I've played against a few of the younger players before I switched to Union and they are all decent lads to be fair. Most of the squad are. I don't have any issues with most of them off the field.

Saints need to get back to doing what we did at the start of the season. Defensively we started the season pretty well, but our line speed in particular was as good as it's been for a long time in my opinion. We looked in good shape and our contact was much better than it is now. Far too many players have been bouncing off tackles lately and it needs looking at ultimately.

It's those little things that have been, and will cost us. Our kick chase was shocking at times yesterday. People have been asking questions about Luke Walsh's kicking yesterday, but I don't blame him. Wilkin isn't a 6. When I played at 6, if I'd have done some of the things he did yesterday I'd have expected more than a few words. Nowhere near decisive enough but again, he's a back rower.

We have talent in this team, but until we look at and focus on the basics we'll get nowhere in big games.

Simple really, they are old school clever players and a dying breed.

Against Wigan, as I previously posted, we should have kicked and pinned them back. Nothing worse if your a big heavy lump having to keep driving it out your 20m, that's something our pack obviously don't like. It also takes Wigan fire out of them.

Simple but effective.

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I'd like to know the answer to the top line as well. Might have played against him depending on who he's played for.

Leeds do the basics well first and foremost IMO, especially defensively. Our line speed has been poor though which doesn't help. Earlier on in the season we looked much more aggressive and our line speed was a big difference for us early on. We were suffocating teams IMO. The likes of Amor and Walsmley we're finding quick play the ball the balls and Walsh and Hohaia were kicking early, on the front foot. Not happening at the minute and our long kicking game has suffered. Certainly a factor.

We'll improve though. This is a squad who as we all know, haven't won anything together. That's possibly the difference between us and a few other teams, but it will come. We're competing against teams who have a core set of players who know what it takes to win trophies and know what it takes to pull through and dominate those big moments in big games. That's why changing the squad is never the answer, as people have suggested. The foundations are there though in terms of the squad. Plenty of young talent at Saints who have the ability to grow and improve. How far they go is up to them.

Talking of a kicking game, saw Tommy Martyn the other day. Not many better kickers of a ball than him.

Yes you can. Kick on the 2nd or 3rd tackle whilst the wingers are still up and kick towards touch (but keeping in the field of play), it's a pretty simple tactic when your pack is beat and we should have used it. Force their big men to turn around and run 70m back then have a set of drives and they'll soon tire out.

We did it constantly early on this season down the right but they appeared to have sussed Walsh out in that area though. Haven't seen the game back but at the game, I thought he was taking the ball much more centrally on the last than he was early on this season because of their left edge. Could be way of the mark though because I haven't watched the game back. Doesn't help when you have a Wilkin at 6 either I suppose.

Anyone know if Walsh's 40/20 was on the last?