... attacking flair to suggest that we will be in the mix come the play off's?

For me the defence was ok in the face of sustained pressure and relieving penalties, but the playmakers - Eastmond, Long and Pryce did not do quite enough to convince.

Eastmond showed why playing half back is such a big ask for a young player, choosing the wrong option a couple of times in important positions. The ball strip was a tough call, but would the same thing have happened to a more experienced player.

Long was generally poor, making mistakes in between decent facets of play and Pryce, whilst generally solid and taking the line on in the manner of old, still missed the killer ball.

I thought the result was a step in the right direction considering I thought we'd get drubbed, but we need to do more with ball in hand. Also a bit woorried how Leeds made yards out wide.

Paradoxically you can argue that we got more out of the game - first time we had a full squad for a while, good hit out, return to form etc. All in all though I'd like to see more flair and nouse.

I find it strange we don't take 2 points on offer from pens we get near the sticks when our attack is so poor.

I think we should have kicked the pen to take it 8-0. It would make Leeds push the ball a little more as they know they need to score 2 times.

I think we did OK compared to the last 6 games, the most pleasing aspect was the players rose to the occasion and could have won the game.
The defence was much better, once Longy and Maurie get more game time our playing options should improve.

its st helens r.l.f.c its what we do

From a neutrals point of view I would say you showed enough to suggest you could win it. A few players back from injury getting match fit and still not much in the game score wise. Next time you meet you have a few scores to settle.

Watching KR tonight I dont see any threat from outside the top 2, maybe Wigan or Giants if they get their act together but doubt it.

Hope Saints meet Leeds in the final cos that would be a cracker!

Love the username..one of my all time heros.....



Nothing in the game the other night it could have gone either way really.

Saints just need to chill a bit and not over stress.

i completely agree with this, with kyle on we have a decent chance of kicking the goal for once.
I think Eddie Waring is being harsh on kyle over the ball steal, very similar to what happened to meli last game, no player could've avoided it

Remember that Friday night was ANOTHER new combination in attack. And it's a damned mouth watering one.

Give it a game against Catalans and it should start to click just right.

With our attack being so poor we should take 2 points when on offer. Few games this year I think we should have taken the 2 points on offer which would have put us in a better postion to win.

Thought for 1 knock on that Long was really going for it tonight,,,.The main problem at the moment is Pryce,was the hell is wrong with him?How many times did he take the ball on??...Is he injured or something?...

I think last night proved Eastmond can play just about anywhere. If he's up to handling Ebay Keef then he's ready to go anywhere in the side. We need him in there for his pace. We just might make a break from inside our own half and finish it with him around.

For the playoffs I'd stick young Lomax on the wing too.

I said it all week and il say it again, longy and Kyle halfbacks and pryce in centre.

That way we have more options in attack.

I'm deeply concerned, mostly because i agree with you!
Eastmond at a massive 5'3" defended a wing with senior and hall (a full foot taller and 3st heavier) than himself. I'm not 100% convinced about him at 7, but on the wing or centre i think he could be devestating! He still could progress into a world class 7, but i've not seen enough yet

Is Eastmond 5ft 3? I think he's a bit taller than that!! His hair alone was taller than that on Friday night. (What's with his changing do's anyway? Is he trying to emulate Longy?)

I think the combo was good on Friday but where is Wheeler going to fit? He's another seriously bright spark we need on the pitch IMO. Nearing full fitness too, as is Lomax.

I think both sides showed enough to suggest they could win this year. The difference though is that Hull KR and Huddersfield are much closer to the top two this year than any other team in the past two to three years. Even with full strength sides out across the park each one of the four teams is capable of beating the other. In previous play-offs it's usually between the top two teams wtih no one else really getting a sniff.

IIRC only one team has won the Grand Final from outside the top two, however I don't believe we've really been in a play-off situation that's been as tight as this across the teams involved. In every other season it's been relatively easy to pick the Grand Final teams before the play-offs start. This year I am not so sure it's that easy and if I gambled on every team during each play-off I imagine that this year I'd spread my money across more teams than in any other season.

But Hudds freeze like rabbits in front of a Leeds team. They seem to have a real hang up. So I would imagine that if Hudds stay fourth, and so get Leeds in the playoffs, Leeds will have a bye there. We have no byes at all cos all of them have beaten us at least once this season.

If thats the best we can play then no.

I think most will believe that we kick on from this.

With the new playoff system there really isnt that much between finishing first or 2nd this year.

Both have home games to the final.

Leeds may also have the added pressure of picking their opponents in the qualifying semi.

I'd realistically say there are five teams that could win it this year - Saints, Leeds, Hull KR, Huddersfield and Wigan.

IMO it's between 3. Saints, Leeds and Wigan.

I've got a feeling we will meet Wigan in the semi final.

Have you already forgotten about the last two Grand Finals?

Huh? Er, no. I'm not talking about us. I'm talking about Hudds. Hudds freeze in front of Leeds regularly. We don't. Given that if things stay as they are now in the league Leeds will be playing Hudds, I can't see Hudds beating Leeds (although I know they have a second bite by playing the other losing team).

It was a much better all round game by the S.

Long I'm afraid has had his day unless this eye business sorts itself out.

Pryce is a marked man these days and his step inside rarely gets him through the line, and his offloads in the tackle have been ineffective because the one thing we did well (support the ball carrier) we no longer do. Whether this is tactics or just form who knows.

For me the jury is still out on Eastmond, I still see him as a similar player to Pryce rather than another Long and I think unless this changes we will see more inefectivness in our halves next season, This is why I am supprised smith is not coming back unless we are signing a scrum half from elsewhere.

Moore will come back but this is directly a replacement for KC who has all the heart in the world but you can now see the strain is telling.

Leeds made yards out wide because we were compressing our defence something in the days of anderson we rarely needed to do as our defence was solid without compressing too much.

We also lack any pace on the pitch although wellens getting back for that tackle was a suprise..

Eastmond looked very good and was a constant threat all night and to say he's so small his defence was very good against senior and hall.

Long was 50-50 some good moves but also dropped ball

Pryce? well he just seems to go missing in action every time you play us

Nothing between the teams for mine on friday, you made some good yards up the middle and we made more out wide, If it is a Leeds Saints final again I think it will be 50/50

Correct, was a top notch game, two teams toe to toe. Looked the best in teh comp as usual.