Highly rated by whom? How many times have you seen him play? Why was he dropped from the England squad? You know he only got that mid season game because Shorrocks was injured don't you? In the Saints v Wigan games he was outplayed on every occasion. I have a feeling he will be another Gary Wheeler (hopefully without the injuries) i.e an outstanding junior player at the age of 12 - 16 but gets overtaken by other players after that age group. Saints fans have been claiming that he is one of the best young players for about three years!!

btw I do like the look of Rob Fairclough at Saints, I think he is a better prospect than Hewitt.

Oliver Gildart is a very good prospect, but that's all he is at the moment and time will tell. We've seen the likes of Shaun Ainscough, Joe Mellor, Tommy Lee, Jamie Foster, Steve Tyrer etc, etc all hyped up as the next big thing only to fall away for whatever reasons.

And as for Lance Hohaia "winning over the fans" I wonder how many will want to see his contract extended at the end of this season?

He is highly rated by the club, coaches and most fans who have seen him play that I have spoken to. I don't keep a tally of the 19's games I see I'm afraid otherwise I'd be happy to let you know. Saints fans have said he is one of the better young players at Saints. I've never read or heard anything along the lines of "best young half back in the game."

I'm glad you recognise Gildart is simply a very good prospect for now, and not the "best young centre in the game." That title would probably go to Sarginson with Percival after that.

As for Hohaia, it would all depend on length of contract and cost. At the moment he is on a large salary, too large for someone who will be a back up player. However he did play well last year and did win over the majority of fans. He will also be a useful squad player next year as he can cover a few different positions.

If he were to stay on for a year or two on a reduced contract then I think most Saints fans would be fine with that.

In what way has Atkins "a lot to prove"?

Atkins is a fully established Super League centre with international recognition. Gildart has never played Super League. Atkins is the one with something to prove, obviously.

Is reading something you struggle with? I do not class Gildart as one of our front line centres. I would anticipate he will pick up game time next year but it will be carefully selected. If we pick up 2 centre injuries we can still run with 2 experienced centres who have played in trophy winning successful teams. Gildart is not part of that equation and I doubt if we picked up 3 injuries in the centre that he would be considered a realistic long term option.

As for Atkins, given how poor he has been the last few seasons he had bags to prove. He is a player who seemed destined for a big career, he has become a very average player indeed and needs a big season to get back on track, he lacks the basic skills of a centre and unlikely he at his age will ever get them in my opinion. May be wrong but fairly sure he has been dropped for spells on a few occasions over the last few seasons by Smith due to his form.

So the best young centre in Super League is only 5th or 6th choice at Wigan? Weird that.

Where's this best young centre in Superleague come from?

Not sure. St.Pats? Judes?

Nicky Kiss labelled him thus in the second post on this thread.

So it's based on ONE person's opinion?

Roll on the start of the season.



What I will say is that he's one of the best young prospects I've seen in the last couple of years, and along with Turgut and King were impressive against the Aussies

YG is like a dog with a bone sometimes.....

I'm sure I read you saying you were "very disappointed" in Turgut in game 1. Must have had a blinder in game 2 presumably?

And yes it was Nicky Kiss who made the comment re.Gildart. You've been a bit more reserved in your praise for him which makes for a refreshing change.

Talking out of your arris now. Whenever fit Atkins has been an automatic selection ever since joining Warrington and has been one of the top centres in the league for a number of years including dream team selection in 2012 and 20+ tries in 3 of the last four seasons whilst still managing to score more tries than any Wigan centre did in the other season.

Game. Set. Match.

And this is the girl who complains when anyone has the termacity to go on HER forum winding people up.
The same girl who wants to quote U19's but can't remember if she has seen any games at that level.
You can't make this up

I'd certainly agree with you about Wigan having an advantage in respect of pace. The yardage provided by the Wingers (and also the centres) was the difference between Wigan and Warrington in the meetings at the back end of last season.

I think a potential weakness in Wigan's squad is the over-reliance in McIlorum at dummy-half. Powell and Williams when playing there both look what they are - half-backs shoe-horned into the position. Their service from acting half is too slow and they tend to stand upright before delivering the pass making for slow service. The lad in the u19s (Waterhead) doesn't yet look ready physically to play at SL level.


EDIT: I've just remembered that Logan Tomkins will be back with Wigan this year so he does offer some cover at hooker but really of a thrid choice standard rather than a regular interchange option.

I'd say Gildart is the best centre prospect in the game along with King at Wire which is what I meant rather then trying to make out he's already some sort of superstar. He's a top class prospect and has impressed me massively every time I've seen him play.

I've not been involved in any of the debate that has gone on since those early couple of posts but I stick to what I said about us- we have no problems at all at centre IMO. I think it was mentioned that Saints can offer as much depth as Wigan in the position and you probably can. If we're talking quality though I think Wigan's options are better. I don't expect you'll like that comment but lt's an honest opinion in the same way that I believe Saints are stronger in the halves, for example.

As people have already said- Roll on the season!

Incorrect. I said I can't remember how many games I had seen as I don't keep count. Why would I? Why would anyone for that matter?

Ps I have said nothing to wind anyone up. I'm trying to have a laugh whilst voicing my opinions on topic. Chill out

Interesting point given he has gone public talking about his lack of form in 2013, he hasn't got close to the Dream Team or an International squad in the last few years. Clearly his form has not dropped



As I said much to prove to get anywhere near that form again.

Agree with all of that. Your centre options probably are stronger. Sarginson was very impressive last season and Gelling, despite still being prone to making errors, was one of the most improved players in the league. Bateman looked good there against us on Good Friday, albeit it was only one game and Tomkins can obviously slot in there with no problem.

As you say, there are areas where we are stronger and vice versa. I'd be surprised if the Champions came from outside Saints or Wigan.

Warrington won't be far off but I still think there's some uncertainty at half back and right centre for them.

Quote ="The Yellow Giraffe"Game. Set. Match.'" m.rlfans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=564630 Just for you and Paul, opinions from the Wire fans.

Quote ="The Yellow Giraffe"Game. Set. Match.'" m.rlfans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=564630 Just for you and Paul, opinions from the Wire fans.

Clark and probably Sims will really improve Wire and I'd put them on a par with Saints and Wigan. They're certainly the weakest of the three of us in the halves but they do have the luxury of a few options so can change things up if needs be. They could probably do with a guy like Ratchford to really step up now and kick on to become a player that leads the side and comes up with match winning moments on a regular basis in tight situations.

I think Wigan have that in Sean O'Loughlin and at times Matty Smith and Saints have go to men like Roby and Walsh who produce that. I look at Wire and I think that responsibility is now going to fall on lads like Ratchford and Clark now that Monaghan and previously Briers have left.

He had a poor game in game 1, but he is a player I have previously said is "one to watch" I wasn't at the second game but two friends who were there described his performance as outstanding.

As you know I generally praise young players, regardless of if they perform well when I see them.

Again I agree. Clark is a fantastic player and Sims is solid and will improve their pack.

I just think when you look at their squad there are still questions marks in some key areas. They have Ratchford, Myler, O'Brien, Bridge and now Wheeler who all fancy themselves as half-backs but there's no obvious partnership there that stands out. I personally think full-back is Ratchford's best position but that then leaves Russell out.

I don't think Smith knows his best combinations and the tinkering around with key positions isn't a good thing in my opinion. I still think they'll be there or thereabouts though but if somebody had a gun to my head now I'd back a Grand Final repeat come October.

I think all of the top clubs have pros and cons which makes the coming season hopefully the most competitive for many years.
Saints - probably best half back pairing in SL with the team confidence probably sky high after last season. The cons being unproven coach and arguably depth of squad.
Wire - good close season signings with top class coach. Cons being still in transition and question marks around their best half back pairings.
Catalan - great squad improvements and strong home form. Cons for me being have they got the confidence to compete well in all games and have they got the right coach?
Leeds - though squad is ageing still wouldn't surprise anyone if they reached another GF. Cons being waste of a quality back line that rarely threatens due to style of play.
Huddersfield - again good acquisitions. Play off history is poor so why would next season be different even with improvements?
Wigan - pace throughout the side plus strength in depth for most positions. Cons being the new half back pairing which I hope delivers but is still very much unproven.
Salford could be a dark horse this year for the top 4 - they have the quality players still unsure if Harris was the right choice for them.
I just wish that Hull had also made more improvements to their squad as I'm a firm believer that as a sport we really do need a strong team on Humberside.
Anyway can't wait for the forthcoming season.