: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:52 am  

~ No1 Saints Fan ~ wrote:

Fair assessment.

Also backed by the fact that we are not a "big physical team". Our pack matched up against the other top 4/5 packs would look small - I'm not saying we don't make that up in skill and technique - however, in bad conditions, good little uns tend to get done by good big uns. Leeds' pack is considerable more sizaeble than ours and they are complinented by nippy backs.

I think we need to look at this as we go forward. Tony P is a good addition in this area - size and skill shown nicely so far - perhaps future recruitment may look to add to the size element of the sqaud further? I could see us adding a new Maurie in the next 18months (rough South Sea Islander gem to polish up) and if Lyon wasn't available for a centre spot, a beast in the mould of Kev Iro would be a possible alternative? I don't want us to turn into Bratfut but I do want us to be a flexible team that can win in all conditions.

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:05 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

I understand where you're coming from but surely if they were more the adaptable team then they'd be our equal in the dry? But they don't seem to be. It seems to me that the two teams have different default playing styles and one (ours) is more effective in the dry while the other (theirs) is more effective in the mud.

I don't think that's fair on Leeds. They're a very skillful side.

Blobby is saying that in the dry our attack is exceptional, but Leeds have a more rounded game that allows them to adapt to varying conditions more easily than we can, and I think he's right.

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:13 am  

thats why in summer rugby we have consistantly performed in the league, but with the only league game that matters in october, we often fall short

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:40 am  

Judder Man wrote:

I think this is a very accurate assessment and agree on every point raised.

This is proven in the last 2 seasons were we have the ability of winning one of the competitions but not both. The Challenge Cup and Grand Final is too close together now (about 7 weeks) and its proven very difficult to try and do the double.
However I think Leeds will find it tough this season, they already look a tired bunch and they like Saints have players coming to the end of there careers.

The fundamental difference with the ageing players is Saints' are the pivotal players, Leeds' aren't.

Big couple of years coming for Saints in respect of recruitment.

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:00 pm  

getdownmonkeyman wrote:

The fundamental difference with the ageing players is Saints' are the pivotal players, Leeds' aren't.

Big couple of years coming for Saints in respect of recruitment.

Should'nt need to be much recruitment with Eastmond, Moore and Wheeler nset to take over those pivotal positions in the next 12 to 24 months.

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:42 pm  

eddiewaringsflatcap wrote:

Should'nt need to be much recruitment with Eastmond, Moore and Wheeler nset to take over those pivotal positions in the next 12 to 24 months.

I don't see a Sean Long coming through at this stage?

Having said that, Longy started as a flash in the pan 6 who turned into a top No.7 - could eastmond do the same?

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:43 pm  

Leeds had a couple of very poor years whilst blooding the kids who have since won them the league twice. We slaughtered them at our place ( well, Valley Parade) in 2002, and that side inlcuded Bailey, JJBuchanan, McGuire, Burrow, and diskin (ithink). all of which have gone on to prove themselves at SL and international level.

I wish my club had a progressive youths system that allowed for player development. the only time we had a wave of kids coming through was in 1998 when Leon Pryce, Paul Deacon and Fielden all came through, but that was because of injuries!

eastmond will be a good player. Moore will be a good backup to Roby at hooker and from what little I have seen of wheeler, he could do the same as long did, start on the wing and gradually move inside to be a playmaker.

BTW, what a game on Friday!!!! I wish the Bulls could compete like that. two great sides showing what a great game RL can be!

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:52 pm  

The two teams are very evenly matched and whoever plays best on the day wins, it has nothing to do with the weather and it was never used by any Saints fans as an excuse until the last two grand finals.

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:36 pm  

Tony Soprano wrote:

The two teams are very evenly matched and whoever plays best on the day wins, it has nothing to do with the weather and it was never used by any Saints fans as an excuse until the last two grand finals.

We never needed an excuse until the last two finals.

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:40 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

We never needed an excuse until the last two finals.

Before the rain it was Terry Newton