He certainly did get a lot of credit at the time in balancing out our attack but some fans were fickle about it because of his weakness in defence, this was when he got a 4 or 5 game run. Distinctly remember Lomax, Tai, Percival and Grace working that left side with Richardson, Peyroux, Naiqama, and Makinson working the right. Makinson scored loads of try's in that period and became top try scorer for that season.
When Fages came back into the side we still attacked on the right but gradually it faded out over time.
Makinson scored more trys with Fages than without,including a few 2 and 3 try performances,he missed a few games in that period also and Swift came in,also for a few games Fages was at 6 running the right side with Richardson at 7. There was that one freak game v Hull when between them Naiqama and Swift scored 7 while Richardson was playing.But other than that it's not really true we went right less and were less effective.
We had far more room to play last year with Thompson coming off the back of a Walmsley play and also Lees pre injury making good ground and the whole team had far more room to play on the front foot.
I like Fages. Always have. I would like to see more of Dodd who is without doubt a proper 7, but i would be sad to see Fages leave. He’s a tough little player who puts himself about and does his bit in defence. Whatever his best position is, he’s worthy of a top club i reckon.
screaming in the family corner, scaring the kiddies
I think the logical move is Fages to 9 and Dodd at 7, obviously once Roby retires, Fages is good enough defensively to play the position and him at 9 allows us to have 4 playmakers on the field in Coote, Lomax, Dodd and Fages rather than having someone a little bit more limited like Smith at 9
I thought Fages had a decent game bar the odd mistake. On a number of occasions he got us a priceless extra few metres up the field and a quick play the ball which is gold in a game like that. Likewise his defence was as always very good. Clearly Dodd is going to take the shirt soon but Fages would be an ideal sub for the time being then probably him and Smith/Eaves to take on the 9 duties
Bentley and Roby led the way apart from the number of tackles they made they did the hard wrestling part as well better than any other Saints player. That takes it out of you. For Wigan i thought Leuluai was top class and seem to have time on the ball
Fages has played hooker and been useful there too. If we were to ever try and phase Dodd in, maybe we could look at Fages to 9 whilst phasing Roby out. Thats if age ever catches up with him. He's quick around the ruck and great in defence too.
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