Thoughts on the game : Sat Mar 09, 2013 2:33 am  

Well MOM seamed to be pretty much nailed down as Lomax, but what else did you think about the game?

I thought playing LMS at the start, balanced us out really well, it meant TP was on the bench and so we did not have to go without one of Sia, Manu or TP on the pitch.

I think all the forwards played well and that put's pressure on Wellens to make a good fist of LF. It's a slot I'm sure he can make his own, but it's not going to be given to him. Flanagan is going to fight him for it.

I really liked the fact we have 2 young props, who look and act like props. We need to nuture these guys well, they may not have the flash of the backs, but they could be the backbone of our squad when the likes of TP and Perry hang up their boots.

Lance was good and bad, I'll be honest and from the games I've seen, no one seams to be making a good fist of grabbing that shirt. Wheeler, Gaskell or Lance. But it was only his first game back, so I'll give the guy a break and say he got tired that 2nd half.

Ade was a trojan going forwards, but by god he lets that ball bounce.

Turner seams to be a really solid addition to the squad and the change of wings really surprised me

Wilkin is a shoe in for 7 now, can't see us signing anyone or promoting another academy fella, so it's going to be Wilkin and x for the rest of the year!

Jones will his future lie at centre or the 2nd row. Did ok and is defensively sound, but could be under pressure from Percival with Percival having shown such a cutting edge in his first outing.

Overall it looks good, with having competition for places in most positions.

Lomax 10, Ade 7, Turner 7, Jones 6, Meli 7/8, Wilkin 8, Lance 6, LMS 7, Roby 8, Laffranchi 7, Manu 7, Sia 8, Flanagan 7, TP 7, Clough 6, Walker 7, Greenwood 6.

They may seam low in places, but I thought the pack shared the work out really well and so it was hard to pick a stand alone from the pack.

Re: Thoughts on the game : Sat Mar 09, 2013 9:07 am  

Pretty much agree with all you said,was impressed at times with the scramble in defence a couple of times it looked for sure they would score but we held them out.What does bother me a lot is our reliance on the left hand side,we need to be more threatening on the right.

Re: Thoughts on the game : Sat Mar 09, 2013 9:51 am  

There was plenty of enthusiasm, and the organisation of the defence was fantastic.

I thought the really important thing, though, was that we went right back to basics on the last tackle. The kicking game was pretty rudimentary, but we made sure we got it away on the last tackle each time (failing to do this was our major downfall last week). Lance had his part to play in that, and he was a threat taking the line on as well. I've been critical of him before, and I still don't think he's the long term solution, but I think he's now got his nose in front of the others for the 6 spot.

Good to see Brown acknowledging in the post match comments that Lomax now has the full back position to himself and that we're trying to adapt our style of play.

Re: Thoughts on the game : Sat Mar 09, 2013 9:55 am  

bewareshadows wrote:

I really liked the fact we have 2 young props, who look and act like props. We need to nuture these guys well, they may not have the flash of the backs, but they could be the backbone of our squad when the likes of TP and Perry hang up their boots.

...

Wilkin is a shoe in for 7 now, can't see us signing anyone or promoting another academy fella, so it's going to be Wilkin and x for the rest of the year!

On your first point, I'm unsure on the two young props. Although they did ok tonight I was unsure over walker last week and greenwood hasn't really impressed me since the widnes game.

I understand that they are still young, but Walker does get dominated a little too easily I think.

In your second point, I think Wilkin has done enough so far to justify that really. I doubt we'll ever go out and sign someone mid season, so I'm more than happy to stick with Wilkin. The more he plays there the more he'll get used to it.

You could see last night how settled he is as he's now picking out great ball options time and time again (unlike lomax); he's been seen to dummy and attack the line, he's hit that short ball and then gone out the back to lomax. That variety is something that we really missed with Lomax I thought, Wilkin in comparison is more clinical with that pass.

Re: Thoughts on the game : Sat Mar 09, 2013 10:33 am  

I think Lance has that little touch of class that could be very useful. SEE: his chip kick to the corner, and his try.

Re: Thoughts on the game : Sat Mar 09, 2013 11:14 am  

i've commented elsewhere that i wonder if the move of Turner to the left centre is with a view to using Makinson as right centre, which is his natural position. That could explain his trips to Rochdale, to prepare him for that position.

That would give our backline a look of Lomax, Gardner, Makinson, Turner, Meli.

Percival is one for the future, Brown seems keen to give him only limited exposure this season. Probably to stop it going to his head as much as anything else.

However if Brown is thinking a few years down the line he may be looking at long term options of Makinson & Percival in the centres with Turner playing at loose forward or in the backrow.

One other thing ive been mulling over these last few weeks is that Saints appeared to be viewing the early games almost as pre season friendlies. The Warrington match was the first game were we looked like we were up for it.
I thought it was no coincidence that this is the week the NRL kicked off. Could it be that Nathan Brown has taken the view that we would sacrifice some early season results for a proper off season that closely matched that of the NRL.
Comments from the coaching staff have indicated that they dont expect the players to be upto full speed before round 8, and this to me is indicative that the early rounds are merely seen as high intensity preparation for when things get into full swing at the end of March.
Time will tell of course. The wire match may merely be a one off freak result. With next week being another tale of woe.

Re: Thoughts on the game : Sat Mar 09, 2013 11:43 am  

CM - I mentioned that the other week too. My thoughts were pretty similar.

My thoughts on last night? We'd have lost if Wellens was playing at FB.

Re: Thoughts on the game : Sat Mar 09, 2013 4:06 pm  

Carlos Alberto wrote:

My thoughts on last night? We'd have lost if Wellens was playing at FB.

Totally agree. Lomax was everywhere and at pace. Brown said he was our best player on the pitch and I agree with him. I thought Lomax was outstanding and so refreshing to watch.

Re: Thoughts on the game : Sat Mar 09, 2013 4:22 pm  

The Chair Maker wrote:

i've commented elsewhere that i wonder if the move of Turner to the left centre is with a view to using Makinson as right centre, which is his natural position. That could explain his trips to Rochdale, to prepare him for that position.
.

Did he definitely play centre for Rochdale? Interesting if he did.

Re: Thoughts on the game : Sat Mar 09, 2013 4:24 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Did he definitely play centre for Rochdale? Interesting if he did.

I read somewhere that he played at centre for Rochdale.

He's playing for Whitehaven this weekend.