Mellor has to be an absolute no...he's plain average in general. I do like the fact he isn't scared to take the Line on though.

He could have made a decent partner to Roberts who would have minced around passing and kicking while leaving Mellor to split defences with his running game.

But as we are now replacing Roberts it makes perfect sense to purchase two quality half backs not one and then opt for a Lui Mellor or Matty Smith option for the other.

People cannot see the woods for the trees with Mellor.

This lad is playing way above his weight week in week out keeping Widnes on the front foot...not only that he tackles pretty darn good too.
Like Brown did, Mellor plays with a shallow squad and with a beaten pack. Get him here with out squad and like Brown he'll shine.

He reminds me very much like Nathan Wood but with greater presence.
I'd look nowhere else.

It'll be hard enough to get 1 above average half back at the moment, never mind two, and then have to let them bed in.

Mellor wouldn't be a bad call though, we struggle with him nearly every game, and thats off his own back, without decent forwards or ratchford or charnley as a foil.

Quote ="Fantastic Mr Cat"It'll be hard enough to get 1 above average half back at the moment, never mind two, and[u then have to let them bed in. [/u'" Just more arguing for limitations. True quality can hit the ground running - proof Andrew Johns. Watch debut here if you need reminding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqsuCIfcO_o

Quote ="Fantastic Mr Cat"It'll be hard enough to get 1 above average half back at the moment, never mind two, and[u then have to let them bed in. [/u'" Just more arguing for limitations. True quality can hit the ground running - proof Andrew Johns. Watch debut here if you need reminding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqsuCIfcO_o

Quote ="Wires71"Just more arguing for limitations. True quality can hit the ground running - proof Andrew Johns. Watch debut here if you need reminding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqsuCIfcO_o'" AJ had an effect but it was more a metal than his attribution..imo it was Brent Gross who was the real difference. ....anyways what happened against Hull then W71?

Quote ="Wires71"Just more arguing for limitations. True quality can hit the ground running - proof Andrew Johns. Watch debut here if you need reminding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqsuCIfcO_o'" AJ had an effect but it was more a metal than his attribution..imo it was Brent Gross who was the real difference. ....anyways what happened against Hull then W71?

That was a bad night, I'll give you that. I was a VP back then and I remember just hitting the bar at HT. But I don't think it was attributed to Johns. Hull came out of the shed firing on all cylinders.

All I am putting forward is the idea we should be ambitious with who we target and be prepared to use our wealth and marquee spot. Surely we could tempt someone good for £0.5M per year + bonus. If not, then we look to the likes of Mellor.

We have grown up watching Wire HB's like Kelly, Gregory, Woods, Shelford, Langer, Johns, Briers, Myler, Gidley, Sandow. All quality players.

I think this is what makes me disappointed with 2nd/3rd tier players like Durbin, Hulse, Dwyer, O'Brien, Patton, Mellor et al.

Mellor
Pace - tick
Takes on the line - tick
defensively sound - tick
Scores tries - tick
Passes both ways - short and long -tick
decent injury record - tick
Leads back line - tick
decent kicking game - tick

I've said for 3 years we should sign him

And a Warringtonian

Mellor or Patton I know who I would choose.

Of more importance though is if as some have suggested that Brown is going to call it a day at seasons end we need a replacement for him.
Is it Eastmond ? This as gone very quiet recently.

I'm certainly interested in giving Mellor a chance in a team where he's surrounded by better players. I can understand everyone's concern with the fact he's been playing at a lower level team and hasn't really proved himself yet... that's why I'm struggling to understand why most (or a significant number) of people are calling for Eastmond to replace Roberts or Brown. He's a Rugby union centre who hasn't played our sport for 7 years, where he was previously a talented runner but below average defender and organiser. We need two RL half-backs, and there aren't many. Mellor is one of the better ones and since he's from this town he'll be easy to find if he runs off homesick.

Trueman seems to be getting all the raps too... having a good game tonight by all accounts.

I would like both Mellor and Eastmond.
It sounds quite a decent pair to me.

Good call.

I know what a decent pair looks like, but we’re not allowed to talk about that stuff on social media these days...

If you think they're just a pair of tits, just say so.

#timesupforduckie

maybe he needs to grow a pair

Lol.
Them water wings come in handy.

Just out of interest, what possible scenario could necessitate someone to create a clip-art of a rubber duck with boobs?



Will make a great avatar for somebody though! Think I might borrow it until I’m hounded out on Twitter

Eastmond’s spent so long losing his fitness in the RU back line that he’ll have grown a pair of man boobs anyway... first day of training I’d have him off to Warrington General for a surgical reduction procedure.

Joan Rivers' twin sister

Even if Brown is staying on next year he is not gettig any younger.
If we have to bring in 2 new halfbacks in the off season then that will be a massive ask to hit the start of next season running. I cant remember starting a season with 2 halfbacks making their debut.
If there is any space on the cap this season then it might be worth looking at bringing somebody in for the remainder of the season just to be in and around the squad and learning the systems ahead of next season.
Apart from the Briers and myler partnership for a few years and the odd short lived cameo appearance (Johns, Langer, Sandow) the halfback position has been a problem are for us for far too long.
Look at just 2 teams that have had consistancy in the spine of the team for a number of years (Leeds and Melbourne) and you can sort of see why we have not managed to lift the big one.
Far too much disruption at 6/7 for too long now.

I remember the days when We had players that got a few superleague appearances but didnt really make it in the first team,then got loaned out to teams like Harlequins and then Widnes ....and we simply used to say "sorry but they're not good enough if we have designs on winning the big one"

Thats What Happened to Mellor when he was a Wigan player:
a handful of Wigan appearances...loaned out ...loaned out again then Released......and signs for wooden spooners Widnes

have Wigan got it wrong....I doubt it....

Wigan moved Sean Long on to Widnes after a handful of games too

Saints sold a rather promising half back to a local rival a few years back too. Can't think of his name though.