I think you may be missing the point, which is that for guys like Knowes and Batchelor who lead our line speed, their job is to close down and strangle play. That means flying off the line. Matty Lees is another obvious example of that for us.

If you think any of them are poor defenders whose missed tackles cost games you might need to watch a little more closely.

We have the best defence by a mile but as a team are third in the league for missed tackles. That tells you something about the nature of those “missed” tackles. The lads with the most missed tackles are mostly our best defenders.

I did not miss the point I think you did,as do you think if they missed as many tackles against Australia or Kiwis there wouldnt be repercussions it is naive on your part to say a Superleague teams defence is the same as a international defence.
Not saying they would not adjust to the intermational game but rushing out and missing a tackle is not good enough.

Yep, them lot miss tackles after 3metres but cause so much disruption the likes of Roby etc can complete the tackle after 5metres.

Rather than most teams who make first contact after about 5/6/7metres

However they are also in the top three for penalties conceded, that would be a major concern against the "big" teams?

Also Batchelor is nowhere near the amount of tackles made or metres made than those of Farrell

One reason why Faz is a better allround player than than either of those players.

I’d have Faz all day long anyway (as long as he’s used correctly). Batchelor is having a really good season but could you imagine Faz in that Saints side, feeding off the back of the physical stress they put other teams through? He would have a field day with his fitness levels and eye for a gap.

I do think the missed tackles and penalty stats for Saints forwards are a bi-product of the way in which they defend. It’s totally different to how we go about things. It’s if they’ll be able to adjust to how Wane will set things up that will decide if Batchelor and Knowles can make a big impact in the World Cup (if Batchelor makes the squad because I don’t think it’s a given).

I would be surprised if he does. He is a workmanlike forward but he is not an international player.

Doesn’t sound like the missed tackles Colin will be getting a rest today. Mad scoreline so far.

Seems to be a common occurrence for the intensity to drop off a cliff this time of the year, particularly for the clubs who know they'll be in the playoffs and have their position virtually secured.

No ban for Harry Smith, so it’ll now be interesting to see if Cust goes in to 9 or we play a total makeshift player there, such as Shorrocks in the next game.

O'Neill contesting his ban the incident is on twitter he was running behind the ref and the ref backed into him does not deserve a ban .

I saw that earlier and whilst it is ridiculous, it won’t get downgraded IMO. I’ve seen even more trivial ones get a ban. It’s the fact O’Neill raises his arms and gives him a little shove that will do for him. Hope I’m wrong mind.

Joke of a ban.

Cust has played a lot of 9 in his career and he should move there IMO. Shorrocks on the bench just in case

1 French
2 Miski

6 Field
7 Smith

9 Cust

14 Shorrocks

O’Neill semi successful in his appeal, managing to get it down to one game.

Better than nothing I suppose but I do think that's a nonsense decision. He's either done it deliberately or not - and to me it's fairly obvious he didn't.

Genuinely don't know the answer to this

Did the Leeds player (Rhys Martyn?) Get cited/suspended for making contact with the in goal touch judge celebrating the match winning try at catalans?

It was reckless to say the least.

Add LMS to that list.

Whats the difference in these?????????????? Oh wait LMS gets grade A O'Neill gets grade C (e.g. placing hand on arm to attract attention) he did neither.

Case Number:
ON/1433/22

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook #15, St Helens

Competition:
Super League

Match:
Salford Red Devils v St Helens

Match Date:
2022-07-31

Incident:
Contact with referee

Decision:
Charge

Charge Detail:
Law 15.1 (i)

Deliberate or reckless physical contact with the match official

Grade A

Sanctions:
0 Match Penalty Notice
And this is Brad’s;
Case Number:
ON/1379/22

Brad O'Neill #, Wigan

Competition:
Reserves Championship

Match:
Wakefield v Wigan

Match Date:
2022-07-23

Incident:
Contact with referee

Decision:
Charge

Charge Detail:
Law 15.1 (i)

Deliberate or reckless physical contact with a match official (e.g. placing hand on arm to attract attention)

Grade C

Sanctions:
2 Match Penalty Notice

They need to stop being so precious the officials. As if there will be zero accidental contact when you’re playing a contact sport, at that pace and incidents like O’Neill’s or Martin’s look accidental to me. I’ve never seen the Foster incident and it sounds like a ban was warranted in that case but it was described as an assault. Now that’s a pretty serious term to throw about, that could live with the lad for the rest of his life. It didn’t sound like an assault from what I read but if a future employer, partner or whoever Googles his name, it will show up that he once assaulted a referee.

So Rhys Martin didn't get cited (haven't seen the LMS one)?
So after scoring a player can run around wildly/recklessly and jump around and barge into an official, but while defending your line and a referee backs into you you'll get banned.

Right OK

Quote ="NickyKiss"They need to stop being so precious the officials. As if there will be zero accidental contact when you’re playing a contact sport, at that pace and incidents like O’Neill’s or Martin’s look accidental to me. I’ve never seen the Foster incident and it sounds like a ban was warranted in that case but it was described as an assault. Now that’s a pretty serious term to throw about, that could live with the lad for the rest of his life. It didn’t sound like an assault from what I read but if a future employer, partner or whoever Googles his name, it will show up that he once assaulted a referee.'" https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/watch-th ... 56334/amp/

Quote ="NickyKiss"They need to stop being so precious the officials. As if there will be zero accidental contact when you’re playing a contact sport, at that pace and incidents like O’Neill’s or Martin’s look accidental to me. I’ve never seen the Foster incident and it sounds like a ban was warranted in that case but it was described as an assault. Now that’s a pretty serious term to throw about, that could live with the lad for the rest of his life. It didn’t sound like an assault from what I read but if a future employer, partner or whoever Googles his name, it will show up that he once assaulted a referee.'" https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/watch-th ... 56334/amp/

That's an absolute joke.

Is it any wonder why people like myself have no respect for refs? How can the above gets classed as assault? Another case of them protecting their own and milking anything they can.

Wow!

It’s a ban, he shouldn’t have done it but assault? Absolutely disgraceful wording and 8 games is farcical as well.

Stupid of him, but 8 games is a joke.

Definately a card and a few matches, but that being labelled as physical assault is insane!

Not to mention the ref came and stood directly infront of the player blocking his running line in the defensive setup, he walked straight past a gap between players to plant himself in the way! If the ref had be 1m or 2 to the right this would have not happened, you still can't go around pushing official's like that but there is a fair argument for the ref's poor positioning being the instigator.