Re: Playoffs : Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:28 am  

Northampton_Saint wrote:

Rush would sell his mother before changing anything now so the point's moot - the same 17 will plod on for the next few weeks regardless. The time to experiment and try some different options was about 3 months ago, not in playoff games.

I thought we played really well last night even before mcillorum had his brain fart. Am not sure we are plodding, beating the goons at their dump is never easy, but I guess next week will be our real test. Plod on to a won next week and I will be satisfied.

Re: Playoffs : Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:29 am  

Albion wrote:

Blame lance all you want, but lomax was terrible (with ball)

Spot on. I thought Lomax and his stupid little jumps and dummies cost us a possible try tonight. It seemed as though every time he got the ball he made an error.

I thought Wilkin had a good game at first and put some decent kicks in, he did make a few errors later on though.

Re: Playoffs : Sat Sep 08, 2012 8:33 am  

SomersetSaint wrote:

I thought we played really well last night even before mcillorum had his brain fart. Am not sure we are plodding, beating the goons at their dump is never easy, but I guess next week will be our real test. Plod on to a won next week and I will be satisfied.

Forwards were superb really laid the platform. Unfortunately when you get into those positions you need to put points on the board against the likes of wigan but we have no coherence in our playmakers and the left arm does not know what the right arm is doing. we are one dimensional and easy to defend against and inevitably trying to do something too clever just bend over and give the ball back..

We will not progress far unless that is fixed or we get real lucky.

Dont mock luck, stranger things have happened on the day...

Re: Playoffs : Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:03 am  

We,ve played most of the season now without any experienced organised pivotal play, I dont see how this will improve significantly for the play offs.
Our tactic from now on should be to get into the faces of the oppsition to level out the attacking options. We need big performances now from Lance and Lomax as I think our pack has improved considerably over the last 4 games.

Re: Playoffs : Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:18 am  

First ten minutes we dominated (33 ptbs in their half compared to their 7 I think it was), but we couldn't capitalise and conceded a soft try. We need to start capitalising on chances and making territory pay.

Tactically we continued playing the original game plan when it was obvious that we needed to keep shifting the ball and making Wigan work - lomax never ran that game like he should have done.

Re: Playoffs : Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:24 am  

In the first half last night our kicking and chase game was really good.

The forwards were also strong in attack and pretty aggressive defensively.

However our movement and passing with ball in hand is laboured.

Compare for example how quick Wigan can shift the ball to the three quarters to exploit space. Against 12 man Wigan last night we should have been able to do that. However the halves dont seem to be able to know when its right to straighten up the defence and when to move the ball left or right.

I think one of our issues is that Roby is obsessed with either passing left or running left. He needs to mix and match a lot more.

Overall considering that many Saints fans consider this to be a shocking team, in a state of flux from a coaching and playing perspective, we have done really well to finish 3rd in the league. All we need to do is tweak a few things and we will be top of the tree again.

Next season i look forward to the further progression of Swift, Foster, Makinson, Jones, Lomax, Gaskell and Wheeler in the backs, along with the likes of Greenwood, Forster, Mcgennis in the forwards.

Swift is the player that excites me most, and i hope he gets plenty of game time next year against the lesser sides.
I personally see him being our next fullback

Re: Playoffs : Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:37 am  

Anybody else got the horrible feeling that we're gonna make the Grand Final and lose out again?

Last night was much improved on recent efforts. Our forwards stepped up and looked to offload the ball. It was Puletua's best game of the season and in that form, he'll cause every team a problem. Defensively we looked fairly strong although Wigan still managed to open us up a few times especially down their left, but we managed to scramble really well. Offensively at least we managed to put some moves on but Lomax and Hohaia were terrible at times and the dummy runners were very mistimed again, but the effort was there. Wilkin was horrendous, he needs to stay away from the kicking game and stick to hitting lines off the halves. I'd definitely bring Gaskell in for his kicking and ability to pass and organise but it won't happen unless Lomax / Hohaia pick up an injury. Much improved though and we can all go to Warrington with a bit of hope but still as clear underdogs.

Re: Playoffs : Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:50 am  

The Chair Maker wrote:

I think one of our issues is that Roby is obsessed with either passing left or running left. He needs to mix and match a lot more.

Overall considering that many Saints fans consider this to be a shocking team, in a state of flux from a coaching and playing perspective, we have done really well to finish 3rd in the league. All we need to do is tweak a few things and we will be top of the tree again.

Next season i look forward to the further progression of Swift, Foster, Makinson, Jones, Lomax, Gaskell and Wheeler in the backs, along with the likes of Greenwood, Forster, Mcgennis in the forwards.

Swift is the player that excites me most, and i hope he gets plenty of game time next year against the lesser sides.
I personally see him being our next fullback

Can,t understand why we have not resolved that issue with Roby, I,m sure opposition coaches are aware of it. We often end up with slow lateral movement on the right with poor service to Shenton and subsequently Makinson.
Swift looks the most promising outside our current 17, very elusive and his defense has improved...........yes Potential full back for me also, perhaps needs some help from Wellens on how to read the game when defending.

Re: Playoffs : Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:09 am  

Despite a welcome win at Wigan, I found last night's match frustrating more than anything else.

In fairness to the lads, the most pleasing aspect of the match was the attitude demonstrated by the side, particularly the forwards, who got stuck into Wigan from the start. That was great to see, particularly as we've been embarrassed by them in that department too often over the last couple years.

But just how clueless we have become with the ball is a marvel to behold. Before the sending off the game was going the same way as the cup tie earlier in the season. We had a great start in terms of territory and possession, but we could have carried on all night without scoring. Wigan, by contrast, got into our half once and walked over for a try.

The sending off made it a winnable game for us, but if anything it served to further highlight just how bad we are with the ball. When we did break away at the end it was more down to fatigue catching up with Wigan than us manufacturing space against disadvantaged opponents. As is now standard, our abysmal kicking game didn't help matters.

Rush's refusal to pick Gaskell is a masterclass in obstinacy. I don't pretend that he is the answer to all of our problems, and at this stage of the season I can't see him making a huge impact, but we are in such dire need of a half back who can kick and pass a ball that I find it impossible to fathom the logic behind keeping him out of the side.

Re: Playoffs : Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:14 am  

SomersetSaint wrote:

I thought we played really well last night even before mcillorum had his brain fart. Am not sure we are plodding, beating the goons at their dump is never easy, but I guess next week will be our real test. Plod on to a won next week and I will be satisfied.

Please don’t let hope optimism or blind faith obscure your view on reality will you!