This is all v interesting for me....
Speaking as someone who used to deal with statistical analysis, although the number grouping is fairly simple, and actually numerically close overall. The Stat Analysis in a Rugby sense shows there is a trend showing significant decline.
I'll try to keep it simple....here goes................
Taking the the stats in bands of 4 years, the results average for points scored are as follows ;
97 to 00 = 31.25pts scored
01 to 04 = 31.25pts
05 to 08 = 33.5 pts
09 to 12 = 30.0 pts
13 to now = 26 pts scored
The conclusion is that over the 4 bands of years 97 to 12 (16 years in total) the ability to score is fairly even at an average of 31.5pts scored, which is itself artificially boosted as you had probably your greatest ever grouping of players during those vintage years 05 to 08 period.
So if arguably your greatest ever team was in this period and itself produced a scoring average for its grand 4 years at 33.5 pts scored. Then the rugby either side of that vintage period was not all that bad with an average of approx 30.6 pts. scored.
However if we ignore the sparkling rugby of 05-08, the tell tale factor is that although on average, ave. points scored either side of this period is less at 30.6pts, it was still good enough to bring home trophies with good (but maybe not 06 vintage sparkling) attacking rugby that Saints are known for.
The vintage period you had prob comes every 40/50 years for very few teams, and now, with the salary cap may never happen again, where contests are so much in one teams favour for the majority of games played.
The rub for you guys is that, these latest statistically poor 4 years have brought with them Grand final success, which may have been papering over cracks, as according to the numbers, you are now performing in an attacking way far worse than you have for a long long time. Which is perhaps why you are no longer the entertainers of Rugby league. But you still won stuff. Only now its even worse (statistically of course)
The last 4 /5 years have also shown that it is rising to the occasion that wins the silverware, and Leeds too have shown that as Saints have, in that our 2 big competitions are effectively Knock out comps, and being good at that can hide a few under the surface ailments. Which eventually can have a big detrimental effect if medication is not provided.
Your scoring average is now is at a very low (for you guys) 26 points scored per game. Which is well behind the good days, which is itself even further behind Vintage Sculthorpe Long Cunningham Wellens et al days. So there is little wonder that the fayre on show is not good, which is meaning fan disenchantment.
Pessimistically thinking, maybe its just your turn to soon pedal the same ground Bradford Widnes Hull and HKR have had to trudge through after once having true champion teams that won lots before their long decline ?
Or Optimistically, you are, as we would all expect, about to rise from your slumber, take the evenness of the league as the new way and bring in change in one form or another which will perhaps bring you back your glory days. You should thank your Lucky Stars Saints , after all your not at Headingly with 3 wins are you. !!!!
You've still hopefully got the Grand Cup competition coming up and you usually turn up at the table when the Hors d'oeuvre are being served. Think Leeds are still looking for their ticket.
On a brighter note, statistics are just numbers and in sport sometimes they not worth the paper they're written on. On this occasion the analysis do seem to be saying something to your decision makers. But then again look at Leicester... sometimes in sport you just never know.
