Spot on with that. Gaskell is simply keeping his options open and his agent has been busy recently. Forget Warrington, Hull and wherever else, Wigan will have Lee Gaskell wearing the number 6 shirt next season.

and how much will you pay us for him?

So far we're nailed on to sign Brough and Smith and Gaskell is definitely staying, and Wigan are also nailed on to sign all 3 of them too. It's all pointless speculation at the end of the day. Personally I'd be made up with Brough but can't see it happening unless the Pies paid us a big transfer fee for Gaskell to fund it, and in that case it'd make a lot more sense for them to just sign Brough instead. I think Smith coming back is by far the most likely scenario which would be a little disappointing, but there really aren't a lot of other options available without a big transfer fee or free overseas spot.

I can't see Saints even considering letting someone as highly regarded as Gaskell go anywhere, let alone to the team we consider can hurt us most. There's little doubt in my mind that Lee Gaskell will, at very least, get considerable game time for us at 6 next year with the biggest question being who will be at 7.



For me the most likely scenario is Smith at 7 (assuming the rumours have any substance) and Gaskell at 6 next season as Brown starts to build his team around youth with some experienced grunt up front. Lomax, whilst I am a huge admirer of him, is never a half so there's another role to be found for both him and Lance; the latter of whom provides us with the biggest positional problem. If we are going to play him anywhere its 1 or interchange 9.

He's been playing stand-off since he was 7 years old. I would suggest he is very much a stand-off. I doubt you have ever seen him play in that position to make a valued judgement. Stand-off halves have a range of skills which should be complimented by their half back partner. I suggest Lomax should be our stand-off and the search should be for a complimentary scrum half.

Wellens was a half in the junior set up if I recall correctly

Wilkin was a Hooker

Peacock a 2nd rower

etc etc



I would not say Lomax is not a half, but neither would I say he is nailed on at that spot.

I also don't think he's nailed on, but only because no-one will give him a chance. He would require a more organising scrum half like Bobbie goulding along side him. Gaskell is not the answer at stand-off. Gaskell may make a good centre or loose forward ( provided he puts on a few pounds ) but there are certain flaws in his game which preclude the stand-off position. These may be corrected in the next few years and I will hold my hands up if that happens. Saints future in the halves is J Lomax and A.N.Other. What position Jonny plays will ultimately be decided by who the A.N.Other is.

That's a silly argument. As posted above many players come up through the ranks in one position only to find that they are either (a)!unsuited to it at the top level or (b) better somewhere else. If Lomax was a SO he'd at least have been given a run there. It's as obvious as Wellens never being a top flight scrum half was.



My view remains unchanged. Great talent. Not a half back.

We'll agree to disagree then!

If Lomax isn't tactically astute enough to play seven he'll struggle at six, which is arguably an even more challenging role. Besides, what relevant attributes (other than a good step) does he have over Gaskell? Perhaps he's quicker over the first ten yards. But he's certainly not over the remaining eighty. His kicking game is vastly inferior and he doesn't possess anywhere close to Gaskell's leg strength. I suppose you could argue he's stronger although only because he's eighteen months ahead in terms of physical development.



You only need look at side-by-side shots of Gaskell and Lomax attacking the line at first or second receiver to realise which player of the two has greater spatial awareness. Lee can track three or four different play options and usually picks out the optimum choice. It's not that Lomax can't execute a play. I just feel that when the defence anticipates such and gears up to smash it he finds it difficult to think creatively and come up with a solution.



This is not to say I think Jonny is an inferior player. The problem is his talents are better suited to another position - just as Gaskell would be completely useless at prop.

And he was a bloody awful one, too.

Jamie Lyon and Matt Gidley were 6's up til senior level. Junior levels are nearly meaningless