signings yet. Last I checked the season starts next February. I'm sure once the season is over Ian Lenegan will have something up his sleeve for us!