Sorry, not read the whole thread but I did go to the game.
The Huddersfield halves were not all that. Brough had the nouse to go for the 1 point that was it.
It was a good game for defense on both sides. There was a 1 point difference and for me the big difference was not the halves, not the drop goal it was the discipline.
Huddersfield, for all the talk of the forwards being big made little headway. The were stuck in their own half for long periods, only to be lifted out of their half by needless penalties. Sia gave away 3 in the opening 15 that where not needed and not as a result of pressure. There was a time were gaskell kicked and tackled and from where I was I could have given the penalty for the late slide in by Wilkin I think it was. Just players not using their brains and gave easy yards which then resulted in the pressure, huddersfield could not gain themselves.
They had to push wide each time as the middle of the park was a dead end for them.
I thought the Saints lads gave a good account in defense and the attack was not all that bad, but came up against some equally good defense. I know it's only game 5 and maybe too early to be making big calls, but I think meli does not offer enough with or without the ball in defense or attack. Quite a few times posession came to a halt on that side. Wheeler would have held the ball rather than pass to ground, or over run a pass, first time ever I've seen a centre over run a pass.
CLough, not sure he is going to make it, he runs hard and tries alot, but he does that spin 2 yards before a tackle. It slows him down and makes for an easy forward tackle. It would offer something if there was 2nd phase play, but there is no offload. I know he's a Saints lad and it's heresy to say it, but was the least effective prop despite his no doubt effort.
They were the 2 players that stood out to me where improvements could be made. Lance was great 8/10 for me. Royce needs to do that more often and in a planned fashion not just a roby injury.
