Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Fri Jul 28, 2023 9:41 pm  

The Magic Rat wrote:

I would struggle to make a case for any of Austin, Sezer, Fusitua or Tet getting a new contract. I've no idea who's available but there must be better options out there for the kind of money those 4 will be on.

Id keep Fusitua but only on vastly reduced terms, that’s only because I think recruiting is priority in other positions, the rest you mentioned can go for me.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Fri Jul 28, 2023 9:42 pm  

Zig wrote:

Your spine was atrocious tonight.

Apart from Welsby so was Saints, Dodd has gone dramatically downhill he was terrible

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Fri Jul 28, 2023 9:43 pm  

Seth wrote:

I'll be honest, I'm not seeing where the optimism around our direction of travel is coming from there. It's not the performances that's for sure.

Because im not judging what could be on some games this year, I don’t think the squad is good enough - this year.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Fri Jul 28, 2023 9:46 pm  

christopher wrote:

Id keep Fusitua but only on vastly reduced terms, that’s only because I think recruiting is priority in other positions, the rest you mentioned can go for me.

Apart from his injuries Fusitua has been a disappointment for me. Sign another centre and play Macdonald on the wing or a better winger that's less injury prone. I appreciate tonight's injury was unavoidable but he was injury prone when we signed him.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Fri Jul 28, 2023 9:48 pm  

christopher wrote:

Because im not judging what could be on some games this year, I don’t think the squad is good enough - this year.

Not sure why you think next year will be any different

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Fri Jul 28, 2023 9:53 pm  

christopher wrote:

Because im not judging what could be on some games this year, I don’t think the squad is good enough - this year.

But regardless of getting 2 points more often we should be seeing better performances more consistently, realistically how many in the 17 are going to change in one off season. The biggest concern is the front row, we had 5 fit props of which not much will change next year and they're 'smiths' players, he can't get them performing and they're not living up to their potential.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Fri Jul 28, 2023 9:54 pm  

Not sure what to say as it's often the same issues.

Poor spine,poor or no plan, silly mistakes / penalties,lack of leadership,stupid choices.

Yeah the ref was bad and we do better with a quick ruck but we rarely get that. Every Ruck is a wrestlers,has been since McGuire came to Wigan.

I'm happy we have done enough to avoid relegation but is that the high point now?.

So much rests on next year signings and tbh Austin did himself no favours and resigning Fusi is madness. I get HIA isn't his fault but we can't afford to have another key player playing half a season when we are already carrying Newman and the back up is Olpherts/ Martin to Centre etc.

Huge shopping list for next year, we clearly have no idea who is on that list or how many have put pen to paper.
When we do,that will show the clubs position on many things and put to bed the team A vs Team B discussion.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Fri Jul 28, 2023 10:07 pm  

Emagdnim13 wrote:

Not sure what to say as it's often the same issues.

Poor spine,poor or no plan, silly mistakes / penalties,lack of leadership,stupid choices.

.

To be fair our game plan was quite clear, attack round the ruck, try to tire/ get on top of the inexperienced saints packs, and then attack Hurrells edge when we were in good ball positions.

But neither worked due to been out enthused by saints pack and a mixture of good saints push defence and poor Leeds execution in attack, when attacking Hurrells side

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Fri Jul 28, 2023 10:59 pm  

Just back from Saints. Lost that game because all over the park we just don't compete hard and smart enough to win. That could be because: A) The players are not good enough, B) The coach is not good enough, C) Both are not good enough. On balance I still learn towards option A, and that's why recruitment for next year is so massively important.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Fri Jul 28, 2023 10:59 pm  

ploinerrhino wrote:

Not sure why you think next year will be any different

Because I think the younger players will be a year older and hopefully we get some better halfbacks.