He's got the skill set now to play five-eighth, something we hadn't seen from him pre-2004. It's part of why St Helens is so dangerous, the unpredictability of who's going to pick the ball up and do something special, regardless of whether they're nominally playing in the centres, fullback or halves.
And who knows, perhaps that was all part of the blow-up that saw him take time away - maybe he always backed his ability and wanted a shot given the poor ball delivery he had been getting in seasons prior from Dykes and Wagon in that role? From memory the number 6 jersey was getting thrown around a fair bit in trials that season but never to Jamie.
His first (and last) game of the real season was a real dog, and I'm not excusing some of the way he went about his leaving for time out. But as fans remember he did it with our club's blessing (and control of his contract) all along. If he confirms he's coming back, it's not because he wouldn't get a higher offer elsewhere - it will all be about redemption and he'll play out of his skin for us if we accept him back.
