You are quite mistaken sir, i'm sure our friends from over the hill have said he is another over the hill import into an already past it squad?

Our friends that quite recently signed Bailey, Riddell and Roberts ?

Yes, but don't forget we normally have Longy, and his long kicking game has been key to us winning many a trophy (Hudds at Twickers and Hull at OT spring to mind).

Its obviously always good to have options, but at the same time, only one guy can kick the ball at once.

So would I, but maybe we're just romantics

the very same

It was great to see in more involved, he had a superb game. It would be good to see him given the opportunity to carry on his form. He has had opportunities in the past through injury, but been moved back to second row once key players were fit again.

Wilkin is a very good club player at second row, he is a tireless defender and runs some good lines. But he doesn't have the pace or power to be anything more in that position. He needs to be more involved, and be more than a runner if he is going to excel.

It is puzzling why isn't used more at 13.

its funny not long back allot of you wanted wilkin out your team calling him a poser and not worth his place saying he does nothing for the team on match days. well good on the east hull lad to show you why millward paid 35k for him when he was 19-20 years old. and if im honest sts has made into the player he is after proving his worth at rovers

He's been a regular since mid 2003 so he is obviously well rated by every coach we've had. He's in his 6th full season at Saints and that is no mean achievement when I look at Saints squad and other clubs and players come and go at very regular intervals.

only a few people were saying it, some people were sticking up for him and i was one of them!

keep it up jonny!!

The answer is no he can't play like he did at Leeds week in week out as he showed against pies.

He went missing for the full 80. At one point I'd forgot he was playing until he put in one of his shocking kicks.

He didn't stand out as much because for the majority of the game he wasn't playing scrum half like he was against Leeds so he was less involved.

Just to add to the above...

Matty Ashurst went off with an injury and didn't reappear, our back row was depleted and with Eastmond on the bench, he came on in the halves and Wilkin moved to second row.

You 'didn't notice him' because he wasn't orchestrating and pulling the strings attacking-wise and the majority of fans aren't bothered who makes the tackles. He's still averaging nearly 40 tackles a game, and has shown he can slot into one of the most demanding positions in the game, skill-wise, but people STILL moan!

I agree, however, i'm sure that Ashurst came back on? I may be wrong, but i think he did. Wilkin definatly slotted back into the second row though, when Eastmond came on.

Speaking of ashurst, he looked good with some really good tackles put in

He doesn't look anything special at the minute, but he looks steady, which IMO, is all you can really expect from a youngster at this stage of there career. He seems to be settling in to the first team well.

As you say, if he can tackle well, and only turns out to be another mike bennet i'll be more than happy with him

If i'm honest, i was never really a fan of Bennett. I didn't feel he offered enough to the team, yeah he could tackle well but that was all. I feel that a modern day back rower needs to be able to take the ball well and make yards, rather just be a tackling machine. Hopefully Ashurst can do that, but like i said, as a youngster just coming into the first team, you can never except too much, but he's coming and looked steady, and will get better, IMO.

I know what you mean, but with the salary cap not everyone can be a star, a good solid tackler is a good asset

I understand that we can not have a team full of stars, but i don't think many consider Clough to be a star (just yet), yet he is able to make us yards but also tackle well. I just feel that even our non star player, need to be able to contribute to the attack, as well as the defence.

Quote ="saint billy"I understand that we can not have a team full of stars, but i don't think many consider Clough to be a star (just yet), yet he is able to make us yards but also tackle well. I just feel that even our non star player, need to be able to contribute to the attack, as well as the defence.'" Clough is the real deal, England/GB all the way anyone who doesnt thinkso needs to watch him more closely and/or check his stats out www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009 more metres per carry than even jammer

Quote ="saint billy"I understand that we can not have a team full of stars, but i don't think many consider Clough to be a star (just yet), yet he is able to make us yards but also tackle well. I just feel that even our non star player, need to be able to contribute to the attack, as well as the defence.'" Clough is the real deal, England/GB all the way anyone who doesnt thinkso needs to watch him more closely and/or check his stats out www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009 more metres per carry than even jammer

Quote ="Saint Simon"Clough is the real deal, England/GB all the way anyone who doesnt thinkso needs to watch him more closely and/or check his stats out www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009 more metres per carry than even jammer'" Exactly, this is my point. I rate Cloughy very highly, but i don't think he would be classed as a star player at the minute. Hes a very good player who offers something in attack as well as defence, which Bennett didn't for me.

Quote ="Saint Simon"Clough is the real deal, England/GB all the way anyone who doesnt thinkso needs to watch him more closely and/or check his stats out www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009 more metres per carry than even jammer'" Exactly, this is my point. I rate Cloughy very highly, but i don't think he would be classed as a star player at the minute. Hes a very good player who offers something in attack as well as defence, which Bennett didn't for me.

I completely agree bennet was good squad player, clough is international class now

I thought wilkin was a 2nd row?

So why didn't we notice him (at all) when he went to his normal postion??

You would have thought he would play better in his postion he plays every week.

If he so good at scrum half maybe long won't get back in the team.

Oh god, not you and this again.

I did notice him.

Ha ha ha just getting it out my system mate