Big Jim Slade wrote:
I think Leeds deserve a fair chunk of credit for their wins in that period, it's not like we fluked our way to the final and only won because Saints failed to turn up - we outplayed them - and I think that Leeds team would have beaten whoever they faced in those finals. Not all losses are down to choking.
Of course you do. You were a champion team then.
But when Warrington lose they are known as 'choking it' or 'bottling it' yet Saints fans seem to have short memories and forget that they lost five on the bounce finishing 1st three times out of the five they lost.
I was astounded we made the final this year given where we finished last year and with a new coach coming in. I expected this season to be a transitional season and would have been happy just finishing in the 8. We've played with Kevin Brown and Tyrone Roberts at halfback all year and both have been very average (and that's being nice). It was always going to be a huge ask to beat a Wigan team full of champions who hadn't lost a game in their last 8 and were fully motivated with their two best players and their most successful Super League coach having their last game. This idea that we choked it is nonsense. We choked it in 2016 when we were two tries up and in control and should have won.
I'm more than happy with where we are at the minute and we are massively ahead of schedule and where i thought we would be. Hopefully with Blake Austin coming in next season he will take us to that next level.
I can't see Wigan being as good next year, same with Saints after losing Barba. Leeds will get better but again have a new coach. Cas will be up there again but they seem to let themselves down in the big games.
