Re: Challenge cup final : Sun Jul 18, 2021 3:44 pm  

Saints were nigh on perfect second half. Strangled the life out of Castleford and managed the clock outstandingly. We had two spells of about 12 minutes in the second half where Cas didn't even touch the ball, just didn't give them a chance. 20-0 second half without us ever really clicking or attacking well.

Darryl Powell lost them the final. He panicked after the semi final and seemed obsessed with getting the strongest names onto the teamsheet. He didn't seem to care what state they were in, as long as they were named. They fielded weakened teams and pathetically conceded the game against us and chose not to field the first team players against Salford. So instead of carrying one or two players who haven't had much gametime, he was fielding 13 or 14 players who had barely played in weeks. Given the heat and the occasion it was always going to cost them. Had they played the Saints game, they would have had a week off, then played Salford. Then 6 days off before the final. It would have been much better preparation and worst case maybe would have cost one or two players a spot through injury or suspension. He could have had much more gas in the tank and chose not to.

Re: Challenge cup final : Sun Jul 18, 2021 4:03 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Saints were nigh on perfect second half. Strangled the life out of Castleford and managed the clock outstandingly. We had two spells of about 12 minutes in the second half where Cas didn't even touch the ball, just didn't give them a chance. 20-0 second half without us ever really clicking or attacking well.

Darryl Powell lost them the final. He panicked after the semi final and seemed obsessed with getting the strongest names onto the teamsheet. He didn't seem to care what state they were in, as long as they were named. They fielded weakened teams and pathetically conceded the game against us and chose not to field the first team players against Salford. So instead of carrying one or two players who haven't had much gametime, he was fielding 13 or 14 players who had barely played in weeks. Given the heat and the occasion it was always going to cost them. Had they played the Saints game, they would have had a week off, then played Salford. Then 6 days off before the final. It would have been much better preparation and worst case maybe would have cost one or two players a spot through injury or suspension. He could have had much more gas in the tank and chose not to.

Without that sneaky Frenchman, and his appalling bad sportsmanship, Saints don’t make the final.

Re: Challenge cup final : Sun Jul 18, 2021 4:05 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Saints were nigh on perfect second half. Strangled the life out of Castleford and managed the clock outstandingly. We had two spells of about 12 minutes in the second half where Cas didn't even touch the ball, just didn't give them a chance. 20-0 second half without us ever really clicking or attacking well.

Darryl Powell lost them the final. He panicked after the semi final and seemed obsessed with getting the strongest names onto the teamsheet. He didn't seem to care what state they were in, as long as they were named. They fielded weakened teams and pathetically conceded the game against us and chose not to field the first team players against Salford. So instead of carrying one or two players who haven't had much gametime, he was fielding 13 or 14 players who had barely played in weeks. Given the heat and the occasion it was always going to cost them. Had they played the Saints game, they would have had a week off, then played Salford. Then 6 days off before the final. It would have been much better preparation and worst case maybe would have cost one or two players a spot through injury or suspension. He could have had much more gas in the tank and chose not to.

There was another game versus Huddersfield that Cas were scheduled to play between the Saints and Salford games.

Powell selected his strongest 21 squad for the Huddersfield game, but it was called off by the Giants owing to the Co Vid protocol.

Once the Huddersfield game was postponed, then with the 7day rule for HIA he then chose to field a severely weakened team against Salford.

Re: Challenge cup final : Sun Jul 18, 2021 4:35 pm  

Think yourselves lucky you played an undercooked Cas then as we would've mullered that saints side yesterday.....AGAIN.

Re: Challenge cup final : Sun Jul 18, 2021 6:48 pm  

ratticusfinch wrote:

Think yourselves lucky you played an undercooked Cas then as we would've mullered that saints side yesterday.....AGAIN.

Ah but to do that yesterday you have to got there.

Re: Challenge cup final : Mon Jul 19, 2021 12:03 am  

Credit where due. Saints hold the hub cap, SL and CC.
While Price has been an utter flop.
My granny could coach this Wire squad to win a GF.

Re: Challenge cup final : Mon Jul 19, 2021 3:37 am  

[quote="rubber duckie"]Credit where due. Saints hold the hub cap, SL and CC.
While Price has been an utter flop.
My granny could coach this Wire squad to win a GF.[/quote]
Wrong again. Wigan hold the League Leaders Shield.

Re: Challenge cup final : Mon Jul 19, 2021 6:46 am  

rubber duckie wrote:

Credit where due. Saints hold the hub cap, SL and CC.
While Price has been an utter flop.
My granny could coach this Wire squad to win a GF.

If it's that easy, why haven't we won one.

Re: Challenge cup final : Mon Jul 19, 2021 12:36 pm  

because we haven't appointed duckie's granny

Re: Challenge cup final : Mon Jul 19, 2021 5:45 pm  

I hope he didn't lose her CV and application form, by leaving it in the back of a taxi.