Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Mon Apr 29, 2024 11:24 pm  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

The thing is with that style we've seen from Saints over the years is that it needs to be done with a certain aggression and intensity. I can just about stomach the repetitive "arm-wrestle" style when it's done at it's best because we absolutely suffocate teams and it's fairly ruthless. However what we saw against Huddersfield was that very one-dimensional style but done at snails pace, which suddenly makes it absolutely awful to watch and not very effective either.

Personally I would always taking winning (when it matters) over a swashbuckling, entertaining style of rugby. However, the minute that our boring style stops leading to us winning the big games, it becomes unforgivable in the eyes of fans.

As entitled as this may sound, as a fan of a club like Saints I expect to either be reaching and more often than not winning the big matches, or I want to go out in a blaze of glory with the team giving us a run for our money and some fantastic rugby to watch. To that end, if Wellens doesn't win the GF this year and he doesn't change our style, he should be looking for a new job by Christmas because he'll have delivered neither of the above for 2 years.

In summary Saints play like a Shaun Wane team from 2014 to 2018. You play “tough” and are very hard to beat.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Apr 30, 2024 9:21 am  

Every time I hear the Sky team go on about how 'Wigan won't go away' as we're getting beat, I always think that should now be a tag used for Saints. We do go away sometimes and have an off performance. It's not that often but it's a time or two a season. That tag and the old 'entertainers' tag should be flipped pretty much because I don't think either ring that true at the minute for the clubs they've been associated with traditionally by Sky.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Apr 30, 2024 9:42 am  

I've had a few weeks away from here as sat in Spain logging into my phone to argue with Phuzzy wasn't conducive to a relaxing family break and made me question a few things so I had a few weeks reflection. He's probably a decent bloke if I were to meet him.

However back to the rugby, I fully agree with everything TYG has said. We are awful to watch with a one dimensional attack and Warrington did a proper number on us. Williams ran the show and gave a masterclass in half back play and they went wide early and scorched us for pace.

I still think Wigan will win the comp as they have too many gamechangers and have pace to burn and a better pack than last season. My only surprise is that IMO they have only played two decent sides all season and lost them both and were a Sneyd brainfart away from losing at Salford.

They have had a very nice fixture list so far (even Leigh A was against a Leigh team with lots missing) It will be interesting to see how they go against Catalan and Warrington coming up although you coud argue Wigan will respond well to last week, perhaps Catalan will too who knows.

I actually think that Warrington would give Wigan a really good game if they are on it. They have a lot of pace, some decent forwards and the best 6 in the comp in Williams.

Back to Saints and unless we suddenly change our attack, we won't be winning the GF this season. Defensively we are still outstanding and we will always compete but Lomax is now a shadow of the player he was and for whatever reason Welsby has been very quiet, looking like he doesn't know where he should be at times.

I am going to HKR on Saturday and if we play like we did against Huddersfield and they play like they did against Wigan it will be a long day for me and my eldest lad.

We have a huge rebuilding phase coming up with likely Makinson, Hurrell, Blake and Matautia all leaving at the end of the season, not to mention we have still not replaced Grace.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Apr 30, 2024 9:50 am  

Stu M wrote:

I've had a few weeks away from here as sat in Spain logging into my phone to argue with Phuzzy wasn't conducive to a relaxing family break and made me question a few things so I had a few weeks reflection. He's probably a decent bloke if I were to meet him.

However back to the rugby, I fully agree with everything TYG has said. We are awful to watch with a one dimensional attack and Warrington did a proper number on us. Williams ran the show and gave a masterclass in half back play and they went wide early and scorched us for pace.

I still think Wigan will win the comp as they have too many gamechangers and have pace to burn and a better pack than last season. My only surprise is that IMO they have only played two decent sides all season and lost them both and were a Sneyd brainfart away from losing at Salford.

They have had a very nice fixture list so far (even Leigh A was against a Leigh team with lots missing) It will be interesting to see how they go against Catalan and Warrington coming up although you coud argue Wigan will respond well to last week, perhaps Catalan will too who knows.

I actually think that Warrington would give Wigan a really good game if they are on it. They have a lot of pace, some decent forwards and the best 6 in the comp in Williams.

Back to Saints and unless we suddenly change our attack, we won't be winning the GF this season. Defensively we are still outstanding and we will always compete but Lomax is now a shadow of the player he was and for whatever reason Welsby has been very quiet, looking like he doesn't know where he should be at times.

I am going to HKR on Saturday and if we play like we did against Huddersfield and they play like they did against Wigan it will be a long day for me and my eldest lad.

We have a huge rebuilding phase coming up with likely Makinson, Hurrell, Blake and Matautia all leaving at the end of the season, not to mention we have still not replaced Grace.

Add in Dodd. The overseas players can be easily replaced unfortunately there are not many top English players hanging around waiting to be snapped up.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Apr 30, 2024 9:57 am  

Zig wrote:

Add in Dodd. The overseas players can be easily replaced unfortunately there are not many top English players hanging around waiting to be snapped up.

The other problem we have is that we have some outstanding young lads waiting for a chance but are perhaps still not quite ready yet. There is a huge difference physically between Academy and SL and its not like football whereby a 17-18 year old isn't really much different physically to an older player. Its different in RL

There are some big decisions coming up which if we want to continually compete, we need to get right.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Apr 30, 2024 10:22 am  

Stu M wrote:

The other problem we have is that we have some outstanding young lads waiting for a chance but are perhaps still not quite ready yet. There is a huge difference physically between Academy and SL and its not like football whereby a 17-18 year old isn't really much different physically to an older player. Its different in RL

There are some big decisions coming up which if we want to continually compete, we need to get right.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a Rowley in charge of Saints in 2025 and, if what you say is true about the young lads at Saints, maybe Snyed might do a trainsitional year with him?

Either way, there's a massive shortage of "proven" HB's in both the NRL & SL. Any realistic signing would be someone with baggage, or a hungry player from the reserves comp.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Apr 30, 2024 10:29 am  

Saints recruitment will be extremely interesting. You'd imagine it'll have to be mainly from overseas because you look around at the market here and it's threadbare. The English guys you feel Saints may be interested in (Davies, Johnstone, McMeekan etc) have rumoured to have signed elsewhere. Even guys here you might hold an interest in are from overseas (Marsters and Amone), so lots of quota spots will be needed or the chequebook will need to be dusted off.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:47 am  

If I was a Saints fan I'd be hoping Eamon would be on the phone to Holbrook and Woolf asking about up and coming halfbacks/fullbacks who need game time, we know more than anyone that gems like Field who would struggle to break first team over there can rip it up over here

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:10 pm  

apollosghost wrote:

If I was a Saints fan I'd be hoping Eamon would be on the phone to Holbrook and Woolf asking about up and coming halfbacks/fullbacks who need game time, we know more than anyone that gems like Field who would struggle to break first team over there can rip it up over here

I mentioned Daine Laurie for us when French was rumoured to be leaving. He would be a decent option. The lad who made his debut for Newcastle last week was being touted for Leigh (Armstrong) and he looks another lively option from the highlights I've seen. Tristan Sailor is another they were looking at. Adrian Lam might not have worked miracles here but his eye for a player from Down Under is extremely impressive (Field, French, Ipape, Amone, Asiata) and copying his targets might not be the worst approach. Any of those 3 could go in at fullback and allow Welsby to move in to what I think would be his best position at 6.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Apr 30, 2024 7:40 pm  

Stu M wrote:

The other problem we have is that we have some outstanding young lads waiting for a chance but are perhaps still not quite ready yet. There is a huge difference physically between Academy and SL and its not like football whereby a 17-18 year old isn't really much different physically to an older player. Its different in RL
There are some big decisions coming up which if we want to continually compete, we need to get right.

Vaughan is the only one ready for me