So forgetting that 'performance' and moving on I personally hope that Royce Simmons takes the MM approach and gives all the players in the squad a clean slate and selects players on form and performances and not salary and past glories.
Some of the players we have (like Wilkin) have come in for a fair amount of criticism and with the likes of Dixon and Ashurst looking to kick on it will be interesting to see what the new coach thinks....

The likes of wilkin was picked even under dan anderson and he was gash back then.

Hopefully one of the first things Royce will do is spot that we need a new fullback. Wellens isn't covering kicks anymore and although he's been a great over the years, his lack of pace is hurting us. It was coverable when we had outstanding players in other areas but we don't have that anymore. Bar Jammer, Pryce and Eastmond we don't have any real quality anywhere, especially the outside backs.

I agree we do need a new fullback but i think we need other postions sorted before we look at the fullback postion.

Wello will be ok for next year but we need a fast winger and a centre imo more than fullback.

There's a lot to look forward to for next year, a new coach plus three new players and it is going to be interesting to see how the young players progress.

The only thing is we're going to have to hit the ground running, the opening fixture will be the Cardiff Weekend so it is either going to be a derby game against Wigan or Warrington or if its based on this seasons league placings it could be either Leeds or Hudds.

If we play poorly early season I think a lot of fans may pick and choose which games they bother going to Widnes for.

I'll be interested to see what RS does with Gardner too , I was away for all the build up to the GF and the last semi so I assume he has been left out and not injured ..

If all the players are starting from scratch with the new man it will be interesting to see who steps up.

Lomax at FB would certainly add some pace to the back line

From the way ade was after the game last night, he seemed to be saying his goodbyes.

after the usual lack lustre performance in a grand final YET AGAIN..
there may be a few speccies gong with him.

year of the warrior

Personally, I'd like to see the new broom sweeps clean approach. I don't think our young players should be just there to cover for injuries. So many of them have had significant experience this year and some have really developed well that they should be given starting positions regardless of the injury status of the more experienced players. If the club is serious about developing the local young players then more experienced/older ones should be dropped to facilitate this, unless their form is so good that they are invaluable (eg Pryce, if he finds the form of last season when he recovers from his injury).

I still think we should keep hold of Wello because I'm not convinced Jonny Lomax is the right person for fullback. I'm not sure about his defensive capabilities yet and I think Jamie Foster has shown better positional awareness this season in defence. Dixon is someone I would like to see playing on a regular basis as I think he's a real talent. Likewise Foster, with hopefully our new coach developing his attacking skills.

For me, I'd look to offload Meli, Gardner, Flannery and Wilkin. With the wages saved, look to bring some pace and aggression into the side. Give Dixon, Clough and Macgennis the chances to make the back row/LF spots there own. Wigan showed us just what we're missing and that is the aforementioned pace and aggression. The kids we have coming through have the talent, but some of the senior players just won't win us a Grand Final now.

I.M.O Yes we have bred youngsters but they are in certain positions just filling shirts and not bringing any zip or class to the team. Newlove and Scully where internationals when they were 17. I would love Saints to do a deal with cas for Westerman. I think we need to bring in a big name signing with class. Yes he is expensive thats where we would have to do cash plus players deal. I think back to when we did bring in Newlove and Sculthorpe and the buzz it bought the club. Weve missed that buzz.

How about:

Wellens
....
Foster
Shenton
Lomax
Pryce
Eastmond
Graham
Moore
Perry
Puletua
Soliola
Clough

Macgennis
Dixon
LMS
Roby

Definately look into signing a new winger/centre. The above is obviously with the players I highlighted above, removed.

If we offloaded the players mentioned we should be able to recruit a classy pacey proven centre and maybe 1 other, then look to promote the likes of Gaskell and Ellis.

I defo agree four names you mention of getting shut but we'd need to replace them because we can't go with to mant young lads.

For me next year i'd like to see a fast winger, another good centre and a good tackle breaking backrow.

I think if we did get shut of meli, ade, flannery and wilkin we would have enough dough to bring in a winger, centre and backrow but can't see it happening.

I agree with you.

We need to keep the balance between experience and inexperience. To get rid of so many players at once on top of the number who are leaving anyway would leave us too vulnerable.

The one thing that annoys me most about Wilkin; his temperament. The amount of meters he costs us in big games with his needless penalties is ridiculous.

I always liked Wilkin but I think now its safe to say he wont ever live upto the promise he had as a young lad, a combination of ill disciplin and th fact that he's pretty much turned into an average second row forward means its probably time he made way for Dixon/Ashurst/Magennis. I'm pretty certain it would save us a decent wedge on the cap

It might do, but he's better looking than those three so I figure we should keep him on myself.



I think he works hard does Wilkin. He hasn't been the same since returning from injury and he does have a tendency to give away penalties, but he's had that for ages now. He could do with some stability again, to let him get back into things. Hopefully our new coach will (a) think about that kind of thing and (b) not have to deal with the injuries we have had during the recent season.

Saints need a settled 1, 6, 7 , 9 and 13.
Wellens is our #1 and should continue there for at least another year. 6 and 7 this year have been beset with injuries, hopefully next year this will improve. #9 has been confused this year with 3 good hookers, next year, Moore and Roby should make that spot thier own. Big problem for the last few year, since Scullys injury problems, has been at #13, where no one has had chance to settle into the role. Give the #13 jersey to either Wilkin or Flannery, and leave them there for the year. Both are 80 minute players. Stop farming it out to Roby, Puletua, Hargreaves, Clough and anyone else who just happens to be available. Settle the spine of the team, and build around them.