Is Matty going to be back from injury before the end of the season?



I had been very impressed with the run of games he had before his injury. Previously I'd rated Dixon a little higher, but I started to see a step up in Ashurst's game which excited me.



He seems to have all of a sudden started to develop physically. At first he looked a bit gangley, but with just a little extra meat on his bone has started looking like a real athelete.



Now, I don't know if you noticed, but on a few occasions throughout the season, obviously due to the difficulties we've had with the squad, Matty could be seen running a defending in the centre channel. Given people want Soliola in the back row and Wheeler's never fit, would it be an idea to give him a run there, or would people prefer to stick with Meli?



What do you reckon?

Well Mick Potter said he was fit in an interview on Radio Merseyside last night.

Ssssshhhhh. He's away taking his vitamins. He'll be back next year the size of Tony P.

He has some catching up to do - I thought Dixon was excellent in the Wire game he ran his blood to water and was everywhere when he was on the pitch.



A good collection of youg back rowers to be sure!

Matty actually played in the u20's against Wire the day after the 1st team game last week, so I would say that means he's fit.

I'd agree that he's looked a lot more assured in his more recent appearances, and warrants a place in the squad. I think moving Meli to the centres has given us some much needed strike out wide, however, and I wouldn't want to replace him with Matty (or any other member of the squad) unless absolutely necessary.

I think Dixon deserves to retain his spot after his performance against the Wolfs.

At the moment i would have Dixon over Ashurst, agreed that Ashurst has improved but for me Dixon reads the game better has better support play and does a lot of work in defence. If these two can go up another level performance wise and develop into stronger players they could be an excellent future second row partnership.

The problem is, we cant keep them all which is a shame

Dixon is a better player than Ashurst and Maggennis will be the best of the three in 2011 IMO.

I disagree, going off this season. Dixon hasn't shown much in attack, he defends very well but so do all our young back rowers. However, Ashurst has shown some good ball skills, and has apparently played at 6 for the reserve side before making the step up, the game away at Leeds stand out for me, i thought he was very good in that game.

Dixon has bust more tackles in 7 less games in 2010, I just see him as the better prospect of the two. The stats suggest he has a better strike rate, carries the ball more and makes more tackles too (although there are other areas where Ashurst is superior).



I could of course be proved completely and utterly wrong and it's nice to have a few prospects knocking about.

I'm tempted to agree with that, certainly impressed me a lot when I've seen him this season.

Quote FearTheVee="FearTheVee"Dixon is a better player than Ashurst and Maggennis will be the best of the three in 2011 IMO.'" I must say I like what I've seen from Maggennis. Looks far more dangerous with ball in hand than Dixon or Ashurst ever do. Those two when compared with Farrel for me are way behind in their development and ability. Farrel, Ashurst. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 Farrel, Dixon. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 I won't be surprised when one of them moves on in the near future, maybe followed by the other if Saints happen to find other more promising lads for the backrow.

Quote FearTheVee="FearTheVee"Dixon is a better player than Ashurst and Maggennis will be the best of the three in 2011 IMO.'" I must say I like what I've seen from Maggennis. Looks far more dangerous with ball in hand than Dixon or Ashurst ever do. Those two when compared with Farrel for me are way behind in their development and ability. Farrel, Ashurst. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 Farrel, Dixon. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 I won't be surprised when one of them moves on in the near future, maybe followed by the other if Saints happen to find other more promising lads for the backrow.

I've been mighty impressed by Farrell lately. He [iis[/i a year older, mind (i think), but seems to have taken to superleague very well.



It took jtomkins a couple of seasons to start impressing, didn't it?



McGennis does have a glint of somethin special, though.

I would definitely agree. MaGennis looks like a top prospect for the back row, hopefully he can put his knee problems behind him which must have taken some doing even to this stage.

True it did take Joel a few years to become consistent with his performances. But he'd shown signs all a long that he was going to be a good player, it was just matter of getting his consistency levels up. When ever I've seen Mcgennis play, like you I've seen signs that he's going to be a goodun.



In Ashurst and Dixon though I've not seen the same sparkle, even though they've had more game time than Mcgennis. I'd describe those two as grafters, and while there's nothing wrong with having grafters in your team (after all everyone needs them) to have two in the same position is unnecessary. Keep the most promising one and bin the other, which I'm sure Saints will do down the line.



Just for the record Dixon, Ashurst and Magennis are all older than Farrel (although not by much, plus it doesn't really matter. It's experience that counts).

Fair enough, I thought Farrell was older. According to Wiki your right, although they'd all have fallen in the same school year.