Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Sat Jul 29, 2023 11:34 am  

Seth wrote:

Of course I want to see leeds up there, but the reason is because we're poor, and the quality above us isn't that special either. I understand the game shabs been around it for many years, the quality of the game is a concern, that's why IMG were brought in, because its stagnated.

No I appreciate that, and you are clearly very knowledgeable from grass roots up. And you are right, skill levels and excitement isn’t what it was imho. But, part of the enjoyment was to watch a hard but fair game, where the players pretty much policed it themselves. The intrusion by RFL/refs constant penalties /bans is what’s ruining it for me….

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Sat Jul 29, 2023 11:37 am  

Seth wrote:

Saints and warrington have been poor for large chunks of this year, I can't blame their fans, and they're above us! That game last night was awful, from both sides. There aren't enough quality games. Again I don't want an unpredictable league over quality, 12 quality teams is too much to ask but 4 or 5 come on, we've not even achieved that. Leigh are a real credit, Cats have recruited well and Wigan looking to push on outside of that it's not good enough.

I agree Seth, the quality is pretty dire across the board, I don’t thin Cats have been that great at all yet they’re top.

I thought last nights game was really poor quality wise, Saints V Leeds games in the past (maybe not the past couple of years) have been outstanding games full of intensity and skill, last night it was just a case of who was least crap won.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Sat Jul 29, 2023 11:39 am  

Shabino wrote:

No I appreciate that, and you are clearly very knowledgeable from grass roots up. And you are right, skill levels and excitement isn’t what it was imho. But, part of the enjoyment was to watch a hard but fair game, where the players pretty much policed it themselves. The intrusion by RFL/refs constant penalties /bans is what’s ruining it for me….

Youre right, the way the game is officiated and then also coached to play to the advantage of the rules is also stifling any quality.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Sat Jul 29, 2023 11:48 am  

Shabino wrote:

No I appreciate that, and you are clearly very knowledgeable from grass roots up. And you are right, skill levels and excitement isn’t what it was imho. But, part of the enjoyment was to watch a hard but fair game, where the players pretty much policed it themselves. The intrusion by RFL/refs constant penalties /bans is what’s ruining it for me….

I agree with this, I don’t necessarily watch sport for the quality, I watch for the entertainment, i can go watch a local team and enjoy it, the penalties and bans which has resulted in play acting and milking penalties has really put me off Super league these last few years, I used to watch all the to games, now I’ll only really watch rhinos games now.
I can’t even watch rugby union anymore, as the rules have absolutely ruined that for me.

I just want to watch a game that flows and is entertaining.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Sat Jul 29, 2023 12:26 pm  

Seth wrote:

Our attacking philosophy seems based on keeping the ball alive, any pass will do, hoping the opposition over commit for us to attack the space that's left.

Do you see us creating second phase though? I’d like to see Smith playing tighter in and trying to release support players out of contact. We just don’t seem to suck in defenders and offer support play enough.

Winging it around the field laterally isn’t the same thing as keeping the ball alive…

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Sat Jul 29, 2023 12:31 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Do you see us creating second phase though? I’d like to see Smith playing tighter in and trying to release support players out of contact. We just don’t seem to suck in defenders and offer support play enough.

Winging it around the field laterally isn’t the same thing as keeping the ball alive…

Winging it around laterally is a better description. We need to carry the ball with the purpose to engage defenders and create space, what we do more of is standing still with the ball and hoping to pull the defence on to us then, as you say, wing the ball about.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Sat Jul 29, 2023 12:36 pm  

leedsbarmyarmy wrote:

I agree with this, I don’t necessarily watch sport for the quality, I watch for the entertainment, i can go watch a local team and enjoy it, the penalties and bans which has resulted in play acting and milking penalties has really put me off Super league these last few years, I used to watch all the to games, now I’ll only really watch rhinos games now.
I can’t even watch rugby union anymore, as the rules have absolutely ruined that for me.

I just want to watch a game that flows and is entertaining.

I think the 2 go hand in hand mostly. I think we'd all agree last night was lacking in both. A neutrals opinion is usually a good indicator of the entertainment with no vested interest I cant imagine anyone was really hooked.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Sat Jul 29, 2023 12:37 pm  

Speaking of which that's how Im feeling about this wigan v leigh game.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Sat Jul 29, 2023 1:06 pm  

Seth wrote:

Winging it around laterally is a better description. We need to carry the ball with the purpose to engage defenders and create space, what we do more of is standing still with the ball and hoping to pull the defence on to us then, as you say, wing the ball about.

What happened to a short pass to a prop at full steam when restarting after a penalty? Now we seem to lob an innacurate 20 yard pass to somebody standing still in midfield. I'm no coaching expert but it seems to kill momentum straight away.

Re: RD 20 | St Helens (A) : Sat Jul 29, 2023 1:16 pm  

ArthurClues wrote:

What happened to a short pass to a prop at full steam when restarting after a penalty? Now we seem to lob an innacurate 20 yard pass to somebody standing still in midfield. I'm no coaching expert but it seems to kill momentum straight away.

Spot on. At various times our passing line was stood still. Sitting ducks for the saints quick aggressive tackling line speed. Credit to saints that aspect of play was excellent. For me the turning point of the game was the saints try on the stroke of halftime. Poor defending it was a literal walk in.