Myler's future part of an outstanding Saints back line
The capture of Stephen Myler's signature yesterday on a two-year deal represents not only Saints' faith in him, but the fly-half's faith in Jim Mallinder.
From the ruins of relegation the director of rugby has quickly assembled a back line that cut last year's finalists Leicester apart with an average of 24.
London Irish, Gloucester, Worcester and Sale were all reportedly after Myler with rugby league giants St Helens also hoping to lure him back to the 13-man code.
But Myler can see that with players like Ben Foden, Paul Diggin, Sean Lamont, James Downey, Jon Clarke and Lee Dickson staying and developing there are some exciting times ahead at Franklin's Gardens.
And working his socks off on the training paddock to get back in the side is 21-year-old Chris Ashton, with 23-year-old Joe Ansbro just back from injury. Still in their twenties are back-up centres Chris Mayor and Nils Mordt.
Of Saturday's back line only Sean Lamont is now out of contract at the end of the season.
Mallinder believes former rugby league player Myler can continue to develop and push for England honours, especially if he can regain the kicking form that so strangely deserted him against Leicester.
"It is really good that he has signed a two-year deal," said Mallinder, who interestingly went against policy by revealing the length of Myler's new deal. "We are just delighted with Stephen's progress, he has not played union for a massive amount of time, but he is working hard at his game.
"It is good to have him here as well as our other fly-halves. He is growing in confidence with his kicking, he works really hard with Paul Grayson on it.
"He says he has changed his kicking style from league because we use a different ball in union. But it is not just his kicking, it is his game management and the way he talks to the players and the way he gets the best out of them.
"He understands the game a lot better and he can communicate what he wants. He needs to keep playing and showing he can do it at this level. He has got to work on all types of his game. He is not bad in defence, but he needs to keep working hard on that and then his attacking options – running, kicking and passing. He can improve and get better."
Myler's form along with that of Foden and Diggin means that the future has come rushing into focus at Franklin's Gardens in the past two games.
Stalwarts and Gardens favourites Bruce Reihana and Carlos Spencer have been reduced to bench roles lately.
Mallinder added: "Stephen has done really well to keep Carlos on the bench, because Carlos is gagging to get on the field and show what he can do as he showed against Bristol when came on with a few minutes to go. So it is fantastic to have good players in these positions. Carlos might say Stephen had an off day kicking wise on Saturday, but Stephen has got a good all-round game and that is what we like.
“There are some good young English fly-halves around and older ones who are injured, but Stephen is getting up there now and people are beginning to talk about him, which is fully understandable.”
Both Reihana and Spencer have a year left on their contracts, but whether they want to sit on the bench in last throes of their career is debatable. It might not be in Mallinder’s interest either with both of them big earners and talk of the wage cap being reduced to 3.5m next season.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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