Re: Tonight’s game v Saints : Tue Aug 31, 2021 11:08 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Very good game to watch last night I thought. It was a very similar game to the Challenge Cup final this year. We got off to our usual quick start and threatened to blow you away. A mistake from Welsby gave you the ball and you had it for 15 minutes and went in leading. Second half though you didn't get into the game at all and didn't threaten once. We're very difficult to beat when we play like we did in the second half.

Some interesting comparison between the two sides I thought. Your backs were lacking, they didn't bring the ball out at all well, Lineham is completely out of shape and such a poor player these days. Where is Ashton? Surely he offers more? Is he still injured? The halfback battle was key. Welsby did some great things and made a couple of errors, Dodd looks like he's played the game for years, what a talent. For you Williams had a quiet start, then exploded into action for 15 minutes and got you into the lead. Widdop never really seemed to be on his game, he looked very distracted by Bentley.

You missed Cooper in the pack, Hill didn't contribute to the game at all. Darryl Clark seemed to be injured too, I think you'd have been better playing Danny Walker throughout. We were missing Lomax, Fages, Amor and Thompson so quite balanced with you missing Cooper, Charnley and Davis?

I think both sets of half backs showed given the opportunity they will cause some harm. Difficult for Williams / Widdop to get the upper hand given the battle was well and truly lost in the forwards.

We know we're good enough to beat Saints when it matters - though Saints are the better side, what we lack in comparison is consistency.

I don't think Fages is a loss for you, and Welsby looked more dangerous at 6 than Lomax, he needs to be playing 80 minutes every week.

We were also missing Austin, but like Fages I don't think it particularly weakens us. Not sure if Jase Clark was injured, only played the first 20 mins or so but again, first choice 17 wouldn't have beaten Saints last night such was their dominance up front.

Re: Tonight’s game v Saints : Tue Aug 31, 2021 11:11 am  

DallasMead2 wrote:

Best team won, their line speed especially was incredible and they bashed us up in the forwards. 20 mins for Jason Clark? Awesome coaching in terms of subs usage again there Pricey.

Saints were at their best last night. We did struggle to make ground. I would guess that Jason must have picked up a knock.

Re: Tonight’s game v Saints : Tue Aug 31, 2021 11:18 am  

Fantastic Mr Catpiss wrote:

Must admit I know pricey has waxed lyrical re longstaff, he's not very big, even as a junior, it's a concern that he's on the small side for a back rower

Bateman Isn't the biggest, Nor is Currie and they manage. You don't have to be huge to be solid in D and break the line in attack. You just need to have a bit about you, which he does seem to.

Re: Tonight’s game v Saints : Tue Aug 31, 2021 11:35 am  

Enjoyed watching the match, who says RL isn't entertaining?
Currie was MoM for us in my view. Saw enough of Williams tonight to think he will be a special player for us.
Our pack missed Cooper BUT when you consider how little time J Clark managed and factor in Sita "Pricey" Akouala we were always going to struggle.
Strangely I'm not in the least despondent at the loss, I can't understand the massive celebration by Saints and their fans though given they don't consider us rivals.
Bentley= Bargain Bucket Bateman.
Finally it is very difficult to judge on telly whether the Saints defence consists of a team of world class sprinters or...

Re: Tonight’s game v Saints : Tue Aug 31, 2021 11:42 am  

Agree with most above too be honest. Saints the better side and deserved their win. We leaked a couple of soft tries i thought. Their 1st and the Percival try. Why we didn't just ankle tap him 30m out rather than tickle him over the line i will never know. Then a bounce that no-one could do anything about for another try. We weren't that far off i thought....missed Cooper.

Having an atmosphere back made it for me. Was great to be back. Celebrating, booing, high fiving randoms when we went ahead......missed it. An enjoyable evening despite the result.

Think if we get passed the 1st playoff game (probably Cas again), we can make it to O.T. Will be tough ask though.

Re: Tonight’s game v Saints : Tue Aug 31, 2021 12:03 pm  

Saints had a roll on from the off. Have to agree with Saddened in respect of the ground made by their three quarter line, as opposed to ours, when bringing the ball away from your own try line. It made Saints pack have an easier job than ours. Thought we defended well on the whole, and a ball steal with instant off load coupled with a wicked bounce of a ball (where it landed usually ends up going over the dead ball line), cost us the game.

We looked booked for third place before this game, so we have the benefit of it being a learning experience as opposed to it being a dent to any play off hopes.

Re: Tonight’s game v Saints : Tue Aug 31, 2021 12:11 pm  

Smiffy27 wrote:

Saints were at their best last night. We did struggle to make ground. I would guess that Jason must have picked up a knock.

Would have thought he’d have to carry the ball in or make a tackle to get a knock to be honest.

Re: Tonight’s game v Saints : Tue Aug 31, 2021 12:24 pm  

Captain Hook wrote:

Strangely I'm not in the least despondent at the loss, I can't understand the massive celebration by Saints and their fans though given they don't consider us rivals.
Bentley= Bargain Bucket Bateman.

Finally it is very difficult to judge on telly whether the Saints defence consists of a team of world class sprinters or...

I've said for a while, Saints and Warrington fans are very similar. You're seriously telling me you wouldn't have celebrated winning a game like that at our ground? Every away team does that if they win, whether it's a rival or not.

Bentley is vastly superior to Bateman at the moment. It's not even close.

And the last point, Saints are a lot fitter than most teams. Also winning the ruck and being on the front foot for a lot of the game helps. Wire having D. Clark playing well below 100% slowed you down as well. You looked more lively when Walker came on.

Re: Tonight’s game v Saints : Tue Aug 31, 2021 1:21 pm  

I'm told Lineham has been hit with a 2 game ban. No other charges from the game.

Re: Tonight’s game v Saints : Tue Aug 31, 2021 2:17 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Bentley is vastly superior to Bateman at the moment. It's not even close.
.

If Bentley spent half his time playing Rugby rather than winding other players up he'd still be bang f***ing average. The bloke would be out fly-tipping or in jail if he wasn't being paid as a full time WUM. What a Class A pr!ck he is.