He's alright.

I think if we are honest; firstly froma Wire POV- as great as Westwood and Moz are week in and week out, it can not be ignored that we are 350+ points in the table. IT is undoubtedly going to go to a play maker instead of a battering ram in the team. Briers, MM and Hodgeson are obviously in with a shout. As I have said previously, probably B.H 180 points (or so) of that 350 are his so that is a BIG boost for him.

Sts have hit an injury crisis (well not really) but there hasn't been a constant team to be judged and no one apart from 'New King' Roby has shown anywhere near the levels needed for MOS. Although he has really shown some talent.

From Wigan, I'm thinking no one. Sam is a great player and some stats back him up, but last year he won young person of the year. Manly cause he appeared to be a revelation in a dominant Wigan team. The only other person who I have heard has done well is Hoffman. Finch and Lima aren't worth mentioning in the conversation and Richards has missed too much of the year.

From hudds, there are big shouts for Danny Brough and that winger from the championship. They are certainly looking a good team, always progressing and really seem to have taken a place in the big four.

Can't see anyone from Leeds getting in there.

There are many options from 'smaller teams' (sorry) such as Scott Dureau, Paul Huby and maybe Rangi Chase. But I can't see them getting the nod over a dominant Warrington team or if the other two biggies get a vein of form/

As a St Helens lad I always have liked briers and love watching him. He's always had that x factor but I think Tony smith took much of the pressure off him by giving other players more responsibility. He did everything for Warrington at one point, he was captain, goal kicker, ball player, kicker in general play and IMO it effected his game.

Tony smith took a lot of the responsibility off briers and moving monaghan to 9 has also helped his game. He can now take a step back and then drift in and out the game which has really helped his game.

I like briers and he's playing well but IMO he's not up there for man of steel.

I said this a while back (in the aftermath of losing at the DW to you lot) and got ridiculed for it;

Warrington are the best team in SL both on paper and on the pitch, attacking and defensively is incredible to watch at times.

However, that being said realistically how long can this run continue? Another month? Til the end of the season?

With Wigan having Fielden and Hock back in time for the CC game and, fingers crossed BOTH teams being at full strength or as close too as possible, it should be a superb game.

I' made up for the players like Briers, Westwood, Clarke and Paul Wood that had to go through those dark days at Wilderspool. When they retire they can look back and say that they were part of one of the greatest Warrington teams along with having a couple of challenge cup medals to polish minimum as well as the Lance Todd trophy honour for Lee Briers.

Off the pitch he's a quality person and is very approachable, on the pitch he knows all the tricks in the book, he's one of the most cunning, creative and scheming players in SL that knows how to lead his team around the pitch. I wouldn't swap our 2 main generals in Lee Briers and Michael Monaghan for any other 2 players in the league.

I think Briers has a lot to thank his pack for, as he's one of those players who can go missing when playing behind a struggling or beaten pack. That's why he's never looked good playing for Wales, apart from a memorable 40 minutes against the Aussies many years ago. I'd like to see him take a game by the scruff of the neck and drag his team there, and in this years 4 nations he has a chance to prove me wrong if he plays.

Well then you haven't been watching Briers much because when we where crap countless times he single handly dragged us through games many times he has done this when our pack has been beaten and battered but Briers would still produce some magic to give us an unlikely win.

I like you optimism. We are at least gonna win CC this year.

(Clarke only has one medal; I think)

Then again the Clarke bashers wouldn't have him in the CC team.

If you say so.

I admit I've not seen a lot of Briers for Warrington, but I have for Wales and he just seems to put in abject performances more often than not. Surely a player of his class can not only do it at club level but international too, I find him a bit frustrating that way.

I got too admit that i wish Tony Smith would of joined Wire years ago because you can only imagine what Briers could of been

I think it's interesting that people are asking this of Warrington when I don't remember them asking it of Wigan last season and yet Wigan relied heavily on their tactic of lying on at the PTB to secure wins whereas Warrington, while clearly improving in defence out of sight from the Cullen era, win because they are an extremely good attacking side, with threats all over the park. They work together very well as a group, they have a halfback in Briers who is at the top of his game and who can think on his feet (and there aren't many players like that left in the British game, sadly, even among halfbacks for whom off the cuff play should be a default ability).

While they won't always play the best rugby league they are capable of playing - no team can over the course of a full season - there is no reason to believe, certainly no indicators as yet to suggest, that they will suddenly collapse. I'm sure only injury to key players could threaten that and even so they have depth in the squad which would suggest they could muddle through until troops returned.

Saints didn't always play fabulous rugby in 2006 and yet they lost only four games by 4 and fewer points, won everything there was to win plus the world club challenge. I don't see why Warrington can't do the same. They certainly look like the only team this season who could.

Excellent post.

TBH, I don't think we'll ever get that "entertainers" tag that St Helens have (rightly) got.

Whilst we have been royally entertained this season (so far), I think this current side is "all things to all men". There's something there for for everyone.

We attack with fantastic flair
We defend RUTHLESSLY
We intimidate our opposition....we've stuck nearly 90 points on a team that's won 3 of the last 4 GFs
and most importantly ....we win (and lose) as a team

Long may this continue......NOW THE WIRE

If the tag entertainer is taken, why not take the tag of the incredibles.


Although you may have to pay Disney a few bob.

how just aabout the warrington all star team on 2011.. thats what they will be remembered by

the invincibles

haha nah

How about the only team to do the treble this decade?

Quote ="SaintsFan"I think it's interesting that people are asking this of Warrington when I don't remember them asking it of Wigan last season and =#FF0000yet Wigan relied heavily on their tactic of lying on at the PTB to secure wins whereas Warrington, while clearly improving in defence out of sight from the Cullen era, win because they are an extremely good attacking side, with threats all over the park. They work together very well as a group, they have a halfback in Briers who is at the top of his game and who can think on his feet (and there aren't many players like that left in the British game, sadly, even among halfbacks for whom off the cuff play should be a default ability). While they won't always play the best rugby league they are capable of playing - no team can over the course of a full season - there is no reason to believe, certainly no indicators as yet to suggest, that they will suddenly collapse. I'm sure only injury to key players could threaten that and even so they have depth in the squad which would suggest they could muddle through until troops returned. Saints didn't always play fabulous rugby in 2006 and yet they lost only four games by 4 and fewer points, won everything there was to win plus the world club challenge. I don't see why Warrington can't do the same. They certainly look like the only team this season who could.'" www.sallyminker.com/art/2-d/grapes.html You are Gary Hetherington and I claim my £5

Quote ="SaintsFan"I think it's interesting that people are asking this of Warrington when I don't remember them asking it of Wigan last season and =#FF0000yet Wigan relied heavily on their tactic of lying on at the PTB to secure wins whereas Warrington, while clearly improving in defence out of sight from the Cullen era, win because they are an extremely good attacking side, with threats all over the park. They work together very well as a group, they have a halfback in Briers who is at the top of his game and who can think on his feet (and there aren't many players like that left in the British game, sadly, even among halfbacks for whom off the cuff play should be a default ability). While they won't always play the best rugby league they are capable of playing - no team can over the course of a full season - there is no reason to believe, certainly no indicators as yet to suggest, that they will suddenly collapse. I'm sure only injury to key players could threaten that and even so they have depth in the squad which would suggest they could muddle through until troops returned. Saints didn't always play fabulous rugby in 2006 and yet they lost only four games by 4 and fewer points, won everything there was to win plus the world club challenge. I don't see why Warrington can't do the same. They certainly look like the only team this season who could.'" www.sallyminker.com/art/2-d/grapes.html You are Gary Hetherington and I claim my £5

I really can't see Fielden improving Wigan. Hock [imaybe[/i but Fielden no.

Was thinking the same thing. Hock is excellent until he loses his marbles. Fielden isn't anywhere near the quality of Morley, Graham or Peacock or even Carvell.

fielden after he woke up, no nowhere near before he went to sleep, definetly. (talking about his little running with mason). and anywhere fielden goes missing every time we play wigan.

Briers is a good player at the end of the day, like Tomkins, that's why opposition fans dislike him but to me Mike Monaghan has to be man of steel frontrunner at the minute with briers and sam maybe level 2nd or level 3rd behind Roby.

Think you're right, despite Saints being able to cope with the glut of injuries they've suffered this season, if they were to lose Roby for any length of time I think it would seriously affect them. He seems to be even better now Cunningham has finished.
There's a few candidates for MOS for me, Roby, Briers, Mike Monas, Tompkins but Danny Brough has been fantastic for Hudds this year and must be in with a shout.

If you call the treble finishing second, three times running, you may have a chance.
Not a bad coach is Smith, but with an ageing side Wire won't perform past the end of the season,
We will see won't we, talk it up when you have done it, not when you think you might.

My tongue was firmly in my cheek. But I think this ageing Wire squad excuse is a lil off. Wire don'r have a side any older than most super league teams. We have key members who are old such as Moz and maybe Briers. But there will b replacements for them.

I honestly think this team this year is special though. Let's hope they live up to the hype.