You need an outside back on the bench

No surprise about Kyle, given that according to Simmons on Saturday Kyle couldn't complete 10 hard minutes on a treadmill!



Oh well. I hope the lads give it their all, anyway!

Except Matty Ashurst and Andrew Dixon don't seem to know what the word defence means!

He did however say that it was 'promising'. So who knows, I guess we'll find out on Monday!

Quote SaintsFan="SaintsFan"Except Matty Ashurst and Andrew Dixon don't seem to know what the word defence means!'" Matty Ashurst doesn't seem to bad 18 tackles a game with only 2 missed tackles. 5 appearances. Andrew Dixon averaging 15 tackles a game with 4 missed tackles. 4 appearances. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 Neither are fantastic though, not for a back rower anyway.

Quote SaintsFan="SaintsFan"Except Matty Ashurst and Andrew Dixon don't seem to know what the word defence means!'" Matty Ashurst doesn't seem to bad 18 tackles a game with only 2 missed tackles. 5 appearances. Andrew Dixon averaging 15 tackles a game with 4 missed tackles. 4 appearances. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 Neither are fantastic though, not for a back rower anyway.

Quote BackrowSaint="BackrowSaint"Matty Ashurst doesn't seem to bad 18 tackles a game with only 2 missed tackles. 5 appearances. Andrew Dixon averaging 15 tackles a game with 4 missed tackles. 4 appearances. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 Neither are fantastic though, not for a back rower anyway.'" Dixon and ashurst are not good enough IMO. I got slated on here a while back for saying that both will be playing for teams like Salford or Leigh in next few years and i still stand by what I said.

Quote BackrowSaint="BackrowSaint"Matty Ashurst doesn't seem to bad 18 tackles a game with only 2 missed tackles. 5 appearances. Andrew Dixon averaging 15 tackles a game with 4 missed tackles. 4 appearances. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 Neither are fantastic though, not for a back rower anyway.'" Dixon and ashurst are not good enough IMO. I got slated on here a while back for saying that both will be playing for teams like Salford or Leigh in next few years and i still stand by what I said.

Quote BackrowSaint="BackrowSaint"Matty Ashurst doesn't seem to bad 18 tackles a game with only 2 missed tackles. 5 appearances. Andrew Dixon averaging 15 tackles a game with 4 missed tackles. 4 appearances. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 Neither are fantastic though, not for a back rower anyway.'" Especially young, fit backrowers! They should be tackling their balls off. I would love to know what a missed tackle actually is. Is it an unsuccessful touch of a player (one of those touch rugby swipes), taking a player down but not held or an occasion when the player wasn't actually reached?

Quote BackrowSaint="BackrowSaint"Matty Ashurst doesn't seem to bad 18 tackles a game with only 2 missed tackles. 5 appearances. Andrew Dixon averaging 15 tackles a game with 4 missed tackles. 4 appearances. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 Neither are fantastic though, not for a back rower anyway.'" Especially young, fit backrowers! They should be tackling their balls off. I would love to know what a missed tackle actually is. Is it an unsuccessful touch of a player (one of those touch rugby swipes), taking a player down but not held or an occasion when the player wasn't actually reached?

I agree with you Pete, I can't see either having a long term career at Saints, either playing in lower Super League or slipping down into NL1.



Magennis is the more likely out of the 3 to push on, but still has a lot to prove himself.

Dixon worked hard last season although Ashurst got left behind. Simmons didn't play either of them until he had no senior staff left, which perhaps suggests that he isn't overly impressed with them himself. With stats like those quoted, they are poor if we are looking at competing for top honours this season. However, just now we don't have much choice but to play them. I just hope Simmons doesn't put them on the pitch at the same time!



Magennis needs to learn how to hold on to the ball. At every match so far he has dropped the ball at least once, giving away possession at vital times. But other than that he seems to be doing ok given his limited first grade experience and having to play with broken nose/recovering dislocated finger/leg hanging off/name your injury.

Magennis has more about him and has a off load game. Dixon and ashurst don't really bring anything and have nothing that sticks out.



To be fair, Dixon had a good spell last year before he got injured. Ashurst has not shown me anything to suggest he will do well at super league level.

I agree, he does seem to drop the ball a fair bit, but he's only young so personally I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he can improve that area of the game. I'm sure him and Royce will be saying the exact same thing and trying to put it right.

Agreed.

Given our troubles in the halves



Could Shenton play 6 for a few games a la Gleeson/Iro back in the Millward era. Armstrong would do a decent job in the centre and it would avoid the need to recall Eastmond. I know Shenton would not have the stars from that era around him but he certainy has the hands for it. The con is probably hasn't got a kicking game which makes Wilkin an easy kick charge down option.

I don't think that will happen, unless we have real trouble. Wilkin has a kicking game (sort of) and some experience in the halves so he'll have a run at 6 on Monday I'd imagine.

I was thinking Wilkin/Shenton 6/7.



I've no problem Eastmond playing so long as his attitude his spot-on and his inclusion does not affect the current morale.

Yeah I see what you're saying, with the dire situation at half back we have now. I think they'd probably bring a kid in to avoid disruption though as that seems to be Royce's ethos.

Good ethos, too IMO.

Me too, I just hope the situation doesn't go any further and somebody gets forced in who really isn't ready. At that point I hope Royce has some common sense and protects the young players.

Simmons won't have any choice but to play young players because that's the hand he has been dealt. Some may be played who aren't yet ready but unless there is a physical risk involved, where is the harm in giving a young lad some experience? Scott Moore had his debut at 16. No harm done there. If he's good enough, he's old enough. Experience comes with game time. No brainer really. Only physical issues should stop a player being played IMO if he has the ability.

Ashe

Gardner

Shenton

Meli

Foster

Wilkin

Eastmond

Graham (capt)

Roby

McCarthy-Scarsbrook

Soliola

Ashurst

Puletua



Bench



Armstrong

Dixon

Perry

Magennis

Good effort Tony. Apologies for the spontaneous distraction.



I read on Twitter just an RT from Saints of a message sent to Nathan Ashe from his family down under. Nice touch, that. I hope we get to see him play as I've heard good things said about him.

No worries, happens... in the interests of genuine debate (heated though it may occasionally get) i thought it only fair to allow all parties to continue.



As for Ashe, he seems to be yet another adaptable back/half which as well as being a necessity due to the crumbly nature of our current squad, is a credit to the academy coaches. My concern is that when we do have a fully fit squad are we running the risk of losing a large number of these kids all in one go a la Wigan with Robinson, Brown et al?

Is he a Half Back or Full Back by trade???

It's possible but we have the dual registration option available not to mention we could loan them out to other SL clubs. I get the feeling with Royce that if young lads come through and show there worth a shirt he'll stick with them , ala Gaskell.