Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Fri May 26, 2023 11:46 pm  

Calm down lads. Matty Smith coaches our women’s side and is currently standing in for Fraysinous who has been in hospital unwell.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sat May 27, 2023 12:41 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

Calm down lads. Matty Smith coaches our women’s side and is currently standing in for Fraysinous who has been in hospital unwell.

Hope Fraysinous is okay

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sat May 27, 2023 5:00 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

Calm down lads. Matty Smith coaches our women’s side and is currently standing in for Fraysinous who has been in hospital unwell.

Firstly, hopefully nothing serious with Fraysinous.

In terms of calming down, in what regard? I’m not naive enough to think the players won’t be able to raise it when it really matters but watching how passive Saints look currently, in comparison to those last few seasons is night and day. The general demeanour of Wellens (and Smith or Fraysinous for that matter) looks one of tension and a bit of panic at times. When the big games come round, I think the players will find that extra effort and intensity and they’ll still be the team to beat but last night is the first time personally I’ve thought the way you’re playing is more than just a hangover from the WCC.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sat May 27, 2023 6:17 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Firstly, hopefully nothing serious with Fraysinous.

In terms of calming down, in what regard? I’m not naive enough to think the players won’t be able to raise it when it really matters but watching how passive Saints look currently, in comparison to those last few seasons is night and day. The general demeanour of Wellens (and Smith or Fraysinous for that matter) looks one of tension and a bit of panic at times. When the big games come round, I think the players will find that extra effort and intensity and they’ll still be the team to beat but last night is the first time personally I’ve thought the way you’re playing is more than just a hangover from the WCC.

Oh absolutely mate we are nowhere near the levels of previous years and we can’t attribute that to the Australia trip, or injuries or (self inflicted) suspensions. Something isn’t quite right yet and we aren’t ourselves.

I don’t think anyone at Saints would be happy with where we are at currently but I don’t think many are panicking either. We’ve got the odd lunatic on social media and forums etc but that aside I think most fans are confident we will be there or thereabouts when it matters.

The “calm down” remark was aimed purely at taking anything from the fact Matty Smith was sat alongside Wellens. That’s completely irrelevant. I’m not sure any assistant coach in the league, especially a stand in one, is supposed to “unnerve” anyone to be fair.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sat May 27, 2023 6:39 am  

Really enjoyed the game last night, not the best standard but a cracking watch for the neutral in terms of drama and a good game for people new to the game.

Leeds worry me I'll be honest, they have a great spirit about them and they'll be very difficult to beat in the play-offs. On Saints, they just look a frustrated, ageing side. They did well to win and it might kickstart their season, but they're so un-Saints like still. In past years when they had sides pinned in their own 10, the opposition would struggle to get out their own 20, this season that intensity in defence has gone and teams march them down the field.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sat May 27, 2023 6:51 am  

LewCharnock wrote:

Really enjoyed the game last night, not the best standard but a cracking watch for the neutral in terms of drama and a good game for people new to the game.

Leeds worry me I'll be honest, they have a great spirit about them and they'll be very difficult to beat in the play-offs. On Saints, they just look a frustrated, ageing side. They did well to win and it might kickstart their season, but they're so un-Saints like still. In past years when they had sides pinned in their own 10, the opposition would struggle to get out their own 20, this season that intensity in defence has gone and teams march them down the field.

It helps that Knowles is finally getting pulled for his reckless behaviour so they’ve no one to shoot out of the line and put people under pressure.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sat May 27, 2023 8:36 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

Oh absolutely mate we are nowhere near the levels of previous years and we can’t attribute that to the Australia trip, or injuries or (self inflicted) suspensions. Something isn’t quite right yet and we aren’t ourselves.

I don’t think anyone at Saints would be happy with where we are at currently but I don’t think many are panicking either. We’ve got the odd lunatic on social media and forums etc but that aside I think most fans are confident we will be there or thereabouts when it matters.

The “calm down” remark was aimed purely at taking anything from the fact Matty Smith was sat alongside Wellens. That’s completely irrelevant. I’m not sure any assistant coach in the league, especially a stand in one, is supposed to “unnerve” anyone to be fair.

Fair do’s. I’ve still got you as favourites for everything bar the hubcap but it’s certainly going to need to be done a different way, i.e raising your game when it matters, rather than just steamrolling everyone.

The comment about Matty Smith applies to Fraysinous or Wellens himself. You’d see Woolf up in the stand and he had an aura about him, built up through the wins, how the side played. and how he carried himself. You see Wellens or whoever else now and that isn’t there anymore. He seems a top guy Wellens bit you just wonder if he has that edge to him that the top coaches have. We’ll see in time I guess.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sat May 27, 2023 8:41 am  

LewCharnock wrote:

Really enjoyed the game last night, not the best standard but a cracking watch for the neutral in terms of drama and a good game for people new to the game.

Leeds worry me I'll be honest, they have a great spirit about them and they'll be very difficult to beat in the play-offs. On Saints, they just look a frustrated, ageing side. They did well to win and it might kickstart their season, but they're so un-Saints like still. In past years when they had sides pinned in their own 10, the opposition would struggle to get out their own 20, this season that intensity in defence has gone and teams march them down the field.

Leeds are a crazy side. The issue they’ll have with doing something in the play offs is making them in the first place. Those injuries last night looked bad news and the inconsistency means they’re playing catch up in the table. Going forward they need to recruit so much better. There is a basis of really good English players but guys like Sezer, Fusitua, Tetevano etc have been a disaster.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sun May 28, 2023 8:18 am  

I think St Helens will struggle to win anything this year,as a force they are shot to pieces,some players missing games due to being grubs,some players not at the same standard as the past ( Ritson etc) some players waiting for their bus passes.
Last year they were lucky to get to the final.
They have a new coach (could be another KFC ) who seems to be out of his depth (nice bloke though)

They will struggle but it isnt impossible to turn things around,need to sort their discipline out though .
Very interesting in a couple of weeks time.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sun May 28, 2023 9:51 am  

So YG,
Are you not struggling ?
Are your (some )players not coming to the end (careers ) ?
Is your discipline that needs to be sorted affecting the team ?
Are some players not as good as in the past ?
Have you some players that are not grub like (Knowles for one )
Your coach (nice bloke)hasnt the skills of say Woolf (not yet anyway)
Which one of these are not true ?
That said once sorted you could become a force again,the table doesnt lie.