If we wanted we could just put Mellor straight in imo. We could beat most teams in the league with blindfolds on the standard is that crap. We need to stop faffing about and give the lad a proper chance or get rid.

It's not really though. We're talking about going in to the season with Mellor as the 1st choice 6. Not just getting his chance through injuries. Pryce still has the 6 shirt and Gaskell has played when he's out.

Nor had Daly Cherry Evans before the start of this season for Manly, English clubs need to start showing faith in their own and not go signing overseas players at every opportunity.

I see what you're saying, but has he not made that many appearances because of Pryce's injuries?

It's good to see local players coming through for teams (except when they run rings around Wigan), but I doubt he'd have played as much if it weren't for that.

I like what I've seen from Mellor, but throwing him in with no contingency is too much of a risk for me, we need a more experienced player to help him ease in for the first few months or so.

Spot on that - it's time all SL Clubs realise that the future is through development, not funding Aussie pensions. Every Club is the same - not just Wigan and they are all guilty of the 'overseas first' mentality to varying degrees.

Maybe it's time to give the lad a go even though I have not seen anything of him; only heard good things about him and also Matty Russell.

Exactly. There is no way Saints would have chosen to go with Gaskell as first choice half back from day one of this season. To suggest that they have deliberately given the guy these number of games and so have been very smart is wide of the mark IMO. If he'd been fit Pryce would have played all the games IMO and Saints would have been as guilty as Wigan for not blooding the younger half back's when they had at least one leaving at the end of the season.

Oh yes, I agree. I was simply pointing out that it is possible to grow a first grade halfback on the job, so to speak. It probably isn't ideal but it is possible.

Chase & Finch would work.

Sam is going to stay at fullback, the issue with Sam is he looks knackered and none of our other big players are stepping up.

Chase isn't a Wigan player. So if Deacon retires as we expect who plays 6 next year? Mellor or Powell into the halves as 1st choice on the back of zero experience in SL starting every game? Or move Sam back to 6?

Im well aware he isnt, Im basing my comment on several rumours Ive heard, then again, yesterday I heard Deacon is now considering going round again. Which would surely provide the platform to blood Powell & Mellor.

Anyway assuming neither of the rumours are true about Chase and Deacon (which I think is the most likely outcome ), would you put Sam back to 6 next season of go with one of the two young half backs as 1st choice start instead?

The one thing I'd be very surprised about would be if the new coach moved Sam back to 6. I don't buy this "teams have found him out" business. He was poor against Saints, but so were a lot of players. The forwards didn't lay a good enough platform, we spent a lot of the game on the back foot and then when we did have possession and territory our attacking plays were woeful. Sam couldn't chime in to the line at speed because the passing to get the ball wide seemed like it was in slow motion!

The players look shot, Wembley's completely taken the wind out of their sails. Madge has now got a week to prove he's the best in this league to get them ready for Sunday. A good performance and we can forget about this weekend, though at the moment I don't like our chances of getting to the GF.

But if Wane does not do that who plays 6?

People seem to be ignoring the fact we probably won't have one next season as things stand.

We're not going to go in to the new season without a recognised 6, realisitically (hopefully!!). If Deacon is retiring (which he should imo, one more season is beyond him) then I'm sure IL and SW are working on identifying and bringing in a suitable replacement.

I think Mellor could handle being thrown straight in at 6. For starters he'd be partnering Finch, someone with all the experience in the world. No doubt Brett would be doing the majority of the organization, taking the pressure of Joe, allowing him to play his own game. Mellor's served a reasonable apprenticeship for mine. A year on loan out at Widnes playing every week, and playing well every week from what I've seen.

As for the comparisons with how Lomax has fared this year. Lomax had to be partnered with Gaskell another inexperienced half. There lies the problem. Had Jonny been put aside Pryce for the season, I've no doubt he'd have had a much easier start to this season. But it wasn't to be. And even though Lomax and Gaskell were introduced into the team through adversity, it doesn't appear to have had any negative effect on them. Yes they had a few tough games here and there, but other than that I think they've coped extremely well.

I think sometimes when we consider playing youngsters we tend to over complicate things. When really the league other than four or five teams is quite poor. If you were bringing a youngster into the NRL, well fair enough that's a tough non stop environment. But that's not the case in SL. Some weeks we go through the motions and still rack up forty points. That's not the kind of competition that a youngster like Mellor is going struggle in IMO.

or bringing in a hooker and putting tommy at 7

I am not seeing the complication/problem here.

There are two young players (one with experience at Championship level) surely next season should be about giving one of them (or even both at times) the chance to stake their claim. The only way they will get experience is to play, it is not rocket science. If the club thinks they have the potential then give them a chance. Keep Deacon as a player for another year, if necessary but as a backup/cover/teacher for one of the young players. Lets face it, there is no shortage of experience in the rest of the team to act as cover (Lockers/Deacon/Sam have all played 6 surely they can help out).

Saints (more by necessity than design) have gone down this route and are now reaping the benefit.

The problem is that Mellor hasnt been used at all this season, either when Deacon has been injured or rested, or off the bench. If Deacon is to retire this season and we dont bring in a replacement, we'd be giving the number 6 jersey to a young, untested player with no SL experience.

To be honest we could do with dropping Deacon now imo. If Mellor had of played a few games this season he may of got a start vs Catalans but theres no chance madge will start him after not playing a game. A bold decision by us now could make the difference. Trouble is if we wanted to move Sam up theres nobody competent/experienced to put in at full back either as i think madge has lost any faith in Roberts.

Absolutely not.

Leuluai's a 9.

Thurston, Sandow, Cronk or the little prat who minces for the Dragons. Failing that has Carney found someone who'll sign him yet? Half back is a overseas roster position.

Why oh why has Gasnier retired?

If Deacon goes around again then it's a bench spot or from out of the 17.
We need pace in the halves and neither Deacs or Finch have it. Mellor can provide it. A number of times yesterday there were gaps in the Saints defence for a fast half back. Neither had the pace to make the break.
Finch has the experience as has Lockers, Mellor could learn big time from those guys provided he's given the opportunity.

So? Why not - how will someone like Mellor get experience if not by playing - he will have Finch alongside him, surely we have got to do something and signing a world class half-back looks unlikely

He has to retire for me. The worse thing a club can do is hang onto player who's well past his sell by date, just because it's the easier option. Saints are hanging on to Wellens like mad, perhaps at detriment to the youngsters at the club.

Deacon should retire at the end of this season on a high. His form and ability are only going one way and that's downhill. The wise and long term view is to bring in Mellor and Powell IMO.

Exactly. And the only alternative being suggested (other than sign someone which doesn't seem realistic at the moment) is Deacon goes round again and he just can't IMO.

Even if he does it is no solution because we are back to square one in any game he plays in that the half backs won't be good enough and without pace.