Re: CC RD 3 | St Helens (A) : Fri Apr 02, 2021 8:32 am  

We shouldn't throw the game of course, we'll be putting our best-available side out for sure. Saints are a better side than us right now and we are decimated by injury and lack of pre-season prep this year. If we were to win, great. If we lose, I'm not going to be too upset because my expectations are set to next year. Ask me then and I'll be expecting Leeds to be up there in all competitions regularly again. The club needs to work really hard this season to make good decisions on who we retain and who we can bring in to strengthen. No excuses next year, every other SL club is in the same boat as we are re/ COVID and the difficulty in attracting NRL talent.

We jagged the cup last year on the back of a season-best performance against Wigan. I think we need to be realistic about where the side is still, whilst we can take comfort that progress is being made. With our first-choice 17 available (well, minus Walker), I wouldn't rule us out of silverware but minus Walker, Hurrell, Newman, Handley, Holroyd and with Gale undercooked and Eastmond such an unknown quantity...

[Frosties.]

Re: CC RD 3 | St Helens (A) : Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:10 pm  

A lot to look back on today as we were good today, hopefully 23 have a couple of players back for this week. Myler / Hurrell / Eastmond would be nice. Vuniyayawa into the bench in place for Smith. Happy for Broadbent to be FB if Myler isn’t bad though.

Re: CC RD 3 | St Helens (A) : Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:22 pm  

If Eastmond isn’t ready for next week, then Smith must play 6. Liam Sutcliffe isn’t and never will be a Stand-Off...

Re: CC RD 3 | St Helens (A) : Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:26 pm  

batleyrhino wrote:

If Eastmond isn’t ready for next week, then Smith must play 6. Liam Sutcliffe isn’t and never will be a Stand-Off...

Typified by his inability to give a short pass to Martin on cas line in the first half where he looked odds on to score, saying that though a centre should have been able to give that ball.

Re: CC RD 3 | St Helens (A) : Fri Apr 02, 2021 6:07 pm  

batleyrhino wrote:

If Eastmond isn’t ready for next week, then Smith must play 6. Liam Sutcliffe isn’t and never will be a Stand-Off...

I think Eastmond will play by Agars interview the other day. If he doesn't then yes Smith to 6 both Sutcliffe's at centre Broadbent full back. If Eastmond does start then Smith to start at 13.

Re: CC RD 3 | St Helens (A) : Fri Apr 02, 2021 6:25 pm  

Seth wrote:

Typified by his inability to give a short pass to Martin on cas line in the first half where he looked odds on to score, saying that though a centre should have been able to give that ball.

Agreed. After Gale, the best hands at the club belong to Cam Smith, but he needs to cut out the errors to be given the 13 jersey in the long term. He could be a very good player.

Re: CC RD 3 | St Helens (A) : Sat Apr 03, 2021 8:18 am  

The biggest problem Leeds will have with Saints other than the quality of the players is our lack of pace - putting Smith at 6 makes this worse - whilst he may have good hands he thinks and moves like a forward. Martin looks out of condition-Mellor has no pace either and Gale whilst lacking fitness was never the fastest half back. We have no pace in the threequarters either - could be a tough day at the office - Saints are a team who think and move quickly.

Re: CC RD 3 | St Helens (A) : Sat Apr 03, 2021 8:28 am  

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:

The biggest problem Leeds will have with Saints other than the quality of the players is our lack of pace - putting Smith at 6 makes this worse - whilst he may have good hands he thinks and moves like a forward. Martin looks out of condition-Mellor has no pace either and Gale whilst lacking fitness was never the fastest half back. We have no pace in the threequarters either - could be a tough day at the office - Saints are a team who think and move quickly.

Yes the pack is looking alright, missing one or two finishing touches but basically strong.

Tindall and Handley have some pace but we could definitely do with more gas. Eastmond isn’t the answer there either, I’m thinking more late-career Danny McGuire.

Walker, Tindall, Newman, Broadbent, Handley with Eastmond and Gale within a year or two looks good to me. In fact there is a load of strike there in offence.

Re: CC RD 3 | St Helens (A) : Sat Apr 03, 2021 9:12 am  

We can't really do anything about the injuries and lack of pace at the moment, but one thing we can improve is our support play. It's really poor at times, and is something we took for granted with the likes of Burrow, Mcguire and Webb in the team. Saints' defence is watertight, so we have to take advantage of the few breaks we'll make

Re: CC RD 3 | St Helens (A) : Sat Apr 03, 2021 9:49 am  

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:

The biggest problem Leeds will have with Saints other than the quality of the players is our lack of pace - putting Smith at 6 makes this worse - whilst he may have good hands he thinks and moves like a forward. Martin looks out of condition-Mellor has no pace either and Gale whilst lacking fitness was never the fastest half back. We have no pace in the threequarters either - could be a tough day at the office - Saints are a team who think and move quickly.

I know you dont rate Mellor but he doesn't look slow for a second rower.