I can't see Leon going as equating to us falling further behind. This season we have basically lived without him apart from 5 minutes. Next year Lomax and Gaskell will be a year further on in their development and we will have Lance who we've not had this year. Who will probably start in the halves.



The % of missed tackles does not work when you compare FB's and 2nd rowers. Once the line is broken effectively the FB is one on one with the on rushing player or players. Defending in a line exposes you much less. So I don't buy the statement that Wellens could not play 2nd row or loose. (what would stop wellens playing loose is that Royce likes a prop at loose).



Also the game ain't over yet. Top 2 are probably gone, but 3rd is still within our grasp and to an extent with in our own destiny as don't Wire also have to play huddersfield again?



Surely just on the basis of number, Lomax and Gaskell in the halves this year, compared to Lomax+1 year, Gaskell +1year and Lance in the halfs next year is actually a step forward not a step back.



Pryce on the injury bench and Pryce at Le Catalans are effectively the same thing as far as helping Saints in the halves goes.



I still think we need 1 or maybe 2 props and would definately keep Flannery in the 2nd row as our young 2nd rowers have not developed as much as we hoped this year.

I don't think think we've lived without Pryce, I think we missed him big time. He's our x factor player, the go to man, the match winner and we've needed that in the games against Wigan, hull, Warrington and hudds.



When Pryce is fit and playing he's our main attacking weapon and could well have been the difference from finishing 4/5th to finishing in the top two.



I'm not having dig at lomax or Gaskell as they have been terrific and done more than has been asked of them but IMO we've missed good hakfbCks this year and IMO is the reason we've struggled.



The season looked so much promising at the start with Kyle ( before his union saga) and Leon at halfbacks. Two quality attacking halves that can take the line on.

I'm not arguing that, I'm just arguing that Lomax and Gaskell and Lance next year is a step forward from Gaskell and Lomax this year.



Saying that Pryce leaving will knock us further back suggests he excerts some sort of mystic powers from the injury bench. You can argue we would not advance as far without him, but you can't argue that we'll have less ability in the halves next year compared to this year so far.

IMO we are a worse side without him.



The lance at halfback is another strange risk by saints for next year. He's not played in the halves for long long time and is seen as a good fullback.



Lance is a runner, he takes the line on and not a ball player. We need a ball player to control the game for us.



Our recruitment policy is utter shocking and has been for the last five or so years!

I'm sure Lance said on his interview with Saints that he has been playing fullback for two years? Before that he was playing at stand off, which is the position he has played in for most of his career. I watched the Warriors in the Full Time programme on Sky on Thursday and Lance let in two tries due to fluffing bombs. He scored a try as well, but he has the rep of being unreliable under bombs. But man has he got some acceleration about him! He just fires off the spot. Fabulous. I'm hoping that he settles in ok over here as I'm looking forward to seeing him zap around the pitch for us.



I don't think his appointment was strange at all. Halfbacks, especially scrum halves, are thin on the ground. Available ones more so. We needed experience in the halves and he has it. He also has the added value of having played in other roles, giving us flexibility when injuries strike. He wouldn't have been considered had Eastmond decided to stay.

I was under the impression he's played fullback much long than the last two year but I remember him first coming thru and was a halfback, he was tipped as the next big thing along with moto Tony.



I think Leon and lance would go well in halves but not so sure about lomax and lance.

But not worse than we have been this year, as he has not played.

And were fighting to make the top four for the first time in god knows how long and failed to best a top side yet.

Not beating Bradford and Warrington were all to do with our inability to hold on to the ball and not the absence of Leon Pryce. We would still be competing for one of the top four spots had our players remembered their basic skills (as opposed to fighting to retain fourth spot). Alas, we are now in a battle with the Dragons for fourth place. It's up to the players to practice catch and pass, preferably in the showers or something so that they re-learn the skill in the wet!

I've been very reluctant to join this band wagon, but on Friday Wellens looked shot to bits.

Maybe its because he's carrying knocks, but he looks a shadow of his former self, he's letting balls bouce, he's hobbling around the pitch, his body language is that of someone who can't keep up, he seemed to be taking a break on the wing from every scrum.... .... ....

If he is carrying knocks, then for Christ's sake give him a week (or two) off and let him recover so he can play at his best at the end of the season. If he's not carrying knocks, then I'm afraid we need a new guy lining up at #1 next year.

Nathan Ashe?