Re: Saints (m) : Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:10 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

No - you said:

Look at FTVs comments pre season on squad depth and compare it to what has actually materialised this season. He's a great poster and adds to this board but I remember comments along the lines of we're just replacing average players with other average players,

My comments pre-season on squad Seth were explicitly not that you were replacing average with average. It was you needed a couple of props and will be better for replacing your poorer existing props with them. It’s literally the opposite of what I said but you’re just using one quote from me on a different subject out of context as if it’s the only thing I’ve ever said.

But whatever.

No they weren't. I posted your own words above!!! What are you struggling with there? You've also reiterated above that we'd miss players less because we're replacing lesser players with similar. WTF is wrong with you today?

Re: Saints (m) : Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:14 am  

nohalfbacks wrote:

Its great that Wigan and Sts are back to contesting close exciting games. This is great for The derby and good the image of RL.

Wigan and Sts will probably play each other five times this year and only two will really matter in terms of trophies won and lost. Wigan won the first and it will be fascinating to see who wins the GF. On balance, Sts still have the edge overall especially when Walmsley, Percival and Makinson are back. Wigan are still improving but can they improve enough to win the GF this year? I hope I am wrong but I still think they will fall just a little short.

I keep hearing this "when Walmsley, Makinson and Percival are back". How do you know they are going to be available for the playoffs or Grand Final? How do you know they won't be replaced by injuries to equally important players like Welsby, Passi or Lomax? Finally, what are next week's lottery numbers, I could do with a few million...

Re: Saints (m) : Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:14 am  

Stu M wrote:

You normally post a lot of sense so I’m surprised with this one. You can’t mention Thornley and KPP being out and not mention Percival and Makinson. There’s no better kick returner in the comp than Makinson in terms of getting us on the front foot and Percival is decent at that too.

Walmsley is the best prop in SL and our pack still dominated overall yesterday.

I’m not so sure Thornley gets in your first choice 13? However as I’ve said before if we have a full team out even with Dodd out I’m pretty confident we’ll beat you.

You did in the semi-final and it didn't pan out like that?

Re: Saints (m) : Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:25 am  

JonB95 wrote:

Whether intentional or not, a shoulder to the head is clearly dangerous and the RFL are right to make every effort to cut it out of the game. The responsibility is on Singleton to control his technique.

None of us want to see injury feigning - perhaps a captain’s challenge solution would be better? If Sironen feels he has been whacked, he can appeal for the video ref to look? If video ref disagrees, Saints can’t use the challenge again.

I don't think Sironen was feigning injury. The problem we have is that the officials have never played the game and therefore decisions are being made by people who do not understand it. There is a massive difference between the Napa challenge and Singleton's. If you are committed to a tackle and the opposing player then falls or twists there is no time to pull out of the tackle or change your technique. All of us who have played have received challenges like that and the game has just continued.

Re: Saints (m) : Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:25 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

I keep hearing this "when Walmsley, Makinson and Percival are back". How do you know they are going to be available for the playoffs or Grand Final? How do you know they won't be replaced by injuries to equally important players like Welsby, Passi or Lomax? Finally, what are next week's lottery numbers, I could do with a few million...

You are right that these three may not all be back, and there will probably be further injuries and suspensions for both teams. I am just making the point that Sts have tremendous go forward and those three are a big part of that. Yesterday showed that Sts still have plenty go forward even without them.

Re: Saints (m) : Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:28 am  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

You did in the semi-final and it didn't pan out like that?

Well we didn’t to be fair. It was a week after Lomax’s injury and he really struggled. He’s got better week on week since then.

We also had Davies at 6 who isn’t a stand off at all. Welsby was at 1 due to Hopoate being injured and we had that horrendous situation of Lomax attacking at 6 but defending as a FB which just didn’t work.

I stand by what I say, if both teams are at full strength I don’t see you beating us. If you do I’ll hold my hands up.

Re: Saints (m) : Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:32 am  

nohalfbacks wrote:

Its great that Wigan and Sts are back to contesting close exciting games. This is great for The derby and good the image of RL.

.

We’ve a way to go yet to get consistently up to their best but you’re right. We were miles off last season and we’re still a bit short but that gaps closed. We’ve had 3 games against them this season that have all been good games for the neutral, especially the last 2. We all sit on here and debate this player or that player, who was missing from either side, the decisions and so on but the game needs somebody to push Saints and challenge them for the good of the sport. Nobody had done it for the last 3 years consistently but Wigan, Catalans and Huddersfield are at least looking like they can worry them in a big game.

Re: Saints (m) : Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:35 am  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

I don't think Sironen was feigning injury. The problem we have is that the officials have never played the game and therefore decisions are being made by people who do not understand it. There is a massive difference between the Napa challenge and Singleton's. If you are committed to a tackle and the opposing player then falls or twists there is no time to pull out of the tackle or change your technique. All of us who have played have received challenges like that and the game has just continued.

Sironen wasn't feigning injury you're right, and the game was set to continue because the ref played on. The red card happens because while Sironen is down the VR checks the tackle, and that's why you have people saying he milked it (he didn't) rather than the ref just getting it wrong.

Re: Saints (m) : Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:43 am  

Stu M wrote:

I stand by what I say, if both teams are at full strength I don’t see you beating us. If you do I’ll hold my hands up.

I won't hold my breath. The wind will have blown in an unusual direction or something like that. I don't think you've deserved to lose a game in 4 years have you? - I jest.

FWIW - I don't think we beat you full 17 v full 17 but we get a hell of a lot closer than we have in the past few years whether Saints fans like to admit it or not.

Re: Saints (m) : Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:46 am  

Stu M wrote:

Well we didn’t to be fair. It was a week after Lomax’s injury and he really struggled. He’s got better week on week since then.

We also had Davies at 6 who isn’t a stand off at all. Welsby was at 1 due to Hopoate being injured and we had that horrendous situation of Lomax attacking at 6 but defending as a FB which just didn’t work.

I stand by what I say, if both teams are at full strength I don’t see you beating us. If you do I’ll hold my hands up.

"Lomax's bicep injury".

About as likely a truth as when Boris Johnson was in intensive care with Covid.