Re: Great effort : Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:20 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

What utter rubbish. The tries came because we had no Paul Wellens on the field and we were all at sea defensively for the first 20 of the second half. Gardner put in some belting defence, as did everyone. But defence isn't about one player; it's about everyone working in tandem. For 20 minutes in the second half we were all over the place. Only when Graham et al came on did we settle down and find some cohesion.

Agreed, there was a lot of great plays and errors on display as you might expect, as well as the injuries I think that the single issue that made a difference to the result was that we didn't have either Puletua or Graham on the pitch at the start of the 2nd half and it allowed them on the front foot, tells us something about the recruitment strategy for next year I'd say.

Re: Great effort : Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:22 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

What utter rubbish. The tries came because we had no Paul Wellens on the field and we were all at sea defensively for the first 20 of the second half. Gardner put in some belting defence, as did everyone. But defence isn't about one player; it's about everyone working in tandem. For 20 minutes in the second half we were all over the place. Only when Graham et al came on did we settle down and find some cohesion.

The tries had nothing to do with Wellens, who wouldn't have got close anyway. Indeed, Wellens had a stinker in the first half bombing an easy try and being nowhere near the Wigan punts (which forced us further back and made it harder for us to score).

Re: Great effort : Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:51 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

What utter rubbish. The tries came because we had no Paul Wellens on the field and we were all at sea defensively for the first 20 of the second half. Gardner put in some belting defence, as did everyone. But defence isn't about one player; it's about everyone working in tandem. For 20 minutes in the second half we were all over the place. Only when Graham et al came on did we settle down and find some cohesion.

rubbish. Go and watch again and see how many times players got on the outside of Gardner even though the player inside him had made the necessary tackle. He was useless. Ive never been one of the gardner knockers but he was seriously bad today.

Re: Great effort : Fri Apr 22, 2011 5:07 pm  

A fantastic game and a decent performance given how the heart of the side had been ripped out with the various players not in the side. Another frustrating walk away from the ground, knowing that we'd have won if the likes of Perry and Pryce had started or even if the likes of Wheeler and Wellens finished the game. Wigan don't half get the luck with the line ups in recent games between us.

I was also really unhappy with the officials. Yet again we're subjected to a set of officials that are either completely inept and unable to judge the direction of passes or are so weak as people that they cannot risk a tough call. That touch judge today got paid to jog up the line, an ornament and nothing more. I don't mind an official making a tight call incorrectly or even making a mistake, but I don't see how they can in that situation. The whole thing was framed perfectly by the line he was stood on to pass it. The ball left the hands at a 45 degree angle towards the Saints line. The timing of it was crucial as well, well and truly destroyed the hard work the team had done. So frustrating as well in that the referee had barely had a call to make as both sides were so disciplined and the one he does have to make he fails to. I feel for Wheeler, another couple of months out for him no doubt and not his fault at all. A proper, late, cheap shot from Hoffman.

In the end it was such a shame the way we finished the game. The youth shone through and we panicked our way through the last 7 or 8 minutes. Shenton not securing the ball was criminal, Lomax dribbling to Tomkins was bemusing when it should have been hammered over the side line to calm it down. The winning try was spectacular in how pathetic it was. Five or six Saints players waiting and praying for someone else to put in the tackle and no one even making an attempt.

I feel totally dejected tonight, not because of the result, as Wigan were always big favourites and it was a good effort to get so close with so many out. But because that side has the makings of another great side, but if they rumours are to be believed Graham, Puletua and Foster are off at the end of the season and Wheeler again is set for a spell on the sidelines, one has to wonder if he'll ever get a proper stint in the side.

Re: Great effort : Fri Apr 22, 2011 5:27 pm  

Just got back from Salford and seen the tries on SS News. You lot must be boiling after they got away with their forward try. It only went a metre forward !

Re: Great effort : Fri Apr 22, 2011 5:27 pm  

Saddened! you echo my thoughts.

It is crushingly disappointing to have injuries as the reason for our lack of progress up the league table. We were so much the better side today. We blew Wigan away. Royce got his tactics spot on. We have a good coach, a great set of players and an attractive style of play but our injuries are crippling us and our Chairman left us with hardly any squad to begin with. It is incredibly disappointing.

Re: Great effort : Fri Apr 22, 2011 5:48 pm  

Ashy wrote:

rubbish. Go and watch again and see how many times players got on the outside of Gardner even though the player inside him had made the necessary tackle. He was useless. Ive never been one of the gardner knockers but he was seriously bad today.

Have to agree with you on Gardner,got caught out of position quite a few times today,very poor.

Got to give credit for the team in general though we where excellent today and with a bit more luck we could have won the game.

Re: Great effort : Fri Apr 22, 2011 5:52 pm  

MickeyMo wrote:

That was Lomax but I wouldn't blame him for the defeat. He did as much as anyone to put us in the lead. We missed the organisation and leadership of Wellens.

Can't blame lomax for that kick that lead to Wigan going down the other end and scori g as the was a good few plays in between but was poor kick.

I thought lomax looked a little suspect in defence today at times.

Re: Great effort : Fri Apr 22, 2011 5:57 pm  

St pete wrote:

I thought lomax looked a little suspect in defence today at times.

I've always thought that about Lomax, and have said so on here, which is why I don't see him as our future fullback. However, his error wasn't to blame, just as Gardner wasn't to blame or Meli or indeed any one individual. We did have two glorious try scoring chances, remember: bombed by Wello and LMS respectively. So we still could have won it. But could haves and should haves are not two points so what's the point in blaming any individual when so many played their part in both the defeat and the effort?

btw: I wonder if anyone is still arguing with the wisdom of Royce putting a back on the bench?

Re: Great effort : Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:00 pm  

Phil-P wrote:

Was Lomax who kicked the ball - Saints problem was too many young heads and not enough experience in a big match like that. I said to my old man when it was 24-22 we should give away a penalty right in front of the posts - not saying Wigan would have gone for goal but if they had there was always a chance of the scores staying 24-24. As it was Saints defended like they did for the last 5 minutes and it was no surprise Wigan scored. Great effort though from both teams and nice to see a referee allowing both sides to play and produce a spectacle which confirmed once again that Saints Vs Wigan is THE derby in British rugby league.

I agree, we had to many inexperienced out there today which I've predicted will happen when we play the big teams.

That's why we need to either get Tony p signed or we will need to replace him and jammer with experienced players rather than going with youth.

It's great having some many good young players but the mix of old heads needs to be correct. I think with perry, Pryce and flannery today we would have won the game.

So IMO it's paramount we sign top quilty experienced players if any of jammer, Tony p and flannery go.

The effort today by all was top class and did every saints fan proud. If tho we lost we left the stadium with our heads held high!