I'm talking individual players here and I'll start with Jon Wilkin.

I'll repeat what I said in another thread because I think it's important - Wilkin is far too light. I've seen a good bit of him this season as we've been involved with his testimonial and each time I think [i"this guy is waaaaay too slight for SL".[/i

His physique is not far short of a centre's - and not one of the larger ones. Little wonder his contribution in terms of hard yardage is minimal to say the least. If I were coach I'd be looking to put a good twelve pounds on him.

I just think a rebalancing of the side is needed. I think the club has gone someway to doing that with regards to the forwards. However the backs is a trickier proposition for us as we have many good players, but they are all similar and so end up playing in other positions to which they are not suited.

It's always hard to let quality players go, but realistically Lomax, Lance and Wellens would all do a good job at FB, and can make a fist of it in other positions, but are not the best in those other roles. Brown does like to move players around so hopefully he will try some players out in other slots.

I will admit Wellens has been good for points this season and whilst he hasn't let us down I really would like to see Lomax given a run there.

Hohaia surely, as it would mean he couldn't play 6 or 7 if he was playing fullback.

Josh Perry needs to go on a big fitness programme, he needs to lose weight and gain fitness.

He's so slow and unfit that every play the ball he's involved in is a complete uter mess when he's got the ball and in defence.

He's far to slow and most teams stop him on impact as he's so slow.

Lomax needs to work with a halfback of the calibre of longy or bobbie Gouding, he's not natural at scrum half and I think someone like longy or Goulding would help him.

Lomax: His edge defence has really become a problem this season. Too many lone surges out of the line leaving huge holes for people to run through.

Hohaia: FOLLOW the BALL for PHUCK's SAKE!

If it looks as though we are not getting an experienced half back, the only other option is to take a good 12 pounds off him and have him play at 6, we are desperate.

I'd rather give Wheeler another shot at Stand Off before taking a stone off Wilkin. The times Wheeler has played there he has really impressed me.

Wilkin's been completely diluted (going forward) by our play book. He's been given the role of "taking pressure" off the half backs, but seems most of the time to get in their way. I vividly remeber one play when Wilkin took up 1st reciever and Lance, instead of moving out and creating an option, stood a metre behind him an did nothing, and waited for the next play.
What would have perhaps been better would have been to use the old Leeds system, playing Wilkin as your playmaker/distirbutor in the middle and then split Lomax and Hohaia left and right - allowing them to run with the ball in more space.

He is too light, though. His tackle count is great, but he often lets the opposition get over the top of him. In the game at the Stobart, we had widnes pinned back on their line, but Ben Cross ran at Wilkin and drove him for 5 yards more than he should. Flanaghan might not have proved to have the same workrate, but he'd have stopped Cross a lot better.

Given that I expect Wilkin to be on a high wage, I'd try to move him on to someone like Widnes, where his experience and workrate would be invaluable. If he stay then he has to go one way or the other - full time standoff or full time backrow (if he's to be truly effective).
It would be interesting to see what standard of half back you could capture for Wilkin's wage.

Excuse me but us mere mortals get banned for skirting the swear filter like that !!!

I'd put Wheeler on a bus to Leigh personally. He's proven he's totally and utterly unreliable. I'm doubting now whether he'll even make it as a professional, let alone be the star of Super League a lot of people made out he could be.

He's a one trick pony, a nice step the left, but with that and the three weeks he's out injured after every game he plays, he's not worth having in the squad. We simply couldn't give him the responsibility for such an important position.

A different half back combo is a must, both players are reasonable but neither is able to carry the others weaknesses. Kicking in general also needs to improve. The answer to both for at least the moment is surely Gaskell. The halfbacks need some help from the other playmaking positions as well (fullback/loose forward).

Better defence rather than just playing a good territorial game to hide our poor defence. Nathan Brown (assuming he comes over) will hopefully sort this out.

More drive in the pack. New signings (Warmsley and Manu) plus juniors (Greenwood / Forster) should help with this.

A threat in the centres. Not sure how this could improve until young Percival comes of age.