48 replies to this topic

[Human Punk]

As Martyn Sadler says in this week's LE, what on earth has happened with Jamie Foster? It wasn't so long ago that we were applauding one of the tries of the season, then next thing, after one (or at worst one extra) bad game, he's on a compete outer. The image of Foster and Shenton has even been replaced as the header on the Saints website.

And all this with a new coach due to turn up at Saints in a few months. It seems odd that Saints are getting rid of players - like Foster and Shenton - that Nathan Brown might have wanted to keep (I can't imagine he'd have been consulted in mid-season, and in any event we're talking about players he'll have no in-depth knowledge of).

Should Foster do a Tommy Martyn and sit it out and wait for the new man? Does he have a future at Saints at all? Would he do better at another club? Or is he destined to end up like Lee Penny, as a promising young winger who ended up lost to the game.

[marklaspalmas]

It's been a pretty abrupt decline. There was a change of coach at Saints. perhaps that's part of it.

But he was found out defensively quite badly in a couple of matches I watched so I guess he's got to get that sorted. "lost to the game" sounds a bit dramatic.

Perhaps he's just not good enough?

[Kenilworth Tiger]

I always thought he was somewhat overhyped. Not a bad player by any imagination but never seemed to be as good as the majority were making out. Although this is nly based on TV matches that I saw him in.

[MrFussy]

Brown will definitely have been consulted, it would be moronic to make these decisions without his approval.

I do feel for Foster, I think it all happened too soon for him and we started to believe he was at a higher level than was actually the case. Brown goes for pace and power in the backs and Foster doesn't have much of either. I'd like to think that he still has a future at the club but he's going to have to improve on these aspects and I don't know if that will be possible. His comments on Twitter make it evident that he loves the club and has the desire to return to the first team so I hope we have patience with him and give him a chance.

For one reason or another it just didn't work out for Shenton. He'll be a lot better next season I expect.

[Just Browny]

Or is he destined to end up like Lee Penny, as a promising young winger who ended up lost to the game.

I remember Lee Penny as a reliable, slightly tubby full-back who scored plenty of tries but passed about twice in a decade. Kevin Penny was another matter.

Foster was never as good as he was made out to be, but you would have thought he was solid enough to be worked upon. He probably has good enough natural attributes to play Super League in a decent side, but either on the Saints side or on his side, there doesn't seem to be sufficient will to work on the weaknesses in his game. It's a shame.

[Human Punk]

I remember Lee Penny as a reliable, slightly tubby full-back who scored plenty of tries but passed about twice in a decade. Kevin Penny was another matter.

Oops! Kevin Penny indeed! And to be fair to him and Swinton fans, I was a bit overdramatic describing him as 'lost to the game'!

[Tonka]

Foster always looked a slightly above average player on a good team to me.

[chuffer]

Perhaps it was his goal-kicking ability that contributed to his acceleration through the ranks.....unfortunately this isn't union and so that skill alone won't do....he always struck me as a bit "light" and young. Maybe after a couple more years experience, defensive work and strength work he may develop into a strong outside back / three-quarter?

Edited by chuffer, 15 June 2012 - 10:55 AM.

[Dave T]

I find it funny that we have a thread complaining that Origin is over-hyped when that opinion should be aimed here IMHO.

I'm not one for bagging players, but on the flip-side there does seem to be a real over-hyping of St Helens players in particular for the last few years. I wonder if a certain commentator has a big influence on that.

I suppose it is nothing new at Saints, Danny Arnold, Joey Hayes etc were banged on about for a few years before people realised they were no more than average too.

Leeds and Wigan also get this kind of praise every time somebody makes a debut in their colours, but their trophy haul in recent years makes it harder to argue against!

[Cumbrian Fanatic]

Wasn't he dropped the first game Rush and Cunningham were in charge and has failed to get back in since. I would guess that Rush would know him better than just about any other coach and maybe he doesn't rate him compared to the other young Saints backs. For mine, possibly the best goal kicker in SL but there are plenty of other wingers I'd put above him for the rest of the game

[Tex Evans Thigh]

Great point about the over hyping Dave. We have a tendency to get over excited at young players when they need time to develop.

Foster isnt good enough, Ive said it from the start and got slated by some but he offers very little other than goal kicks.

His kick returns are appalling, which is probably the fundamental skill a coach would look for in a winger these days. his dummy half carries are as bad. Ok he can put the ball round his body and score - very good as a novelty try but his general skill aint great as seen with dropped ball. Defensive reads average, 1 on 1 defence poor although not too much of an issue on the wing.

no surprise hes going not a patch on makinson who is a genuine talent.

[walter sobchak]

When ever I saw Jamie foster on TV he didn't strike me as being very fast and defensively sound but had a great knack of being in the right place at the right time for scoring tries and is a excellent goal kicker. It's very similar to Kevin penny at Warrington and Shaun ainscough at Wigan who came on to the scene at breakneck speed only to disappear without a trace.

[Futtocks]

a great knack of being in the right place at the right time for scoring tries

I'd agree about the anticipation he showed when he was playing well. Maybe a change of scene is necessary.

[thirteenthman]

I remember Lee Penny as a reliable, slightly tubby full-back who scored plenty of tries but passed about twice in a decade.

No, I'm not having that. I remember seeing Lee pass the ball once.

[giwildgo]

I'm not having that Shaun Ainscough disappeared without trace, didn't the lad score a hattrick for Bradford only a couple of weeks ago? He may had been over hyped by people who overlooked his obvious weaknesses (lack of height / defensive ability), but like Foster - both are functional SL players, just not superstars.

[ArmchairRhino]

Overrated, defo. Main attribute is goal kicking. All covered above for me.

Nice try at Headingley when he took the ball round his back though.

[walter sobchak]

I'm not having that Shaun Ainscough disappeared without trace, didn't the lad score a hattrick for Bradford only a couple of weeks ago? He may had been over hyped by people who overlooked his obvious weaknesses (lack of height / defensive ability), but like Foster - both are functional SL players, just not superstars.

He disappeared without a trace at Wigan, which is hard to workout because where ever he goes he scores tries for fun. I'm almost certain he was wigans leading try scorer when he broke into the team then went to widnes on loan and scored tries, castleford he scored tries and now Bradford hes scoring tries.

[The Future is League]

Jamie Foster ends speculation of a move to rugby union by signing a new two-year deal with St Helens - Telegraph
He signed a 2 year contract in January so someone at Saints must rate him. A young player with time on his side perhaps a move to Widnes or the Reds would be good for him.

[Saintslass]

The only problem Foster has is his size. Being so slight meant that kick returns and stopping big blokes hurtling at him is next to impossible. With the team functioning as one unit, as it often did last season, the latter could be covered, usually with Wello backing him up (and with Meli on his inside that was always necessary!). But Wello was injured at the outset of this season and so Foster didn't get the help he needed defensively. However, he reads the game very well indeed and when he first broke into the first team I thought he had potential as a fullback. At that time he was also extremely secure under the high ball and of course a brilliant kicker. He is actually quite nippy and he is also a very good finisher. He can't help his size; that's his genetic inheritance.

The reason for him being dropped, along with Gaskell and Dixon, is simply the change in coach. Simmons had faith in the young players and they all responded to him very well. Rush has opted to keep the senior players happy, hence our perennial liability is back on the wing (Meli). Makinson is only playing because, once again, Gardner is out injured. If Gardner was not injured then Makinson wouldn't be playing either. Jones is only playing because we haven't actually got a left centre and Wheeler's form, having been fantastic when Simmons was here, has dropped right off since the change in coach.

Personally I am disappointed to see us revert to playing oldies (who aren't necessarily the best in their position that we have, eg Meli and Flannery) rather than the young guns who helped us get to the Grand Final last season (all that appears to have been dismissed by the new coaching regime). I think so far as Gaskell is concerned, the club has picked up on the fans' unhappiness, especially in light of Hohaia's poor performances in the halves, and they played him for a token 10 minutes at the end of one match recently. He hasn't been heard of since, mind.

I don't think Jamie Foster is Nathan Brown's idea of a player if Hudds' players are anything to go by. Mind you, if he is hoping for big backs and big forwards when he comes to Saints, he will find himself swiftly deluded. Saints seem to produce svelt players only, bar the odd biggish bloke, unlike Wigan. It must be in the pies they consume.

[Saintslass]

Jamie Foster ends speculation of a move to rugby union by signing a new two-year deal with St Helens - Telegraph
He signed a 2 year contract in January so someone at Saints must rate him. A young player with time on his side perhaps a move to Widnes or the Reds would be good for him.

That would probably be Royce Simmons, as he was still coach back then.