No Francis Meli... Would love to see Wheeler to get some more game time as he's a fantastic prospect and also Magennis after his horrific injury run...

Saints from:
Ade Gardner, Andrew Dixon, Andy Yates, Chris Dean, Gary Wheeler, Jack Bradbury, Jake Emmitt, James Graham, James Roby, Jamie Foster, Jon Wilkin, Jonny Lomax, Kyle Eastmond, Leon Pryce, Matt Gidley, Matty Ashurst, Mike Bennett, Maurie Fa’asavalu, Nick Fozzard, Paul Johnson, Paul Wellens, Scott Moore, Shaun Magennis, Sia Soliola, Tony Puletua.

Paul Wellens,
Ade Gardner,
Matt Gidley,
Gary Wheeler,
Jamie Foster,
Leon Pryce,
Kyle Eastmond,
James Graham,
Scott Moore,
Tony Puletua,
Sia Soliola,
Shaun Magennis,
Jon Wilkin,

Andrew Dixon, Andy Yates, Chris Dean, Jack Bradbury, Jake Emmitt, James Roby, Jonny Lomax, Matty Ashurst, Mike Bennett, Maurie Fa’asavalu, Nick Fozzard, Paul Johnson.

Thats a pretty good squad, esp. with Meli left out!

But WHY no Meli? Is he stuck without a visa again? He should be playing.

Might have picked up a slight injury in training, just a guess mind. If that is the case, even the slightest of knocks, then he should not be risked in a friendly, that goes for every player.

I heard an interesting rumour about Meli today , explains why he's not in the squad too.

What was it?

PM please?

<fingers crossed> abducted by aliens?

<fingers crossed>

From that I'd start with :

Wellens
Gardner
Gidley
Soliola
Foster
Wheeler
Eastmond
Graham
Moore
Puletua
Dixon
Magennis
Wilkin

I can't believe the season hasn't even started yet and people are already on Meli's back.

I would usually agree, but the bloke is a liability and has arguably cost us the GF twice.

We'd be better off playing a kid than paying an overseas player £75k or whatever he's on.

can't wait for tomorrows game cant wait to see the fax team have a run out, shame we will get humped,
whats the admision prices please

Arguably, being the word.
I think people need to stop using the poor guy as a scapegoat for the whole teams failings.

His mistakes are directly responsible for conceeding vital tries in each of the last 2 grand finals...no "arguably" about that.

3 major mistakes in the 2008 GF.
1 major mistake in the 2009 GF.

If he stopped making glaring and crucial errors in big games, they probably would.

After his last 'performance' I don't think anyone could be criticized for getting on his back, especially considering it was the same scenario in the same game a year earlier.

I have usually defended him in the past, but if people want to criticize a player who has made consistent errors in big games, lacked effort in others and is on an international's salary ( with a spot on the overseas quota), then fair play as far as I'm concerned.

Francis Meli picked up a slight knock in training. Potter was raving about him 3 days ago. Said Meli looks in great shape.

I hope he's learnt how to put the ball dead.

Good to hear...

I personally think he pulled his finger out back end of last season and was making some super yards/breaks and was very impressed but just a shame he still suffers from brain farts...

Meli's go forward is second to none for a winger in SL and IMO without the brain farts, as Mr Messy put it, he could be an important player for us this year.

thats very true, but he does have the brain farts, so he's pap!

I would agree with that, especially since he has them in one of the most important games of the season and they are always critical.

I guess a second Grand Final crucial brainfart was too much for many of us. For me, there is no going back for Meli now. I'd be happy to see him not turn up at all this season. He undid his good work in one match last year because for the third time I went to Old Trafford only to watch him almost singlehandedly give the bloody game away for the second year running. Some things are beyond forgiveness in a well paid, experienced international player. His brainfairts in critical matches come under 'some things'.

to single handedly cost us one Grand Final could be said to be bad luck.

to cost us 2, IMO, is enough to wash my hands of him. I have been one of his biggest defenders in the past few years and I thought he was pretty good when he finally turned up last year, but he has cost us too many big games - and if he never played for Saints again I wouldnt lose any sleep.

you better watcha and learn as the resurgent fax treat you to a rugby masterclass tonight!