: Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:46 am  

Blobbynator wrote:

As McClennan says it's far too early to judge his full impact yet. The summer months are normally the time we hit our peak, so it'll be interesting to see how we do then. I think we can only fully judge him after a season.

But, I have noticed two things since his arrival, one a positive, the other a negative. The positive is our defence looks better than ever. Once again on Friday we conceded most of the tries from kicks (two of them), the other was a good short ball to Galea. I've been very impressed defensively so far, we look really solid throughout. The negative is our discipline. Last year we didn't give alot of penalties away so it's a bit strange seeing us give so many away. The problem is, I don't think Potter is greatly concerned as Catalans were the worst in the comp. I just hope it doesn't cost us in a big game.

Cheers looking forward to watching a full game.

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:09 pm  

I have noticed a propensity to concede penalties around the ruck, which is i suspect because the defence is being more agressive in this part of the field

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:18 pm  

Potter was big on the wrestling at Catalans wasnt he?
Guess he has brought that over with him

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:24 pm  

Our penalty count under Anderson was pretty high in his first season with us. It took us a season for us to bring this down, which we did year on year.

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:28 pm  

McClennan wrote:

Our penalty count under Anderson was pretty high in his first season with us. It took us a season for us to bring this down, which we did year on year.

The difference being, when Anderson came we didn't have very good discipline, were as Potter already had a disciplined side.

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:43 pm  

saint billy wrote:

The difference being, when Anderson came we didn't have very good discipline, were as Potter already had a disciplined side.

Must say the discipline issue concerns me. Concede a penalty and at best you lose ground and end up on a back foot and defending which is tiring. Or get points stacked up against you with kicks over the post as happened on Friday. An ill disciplined side irritates referees whether we like them or not. Though admittedly we don't seem to have to do much to irritate Smith.

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:45 pm  

As Chairmaker has stated, most of the penalties appear to be coming from the ruck, we may just be pushing the seemingly new ruling on the amount of wrestling allowed at the ruck.

Saint billy wrote:

The difference being, when Anderson came we didn't have very good discipline, were as Potter already had a disciplined side.

We went from 150 penalties in 2005 to 211 in 2006, Andersons first full season, so that's incorrect.

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:47 pm  

saint billy wrote:

The difference being, when Anderson came we didn't have very good discipline, were as Potter already had a disciplined side.

Not true. We conceded 150 penalties in 2005 and 211 in 2006 (Anderson's first full season). The 2005 total was lower than both 2007 and 2008. In addition our totals for 2003 and 2004 were both lower than all of Anderson's three full seasons.

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:51 pm  

It could be a difficult season for Saints this year, some experienced personnel have left and we are relying on youngsters to fill their boots.

Our strength in the Super League era has been largely built on having strength in depth but we could be exposed this year, for a large part of Friday's game we had four youngsters on the pitch who have only played a handful of games, most of them as subs.

This is not Potters fault, he has to make the best of it, but it could reflect badly on him as the season goes on.


Just one thing from Friday, I know Roby started as stand off, when KC went off and he went to hooker I'd like to have seen Wheeler given a run there. He came on to cover Gidley at centre and then got left there.

It was known from early on in the week that Pryce was going to be missing so they must have done some training with another pair of half backs.
I think Potter, like a lot of modern coaches, works on the principle that as long as you've got thirteen guys on the pitch they have to get on with it.

I'm a bit of a traditionalist I like to see players in the right roles

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:53 pm  

McClennan wrote:

Not true. We conceded 150 penalties in 2005 and 211 in 2006 (Anderson's first full season). The 2005 total was lower than both 2007 and 2008. In addition our totals for 2003 and 2004 were both lower than all of Anderson's three full seasons.

I stand corrected. It must have just seemed like we gave away more penalties.