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.

full back I've been told

Nathan Ashe is a full back.

Well if he is a Full Back by trade he has to start there on Monday. The experience will do the lad no harm at all.

Armstrong

Foster

Shenton

Meli

Gardner

Wilkin

Eastmond

Graham

Roby

LMS

Soliola

Ashurst

Puletua



Magennis

Perry

Dixon

Ashe

huddersfield loss, another chace to take top spot

I've not seen Ashe play this year but I'd be extremely worried if he started at full back tomorrow.



He was terrorised by Wigan in the u20s grand final last year & ended up on the wing with Lee Gaskell switching to full back that day. Both players improved for the switch as it happens.



I seem to remember him as being of a very slight build so if he's in the 17 I'd want him on the bench & maybe only coming onto the wing.



This is not based on extensive experience of the kid, I just wouldn't want him put in the firing line at full back and his career damaged if he needs a bit more time.

We are bound to lose some because we can't keep them all. However, the only positive to come out of our current injury crisis is that young players have an opportunity to showcase their talent at first grade, which gives both the player and the club a chance to assess whether they should be part of the first team squad in the future. This will also have the effect of keeping our present first team young players on their toes, which is always a good idea!



I think the greatest competition will come at stand off. We have loads of them. Pity we weren't producing some talented scrum halves to go with them!

Then maybe Royce is thinking of playing him at stand off? With Armstrong at fullback? Whoever plays fullback tomorrow is going to be terrorised I think! In fact, I'm sure they will be chomping at the bit to take our young and inexperienced team apart at every opportunity.

With Huddersfield losing last night it should give Saints that added determination to win tomorrow and sit on top of the ladder if we do so.

Absolutley.



I've given up saying we will not win the next game because of injuries. There is not a tougher game than a Wigan Saints Derby when you are 2 subs down and we still came back and were 60 seconds from winning.



I'm going to be positive and say that the kids will once again step up and not be a walk over for any team. Hull FC hopefully will see what's coming and be expecting an easier run that they are actually going to get.



We now have Graham, LMS, Perry that's 3 props, we've not had 3 for some time now and although at least 2 are carrying injuries it's still an improvement.



COYS, with those 3 taking the hits it will provide Puletua with the back up he needs to rip it up the middle and lets not forget the AWESOME ONE Roby. If our players can just learn to catch a ball he will give us plenty of half breaks that can lead to tries.



I just hope he's brought his wet fish to slap anyone who bombs catches on him this week.



Meli Foster, may not be our first choice from the start of the year, but it's pretty much the first choice pairing. As is Shenton and Gardner.



The 2nd row of Wilkin and Soliola is as good as soliola and flannery.



really our only weak spots are at halfback and fullback and on the bench.



They are key positions I know, but if we can keep a tough tight first line of defence, then we can limit the exposure to the fullback having to cover in defence and Armstrong was not that bad last week.



As for halfback, well kicking for territory will be key. We need someone who can find the ground like Gaskell had been doing as it makes it so much easier for the defensive line. On the creative side well we know what Eastmond can do if he feels like it, but that's down to him really, either he wants to play or he doesn't.



If he wants to play he could be very effective, if he doesn't we may have to consider yanking him off at some point to limit the negative impact on the side.



The bench well they will just have to hold a tough defensive line to give the big names a rest, so they can return and do the damage after being spelled.





COYS, C O Y S



Get in there lads.

Bench is horrific.

The pack looks good, but with no direction from the halfbacks its going to be tough, alot of pressure on Robes, but he seems able to take whatever we throw at him

With Perry's return it's stronger than it has been in weeks. I'm quietly confident tomorrow, if Eastmond turns up.



COYS!!

I think how well we compete will depend in part on our ability to defend well and in part on whether Kyle and Josh Perry are actually fit to play. They were both only possibles and so although they have been named, I won't be convinced either are fit to play until they appear on the pitch. Even then I'll have my doubts. I just can't see how Kyle could have recovered from a chest infection that wouldn't allow him to run 10 hard minutes on a treadmill last Saturday in one week and I'm naturally suspicious of a recovery from a groin problem after the experience with Leon.



Also, a friend of the family said that Royce Simmons was on Radio Merseyside saying that there are fourteen players he cannot play tomorrow. He may well be including the two u20s injuries in that (Forster and another one who I can't remember) or he may be referring to the twelve (including Kyle and Josh) plus two we didn't know about. I suppose we will just have to wait and see who turns up at the KC.

I think we're going to come a cropper somewhere and sooner or later we're going to cop a battering. The kids have done a truly wonderful job when they have come in, but you can see the effect it's having on the few senior players we have. They are all knackered, not April/May knackered, but looking like they've played a whole season without a break knackered.