If Brown does not play Gaskell in the next 2 games then maybe Brown has arrived at the same conclusion of Rush last year that he is not good enough for first team selection. If Gaskell has seen the Rochdale game as a form of punishment and as a result has performed badly then there would be a question of his temperment and attitude.

Maybe he has mentally already committed himself to another club .

Oh get real. If he has seen it as a punishment maybe that is because he is discouraged and his confidence is shot. It may be nothing whatsoever to do with his temperament or attitude. It could be simply be a response to a truism: he is being discarded. If you are a young bloke who always wanted to play for his local team, and had been chosen as first number six to play in your home team's grand final and then suddenly, without warning, you find yourself cast aside twice, and for a player who isn't even as good as you in your position, it would be a fully human response to feel down about it and to find it difficult to lift yourself to play.



We have just been told about Brett Seymour at Hull FC, another halfback berated by fans and criticised by his coach, etc. He was suffering from depression and tried to kill himself with his car. Care needs to be taken, particularly with young and possibly impresisonable players, because it could be a young man's dreams and hopes that are being destroyed. It must be humiliating for him to have to turn out for Rochdale having once been trusted enough to play in a first grade grand final.

The fact that Gaskell has played in a Grand Final is completely irrelevant. Leroy Rivett played in a grand Final and scored four tries in Challenge Cup Final.

I've always thought Gaskell was a decent prospect, but when three or four coaches "don't fancy him" it does make you think.



The only problem I always had with him was that I didn't know what his best position was, even in the academy grades he was always being moved about.



Gaskell has two choices, sulk or go to Rochdale/Whitehaven and play his arris off to show his capabilities. Even if Saint don't want him other clubs will be looking at his character.

Don't exaggerate Rogues. Two out of three coaches do not like Gaskell, although how three games including a complete tonking is enough to judge anyone's capabilities is beyond me. Anyway one out of the three coaches (Simmons) kept faith with Gaskell. But then he was brought over in part because he was very good with young players and at the time Saints wanted to do stuff on the cheap.

At this moment in time I can't see lee getting a new deal and if he did he probalary wouldn't sign it so it will be interesting to see how he goes if he goes somewhere else next season I got a feeling he just might come back and haunt us for years

Well he won't be playing for Rochdale thats for sure, probably end up at Widnes, I seem to remember he had one of his better games there in 2011 I think, kicked the winning conversion from the touchline.

I think he already got an agreement in place for next season be interesting to see where he ends up

But one of those coaches (Rush) had worked with Gaskell from a very early age. He obviously didn't believe that Gaskell was ready for the job, much in the way that Noble and Maguire soon moved Ainscough out of Wigan despite some promising performances.

You have to realise that the coaches work with these players on a day to day basis and base their judgement on many different facets of their performance.

I've nothing against Gaskell at all, but as I've said previously I'm not sure what his best position is. I'd have him at Wigan but it wouldn't be at #6.

That's the point that I was going to make really.



He's had a whole pre-season to look at him and three league games, yet Brown obviosuly feels he isn't good enough, yet or ever. I doubt he would have dropped him otherwise. Wilkin is the best option at #7 currently, and I think the way Brown talked about Lance, he will be the option at #6.



I really doubt Gaskell will be here next season, and tbh if Brown and Rush (I'm sure they would have discussed this, given Rush has brought him through the youth system here) do not think he is worthy of his spot, then we just have to accept that. They know far more about the player in terms of his attitude and talent.



On another point, if he is sulking at Rochdale, or wherever, that isn't gerat. Look at Makinson who scored a hat-trick, that's how you try to get yourself back into the team. From an outside perspective, his attitude isn't great.

As I have stated previously, Gaskell would make a good , or if he could bulk up a bit, loose forward. He will never be good enough at stand off and if the club aren't prepared to try him in a new position then he may as well leave now. Sending him to Rochdale or Whitehaven every week won't do him or Saints any good at all. If he is being considered as cover then we may as well promote Yates and see how he goes. Yates may well be the future so lets see him!

Good post (Shocker lol) .

We all know how Brown feels about Hohaia at 6; he doesn't rate him there, so for him to be ahead of Gaskell alludes to the fact that there is either something going on behind the scenes that we don't know about (doubt it, it's not JFK), or that Brown, having seen Gaskell throughout pre-season, and in the opening games, doesn't think he is ready yet.



Sadly, I think Rush's treatment of him last season has all but ruined his Saints career. He needs a boost in the arm, and that can take longer than 3 games, especially when it comes to finding form. It could take him all season again to gel with a halfback partner, and find confidence and form. If his agent is hawking him around other clubs, then it makes it doubly hard for Saints to get him to sign a new deal.