So why are they not penalised. Watch the replay of tonights game.

When we talk about cleaning up the play the ball then surely that has to be part of it, or do you want the tick and tap rule?

A very enjoyable game and a very good result for Saints. Fair play to Leeds who never gave up.

Incorrect the play the balls was here long before wigan and hudds used the slow the play the ball tactics to slow the game down.

Look back at old video and you will see this. The kiwis and aussies brougt it here years ago.

I am not having dig at wigan and hudds by the way, teams play to the own strengths even if it means slowing the game down like wigan and hudds. It is the refs that are a fault.

Saints use the scoot as it is our strength.

So do Wigan play the ball correclty??? I think not!!!

Saddened - you say the game went how you expected but on an earlier thread you stated that you thought Leeds would win us today.........I think the game went NOT how you expected gladly...!

Well done lads on an excellent game and win!

What has that got to do with it. I've never argued about which team. My argument has always been about scooter hookers and incorrect play the balls giving an unfair advantage to the attacking side.

If you don't play the ball with the foot, penalise them. Easy, They'll soon stop.

I'd love to respond to your post on C&W, but they banned me unfairly some years ago and despite several PMs to mods they not undone it yet.

But, whilst I think you have a point about incorrect play the balls I don't think there is a link between that and scooting hookers.

In rugby league the 'speed' of the play the ball should be determined by who wins the collision. If the defenders are on top (The NRLs surrender call for example) then they should be allowed the extra bit of time their defense has earned. But if the ball carrier wins it, making yards and going down face first or busting the tackle then they should be rewarded with a quick play the ball and should be able to build go forward.

The way Wigan fans seem to want the game played is that once there is a tackle there is a 6 or 7 second break whilst the defensive line resets itself completely. That IMO is terribly boring, takes the whole point of the impact out of the game and we may as well play tag rugby.

I agree that scooting from dummy half after a messy play the ball with the defenders falling over themselves at marker is a mess, but what we had at the start of the season was no better, just the oppposite end of the scale. What we need is the middle ground, where the winner of the collision is rewarded. Then they can ensure the play the balls are techically correct.

I agree, the incorrect play the ball has nothing at all to do with the scooting dummy half.

Which is exactly what I would like. A good tackle (no matter how many in there are in should be rewarded)
A good tackle bust should also be rewarded.

What we should have is the rule that says that the ball has to be played with the foot strictly adhered to. Penalise them to death until it's sorted.

btw
Thats the most sensible post I have EVER seen from you.

Phil clarke was banging on about incorrect play the balls on friday. He said every vid ref call should check for incorrect play the balls. Thoughts ?

It could only work if we had video refs at all games, but I'd go with it to sort the ptb out.

As I said it's not an anti Saints thing, it's been a moan of mine for ages. I want ball playing half backs and hookers, and this roll the ball quickly is not producing them

rant over.
But at least I'm consistent.

What do you feel about the pretend scrums we have in te game these days???

I remember if it was your head and feed you still had to push / hook to get the ball. These days it seems a bit of a waste of time even taking part. Very rare to see the feeding side loose the scrum........(Don't mention the Wigan v Saints game where you won the scrum against the feed......not a good memory!!)



Should this be fixed also? Or are we happy with it? Comments welcome!

The scrums are a joke.
We lost one last night v Quins that led to try. Good luck to them.

Again it's about getting the refs to apply the rules. Either do it proper or do away with the scrums.
Like I said previously, failed half backs playing at hookers.

I think it's very harsh calling hookers failed halfbacks.

I also think that the quick play the ball puts pressure on the defending line to get back and be prepared quickly (causing a faster and more intense game) instead of walking back at a snails pace like some teams defences do (even our own some times).....

Playing the ball correclty will not stop "scooting" as it will take approx 0.5 seconds to put a foot on the ball....not enough to say it is affecting the defences.....It is the lazy defence line that is the issue...But I do agree that the ref's should sort out the things they decide to give and not give....Maybe fine them for bad decisions after the game!!

The is know way the rfl will fine refs for poor decisions.

I went to the match tonight without confidence in a win. I felt that way not because I thought Saints didn't have the talent on the park - quite the opposite. I've felt frustrated this season because I think Saints have the talent on the park to play far, far better than they have been doing. But given we were missing some key players and given Leeds appeared to be hitting their stride again, I just didn't think we would win.

Well. What a good feeling it is to be shown in no uncertain manner that our talented little team can indeed play like the talented little team they are. In spite of my heart sinking when Kyle kicked off out on the full, I can safely say that it is over a year since I have enjoyed watching Saints as I enjoyed watching them today. I thought they were wonderful, in the first half especially. I was totally engrossed and thought we saw some beautiful creative and skillful rugby league from our little team.

Well done lads. What a belter of a match.

Rogues, If you want to see (or not see, as you seem to prefer!) the ball emarge from a ruck of players until everyone is back in their defensive place, feel free to watch the other code. It seems IMHO everything Pieheads can't do well, or cope with, you always prat on about.

Please get onto another subject. (Not Micky Higham), Or he (most Saints young players!) supports Wigan.

Thank you in anticipation.

Bring back the good old days, remember Woosey v Sayer,

Did Wigan lose again, he's a prat, (relation of Rogues no doubt!!)

Do we have to keep hearing Rogues' continual whining about how the game isn't perfect unless it's played to his exacting standards? I mean, please. Give us all a break. Competing in this competition and supporting it is far better than incessant nit-picking about your own personal calamity over the game not matching a dream reality.

As for last night's game. Graham and Tony P were immense in the forwards whilst Gardner, Flannery and Eastmond all made important contributions. The stars for me though were our three hookers. KC was brilliant in that first half as he helped us to control the ruck early on which enabled us to dominate Leeds. This is something we failed to do in either of Anderson's Grand Finals against Leeds. Last year we competed better because our game was better suited to pushing Leeds.



Potter got his tactics spot on last night with the speeing up of the PTB and also exploiting Hall's slow turning speed. It reminded me of the way teams, particularly Leeds, used to kick behind Vainikolo so all he could do was recover the ball and take a tackle from behind.

Back to the three hookers and Roby had great impact for us especially in the second half. However, I would have gone for Moore as our man of the match. He was everywhere. Whether taking on the line, chasing a kick or kicking himself I thought he turned in his best outing for [iThe S[/i and that's very satisfying for me as a supporter of our great club and its great players.

Thought Leeds were poor and you guys were very good. Thought the scoreline flattered Leeds.

I voted him my MoM too and for the same reasons. I think Jammer's run after Rocky at the end is what swayed Sky in his favour. I'm not sure why Knowsley Road chose Wello, although he was very good last night. But to me Moore stood out and his performance reminded me of the once or twice I saw him play for Huddersfield before his drop in form. He was extremely good last night. Perhaps it helped that he was playing in a position he can actually play rather than being shunted around the field? Either way, it was great to watch him. And the rest of the lads too. It was just a really, really enjoyable performance to watch.

I posted the other day a blow out scored could happen. Thought saints were very good for the win! Thought saints were good and Leeds poor.

I'd also say Scott Moore was mom. He's showed at times this year what he can do but only in short spells. That was the first time in saints shirt he's put it all in to 80 mins. He was awesome!

I wonder if he feels a little put out at moment at saints as he's 3rd choice hooker? I think we will see the best of Moore next year when kc has gone.