I asked mr hill yesterday if he was a bit sore after the three games in 8 days and he just shrugged, looked at me as if i was an idiot and just said 'nah'. Best prop in the world. I foolishly called him a potty mouth and he just finished me off with a look. He didn't know the extent of sandows injury but didnt seem overly concerned

RD - I think you're well off kilter with your Gidley comments.
He doesn't go from being top notch to an 'also ran' in a few weeks. (I know you didn't exactly say that but implication was he's on borrowed time)
I doubt he's 100% fit at the moment (limited kicking for goal).
Regardless, it's a good position for us to be in.

Didn't players like Duane Mann and Danny Farrar used to play the full eighty?

We talk these days as though it is an impossibility.

Yes they did, but I think the sheer intensity of the game has increased nowadays- especially for a 9.

I know what you mean although I'm not sure it is like with like. I am only just about old enough to remember Mann, but I do remember Farrar. He was a guy who would make 50 tackles a game, but probably ran with the ball once or twice in 80 minutes so less of an attacking weapon than we use Clark or Ratchford as.

That said, there is definitely a place for an 80-minute hooker and many of the best still manage it.

Any news on Sandow or Evans scans yet???

At risk of asking a possibly stupid question, is there any reason why Clarke couldn't play as hooker when we have the ball and defend wider allowing a second row to play more central in defense? Surely doing that would give us his best in attack but give him a bit of a 'rest' when the opposition have the ball.

Evans scans have come back positive not as bad as everyone feared

We've been poor in previous years recently and still beaten you at times because you were also pretty average. Now you've got probably your best ever SL lineup and look clear favourites for the trophies this season. You'll see just how limited a side Saints are when you play us. We have no pace in the side and can only score from kicks or from barge overs from 10 yards out. I won't guarantee you'll humiliate us, but if you ignore the shirts it's like playing an average home game against Hull KR, that's the level we're at currently and you really should be winning comfortably. We've got a semi decent pack, albeit with Walmsley in awful form, but easily the worst set of backs in Super League. McDonnell, Dawson, Peyroux, Turner and Owens aren't good enough to play for Saints. We won't make the top 4 this season and we're very fortunate Leeds and Huddersfield aren't their usual selves or we'd be fighting to stay in the top 8.

You never disappoint Sado that's for sure ha ha

The horrible thing is, this time he's actually not exaggerating



McDonnell, Dawson, Peyroux, Turner, Owens.

That is a relegation back 5.

Christ, things must be bad if the sad one's fellow fans are agreeing with him!!

Must admit, we do look stronger, but as we all know, you can never write The Saints off!!