Nailed on he was going to get it. After Friday he'll have been ref for this fixture 5 times out the last 6. 8 from 13 since the start of 2013.

Without Jones-Buchanan and Watkins enthusiasm that right hand edge would be even worse, McGuire on the inside and Handley/Briscoe on the outside are all over the place.

Shooting out of the line regularly is a schoolboy play. Nothing at all beats a straight line in defence. The only reason for shooting out is when the defence is shot already and there may be more hope in clattering a player as they get the ball. If you do it regularly any half decent half back will use the inevitable hole in the line to their advantage.

This edge defence is a bit of a bugbear for me, as it really grates to see dog-legged defences have tries run through them. A straight line that moves forward or scrambles sideways as a unit is the basis of defence in RL. I'm frequently stunned at how such a basic of the game isn't done well in SL.

Same 19 other than Garbutt replacing Alex Sutcliffe.
Big 3 games in 8 days all winnable.

This is a must win game after last week.

Golding
briscoe
Watkins
Sutcliffe
Hall
McGuire
Moon
Garbutt
Parcel
Singleton
Ferres
Ward
Delaney

JJB
Cuthbertson
Burrow
Mullally

Garbutt misses the game again through concussion but will be back on Monday.

That`s some knock to the head the amount of games he has missed.
Baldwinson into the 17 then.

or 3 backs on the bench

Golding
Briscoe Watkins Sutcliffe Hall
McGuire Moon
Cuthbertson Parcell Singleton
Ferres JJB
Ward

Burrow Baldwinson Mullally Delaney

This is what I'd go for. Apart from swapping JJB and Ward for obvious reasons.

Why isn't Jimmy Keinhorst getting picked anymore? A few weeks ago he was one of our most consistent performers, but now has gone MIA from the first team.

cant tell if youre trolling or not?
got injured, 12 weeks spell i think it was

Guessing by how McDermott talked about him last week it sounds more like they're just giving him time off because he and his partner have just had a baby.

With concussion you either fail the test or you don't. Surely then he's failed the concussion test for the Wire game so they can't then say he'll be available for Monday at this stage?

That`s waht I was thinking.
How do they know it will clear up over the weekend when presumably they thought it would have cleared up a few days ago.
If he is getting time off to be with his partner I would rather it was from Monday instead of today.

Maybe he is getting closer to answering the questions right - like "What is your name", "Which team do you play for"?

I will be amazed, surprised, but ultimately happy if we get anything close to the game last night. I have been highly critical of the Super League quality this year, but last night was the best by far. I doubt neither of tonight's teams, or Castleford, would have come within cooie of Saints and Wigan last night.

I said on here weeks ago that once Saints sorted their coaching out I still expected them to finish above us, and maintain that. Well done the Saints board for acting on their problem, and look like they may get a bonus out of it. Also Wigan, with still many missing, putting up that quality,

Don't get why you include Cas in that they have been head and shoulders the best in the league and a joy to watch.

As for Saints, still not buying them as a threat. Poor back line in general. Barba should make a difference of course but i still think we have a better 17 when all are fit. Very early days on their new, unknown coach aswell. You normally always get a reaction when new changes are made like this so i will reserve judgement for a few months yet.

They lost heavily to Cas and have then had a reaction that's included putting a big score on Hull and beating an injury hit Wigan at home........God I wish Leeds could've done that



Saints/Wigan games are never the best to judge how well they'll do in the rest of the season because they don't raise for other games in the same way they do for that fixture.

Whilst Wigan do very well in always being competitive regardless of injuries they still have only picked up 8 points from the last 22 on offer. They do need bodies back asap otherwise that form won't make the top 4.

I'm with Gotcha - adding Barba to that side plus the introduction of Holbrook who looks like a "don't take any crap" type of coach and Saints will not be far away come the end of the season.

Last night's game was the best game in SL since 2015 - the standard and intensity as been unmatched - great game to watch.

In Percival they have the best centre in SL - in Morgan they have almost the worst zing and zang.

One thing is certain Saints basic skills will improve under an Aussie coach - Taia will either learn to catch and hold on to the ball or he wont get picked

For me the idea that Leeds have a better side at full strength than Saints doesn't hold water but its all about opinions.

I agree, regards opinions that is



Problem for us is we never seem to get close to having our best 17 on the field to see these days? this is what i would consider our strongest 17 at this point -

Golding
Briscoe
Watkins
Sutcliffe / Keinhorst
Hall
McGuire
Moon
Galloway
Parcell
Cuthbertson
Ferres
Ablett
Ward

Burrow
Singleton
JJB / Keinhorst
Garbutt

For me, that side could more than match anyone in SL never mind Saints.. problem is the drop down in quality beyond that group is quite marked.

I don't believe it could, but to be honest on paper is not really the issue. I said last week, on paper I would only swap five players from Cas, but lets be honest AS A TEAM they are far better. Paper means nothing, I don't believe Leeds or Cas at that, could play at the intensity of last nights game. Or at least they have not shown they could match that for the last eighteen months, not at any time. So if they did it would be a pleasant surprise.

hope i am wrong but can see them turning us over tonight, leaving us with 1 win from last 4, pressure could be back on mcd and the team. another loos for them against a top 4 rival gives them a big hill to climb in super 8's

Think it'll be very close as well (gone for Leeds by 4 on the prediction league). Must win for Wire I feel after letting a point slip at the death vs Wigan at Magic. If they do beat us then the Super 8's is for the first time looking like it'll be a real close battle to get into the top 4 instead of the previous years when 5th/6th were comfortably behind and 7th/8th had no chance.

I can't agree it weak in the halves and the backs 4 of the 6 are hardly top SL players. Would I rather have Warmsley Roby and Amor than the three you mentioned in a shot.