I just think this side is in a different place to ones of previous seasons, where things have started to go badly and we haven't pulled it back. There are plenty of strong characters and no bad eggs for starters and as much as we can't lay all the blame for the last two weeks at the door of Field and French being out, they're going to make such a difference, both in terms of talent but also just the confidence and belief they will give everyone around them (they'll be a bigger boost then any new signings could be IMO).

A lull was always going to come in this season. It's been a huge one so far with a WCC win against a side considered as one of the best NRL teams of all time and then backing that up with a Challenge cup win. We had our bad period in May/early June last year but obviously we couldn't afford that this year, with that being the time of the cup semi and final and it just feels like we've hit a flat spot now. I actually think it'll prove to be a positive thing in getting it out of the way and I could see it lasting a little longer yet tbh but it'll turn. We go to Catalans at the end of August (which is exactly the game we flicked a switch in last year) and then pay HKR at home the following week. I think it'll be around that time when we hit top gear again.

Eseh has been recalled, and Chan played for Wigan reserves at the weekend.
Both will be at Wigan until the end of the season as was planned all along.

Wigan today are saying Eseh recalled but Chan still available to Hull and he only played for our reserves at the weekend because Hull didn't select him in their 19 man squad.

Chan’s future looks uncertain.

Odd signing for me. I don’t see him at Wigan next year. We need another secondrow with Walters joining the prop rotation with Eseh.

a utility back would go down nicely as well.

Think we have the backline covered with Farrimond who has effectively replaced Hampshire already, Eckersley and Douglas.

Having both Field and French out for extended periods has caused the current issue but hope we wouldn’t have similar issues moving forward.

Someone in the mould of a young Rhyse Martin would be nice.

If Walters wage is a lot bigger than Chan's I'd keep Chan. If it gives us more cap space I don't think Chan would give us less than Walters has so far

In reply to Jon. Ok, what about Matautia? Cover for second row, prop and centre.

Not for me he’s a player very much on the decline.

Of lads who are off contract I’d be looking at Jacob Alick-Wiencke from the Titans, 6’4” dynamic secondrow (who has covered centre). I don’t think the centre cover though is essential as that’s what Eckersley is in the squad for this and next year however it’s a good fallback position.

I don’t think there is any need for further prop cover.

I say give Walters time as he clearly has a much higher ceiling than Chan....he has to or he'd keep banging his head

Text of email sent to Saints today

I also cc'd the email to the Warriors.

Firstly with everything going on in the country it’s a strange thing to be annoyed about and to actually e mail the club.

However you’ve got me thinking now and I’m going to check it tomorrow on my way to the game. Does it not say “World Champions 2023?”

If it does then that’s factually correct. If not then you’ve got a point. I’m more worried about taking my 13 year old lad to Wembley on Saturday with the riots/protests than wording on a sign but each to their own.

I'm not really 'annoyed', Stu, probably as amused as anything else. As for what's going on the country, I'm sure you'd agree with me rugby league is very much one of those binding effects on a community which help protect us against such things. Not always, sadly.

If memory serves me well, I think it does say home of the world champions meaning saints and Michael Smith. I think Humphrey’s is world champion now. From Ashton so see this sign a lot

Harry Robertson is a diamond

Well I’ve drove past that sign tonight and checked. It says “home of world champions” which is factually correct. It doesn’t say home of “the” world champions.

Both Smith and Saints have been world champions so move on nothing to see here and don’t expect an e mail reply moto!

As for the game…

Just like in the 2020 GF with Lomax’s kick return from Hardakers missed penalty, Harry Robertson makes that winning DG with his kick return and effort. What a player we have on our hands

And the home of the team who have just posted a £2 million loss. It was an expensive world champions win?

He's a good player, I saw Tomkins doing that when he was 17. Regarding the game, it was exciting but short on quality. Personally, I thought young Burns was excellent.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"And the home of the team who have just posted a £2 million loss. It was an expensive world champions win? '" For anyone interested https://find-and-update.company-informa ... ng-history

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"And the home of the team who have just posted a £2 million loss. It was an expensive world champions win? '" For anyone interested https://find-and-update.company-informa ... ng-history

Really good talent along with the young hooker burn, showing a few of the older lads how to do it. Robertson needs some media training haha his comments at the end about no knowing what he was doing made me chuckle

Let's not forget, Saints won that game without Lomax, Welsby and Dodd. Although, it was very low on quality, I enjoyed the last 15 minutes.

They'll be a threat in the playoffs, as they will look to defend their way to the GF. I'm just not sure they'll be able to keep up with the attacking power of ourselves, Wire or KR.

I'm not sure what it is, but they hardly ever suffocate teams in their own 20 anymore. I think they did it once in the whole game. I used to dread when we got the ball back close to our line, as you knew we wouldn't be getting out of our own twenty. Knowles will be sat down for a few weeks, was a bad one and he's becoming a liability.

Very good player which is why I am a bit confused by the recruitment of Sailor.

For me I’d be running with a spine of Clark, Lomax, Welsby and Robertson next year.

Find it very strange they have recruited Sailor to displace/reduce his minutes/opportunities.

I understand the need to maybe manage his game time so I do think a signing who could cover one of the 7/6/1 spots would be needed, but Sailor whilst not getting marquee money had offers to stay in the NRL and from other SL clubs so won’t have come cheap plus whilst mid/late 20s he’s not coming in, in that mentor role as he’s fairly inexperienced himself for his age.

He would be even better if he got a pass too. He didn't receive one pass in attack in the whole of the first half yesterday and barely any all game. He's feeding off scraps and still looking dangerous. The only time he touched the ball really was on his kick returns.

Our attack is and continues to be our Achilles heel. I've literally no idea what we do in training as its appalling. It will mean that come the play offs we bow out first or second game. Briers (if indeed he is coming) will hopefully improve that significantly.

Sailor will also add pace and flair, something that we lack without Welsby (who isn't the quickest but has the X factor) and obviously now with Robertson who will get more games next season but probably all across the backline similar to what we did with Welsby in 2021

Field and French both weren't ripping up trees in the NRL but they've turned out okay! If he turns out half as good I’ll be happy. He’s also at a good age with a point to prove rather than the last couple of years of his career