Calling it as I see it. : Mon May 19, 2014 8:15 pm
I do honestly believe the players need to take a very hard look at themselves. In all the big games apart from Huddersfield in the Cup we have been shocking. There has been no desire, no fight, no commitment. I do believe we generally have no leader on the park like a Sculthorpe, Joynt, Graham, Cunningham, Long or going as far back as Bobbie Goulding. Other clubs like Leeds/Wigan have at least a couple of leaders per club and lead from the front and we don't have that at our club. I don't see anyone giving the players the rounds of the kitchen behind the sticks when a soft try or any try has been conceded. It just comes across like its accepted and that's our standard which is truly unacceptable. When I played and I was the Skipper any try what was conceded through pathetic defence was addressed with a rollocking behind the sticks. There's no talking in the line of defence, there's no desire to get off the line and smash the opposition (legally of course). I hate Wigan just as much as the next man on this Saints forum but the way McIllorum lead from the front on Saturday was superb, alright he was lucky not to see red with his shot on Peacock but at least the desire and commitment was there... We do have a talented group of players that I don't have any doubt in the back of my mind but they have become very very complacent after winning there first 9 or 10 games straight. Nathan Brown is going to have to address this asap otherwise he will be out the door and we will be in the same position as we were a couple of years ago when Mike Rush took over on a interim basis. I personally blame the players and partly Nathan Brown. Things have to change starting at Home against Huddersfield this week because we have a very tough run of fixtures coming up and if this continues Brown will be out the door. I sort of sensed this with McManus making his public announcement about performances not being up to scratch when they really need to be. I'm sure a couple of defeats in the next 3 or 4 games and McManus will pull the trigger. Don't get me wrong I'd love to see Nathan Brown succeed but I really fear for him at the same time.
Thoughts please???