I think you're probably right, but I'm happy to see it tried out for a few weeks.

I'd keep flanaghan at loose, he deserves a extended run as a starting player. One thing for sure with Flash, he's a tough hard worker.



I think this is the first movement in the end of wello saints career

Playing Wello at loose i feel will strengthen our pack.



I dont expect him to be a blockbusting hard yards maker.



What i do think he will do is take some of the responsibility off Wilkin, specifically in the passing department when the side are running moves close to the opposition line. This should actually improve our speed and range of pass options, which are currently limited due to Wilkins deficiencies in that area.

Wilkin will be left as 1st choice kicker and a midfield tackler.



Wello is also an excellent reader of the game and as a consequence is an excellent support player. I would therefore use him running off the shoulder of our forwards and supporting midfield breaks, similar to how he was used last year by Rush. He could be very useful if the side get a role on out of dummy half linking up with Roby or someone like Soliola.



Tackling shouldnt be an issue as he has always been strong defensively.



Another area he offers for us offensively is in pressuring the opposition fullback on bombs.



Finally playing Wello in the pack allows our bench to be strengthened. The quality of the bench is usually what defines the top teams, and often is the difference in the hard fought battles.



Putting Wello at loose would allow us to have a bench of: Lafranchi, Puletua, Flanagan, Clough or variations on that theme eg LMS, Soliola, Jones, Lafranchi.

I might get shot down here but in my opinion I think Lomax will be a far better fullback in time than Tomkins at Wigan. He is safer under the ball and he seems to have a better reading of the game.

He already looks a more rounded/ natural fullback, if not as devastating in attack.



Tomkins is terrifying with ball in hand, but is a bit of a Meli when kicks come his way.



Time will tell as sides will look for weaknesses to exploit, just as they did with Tomkins.

I'm against wello playing loose. For me, its just accomadating him because he's wello.



Why should he get in before flanaghan ?



You say defence wont be a problem, I don't agree. The is no doubt that wello can tackle at fullback but defending in the line is totally different than his usual one on one at fullback.



When defending in the line, you've got to make correct decisions with dummy runners, inside balls, long balls, miss out passes etc so its much more complex than doing fullback tackle.



I for one, wouldn't like wello inside me when the line is sliding across. Had he got the fitness and soles to defend in the line?

Agree with your general point, I also think the volume of tackling could be a problem for him. That said I'm not against him getting a run in the position to see what he can do.

If Brown wants to try him at LF then I do not have a problem with it.



His selections so far IMO have proved that the fans should try and trust his judgment.

I have to some extent offered potential plus points of Wello playing at 13 and you have pointed out some of the potential negatives.



The proof as they say will be in the pudding.

Wello may sink or swim in his new position. It will be interesting to see how he adapts to his new role.



If he goes well then he gets a contract extension, if he doesnt then he finishes this season and retires.



I would prefer to try him in the position than merely write him off before he has even played there. For me a player of his ability and experience deserves that chance.

!!!!!

I think he's equally devastating in attack but he isn't selfish with it. By that I mean, Tomkins will be the one to break the line pretty much all the time and that's what his game hangs on. Lomax has what Brown called 'silky skills': he enables other players to become devastating in attack by creating opportunities for them. He shares his largesse.

Tomkins's presence behind Wigan's attacking line creates space for their threequarters and second-rowers, though. Let's not get carried away - Lomax has been outstanding for three weeks now, but Tomkins has been consistently exceptional at full back for over two seasons (one or two gaffs notwithstanding).