No1 Saint wrote:
I think you make some good points but there is a slightly different way of looking at it. Wigan fans are quite chilled because they have just won the double and although they arnt playing brilliantly they still have the belief (correct or not) that when it matters their team will step up and at the very least compete. We've been pretty terrible for the best part of 3 years and we havent played much in the way of 'good rugby' since (for me the worst coach I've seen at Saints) Mick Plodder was recruited.
We have clearly made some progress under Brown but we are along way off yet for me. We look fragile in defence and our attack is at times a little predictable (which is to be expected if you only have 1 proper halfback), the worst thing though is that we seem to lack spirit and heart when the going gets tough. We dont have enough leaders in the team and we are carrying too many passengers who just go missing when you really need people to step up.
It'snot all doom and gloom , I dont think we'll win anything this year but alot will depend on recruitment and retention for next year, we need to get shut of a few and bring in a few , most notably a proper stand off a scrum half if Walsh goes early and at least 1 long minutes gutsy prop in the mould of Amor. I'd like to see us recruit some size in the back row too especially if we lose Soliola.
Another big question for me is Brown, he has put us on a path just as Eric Hughes did back in the 90's but is he the man to take us back to the trophy winning ways? or will we need a McCrae. I'm not sure tbh, he didnt manage it at Hudds or St George (happy to be corrected here). I hope he does it but I suspect the next coach we have will be the one.
I by no means think we are favourites to win SL.
But I do think we are in the running and I would be very surprised if we are not in the top 3 come end of the year.
I'd hedge my bets and say top 2, but some would just take me to town on that.
The 6 issue is a long standing issue and the worry for me is that once we fill it the 7 will be vacated.
We are lacking a prop, if we have a fully fit line up, then we are ok, but anything less and we struggle in the bigger games.
I hate predicting games weeks ahead as it smacks of arrogance. But I have a table position and a set of games in my own mind.
So far this year the games for Saints have gone pretty much as I have expected bar 2. We over achieved against Leeds in the league and under achieved against Wigan (not so much the win or loss but the performance).
We have a great set of fixtures between now and the end of the season. There is no reason we can't go on another run of wins.
Even if you take a loss against Wigan and Leeds ( which I don't take as a given) that's four losses in a season. more than enough to finish 2nd or 1st.
I do think we are living in the past and looking through rose tinted spectacles at times. I recall many a season going to Wakey and Salford with the golden generation expecting easy games only to get turned over.
It happens. We are still in the fight this year.
