I think it was obvious from last season, especially the latter half that Saints are no longer the force they were under Anderson, Basil, Hanley and McCrae. That's sport though isn't it, no empire can last forever. Before Leeds won the Challenge Cup in '99 and then five years later the GF what exactly had they done for the past twenty years or so? We all know that the glory days of Wigan came to an abrupt end with the start of the Super league era. It's just a natural shift in power, even if my own side Hudds were to win the GF you can be sure than 5-10 years down the line they would be gash again.

Leeds winning 3 consecutive GF is not good for the game, the same thing happens in the Premier league and it is a vastly overrated competition in my eyes...although being a West Ham fan I may have a biased opinion on that one!

I think the likes of Hudds, Wigan, Warrington and the Hull sides are leading the charge now and that can only be good for the sport.

So, chin up you'll be back in a couple of decades!

The point is, most Saints fans including myself believe the players are underperforming in a very big way due to our poor coach.
Thats what everyone is so frustrated about.
We still have some top class players, but it seems potter is scared to drop anyone or change anything. He doesnt come exactly come accross as an inspiring character either.

I don't disagree that our game should have different teams winning rather than the same ones over and over (although it's nice when it happens to your team).

The issue for some of us older Saints fans is that we remember the late 70's 80's and early 90's when we knew we could go to a game expecting to be let down and not disappointed by the end of the game. Some of younger brethren won't know that feeling and will probably disappear until the regular winning days come back

And yet, some of our older fans who remember the 70s, 80s and 90s Saints teams, when winning something was like a dream, are the very same fans who are upset at what has happened to Saints over the last 9 months. The point is not the loss; it's the style of play and that style of play began to display itself mid season last season, and many of us believe is the result of Potter's influence on the team.

I would disagree, I never though Potter would be the right man for Saints. Justin Morgan was the one you should have gone for, but there it is. Saints for me are like Arsenal, when they get it right there is no better side to watch but having Potter is probably like replacing Wenger with Allardyce.

I wish we had done. I was hoping for him at the time. Whether we did and he turned us down or whether we didn't no-one knows but it's a shame we didn't get him. Good for HKR though.

i imagine we did, but didnt want to pay that much

Dear Mr anwar1983huddersfield,

hudds and hull leading a charge may be good for the sport. As for wigan and warrington....

Some of these gloating posts after round one of the competition will be remembered when the season draws to it's end. Saints still have the best individual talents & players in the league by some distance and if they could be bothered to be cohesive and return to the flair rugby they can quite easily dispose of any side in this league.

With the exception of Graham and Gidley ( both real class ) which other players have you got that are the best individual talents in the league by some distance

well we have the England No 7 for a start!

Gidley- Best centre in the league.
Pryce- Has everything in the locker required to be the most devastating player in the comp yet has been invisible for a long time the coach?
Eastmond- Already England no.7 and most promising English youngster for a very very long time could go down as a great of the game.
Graham- Best prop in the league.
Puletua- Could and should be the most devastating forward in super league yet only turns up a few times a season goes missing in the big games.
Wilkin- Has the quality to be a creative attacking option yet Potter negates all his attacking attributes. Took Leeds to the cleaners last year when given attacking freedom.
Roby- Man of steel 2007. Been missing since then in terms of effectiveness from number 9 quick scoots etc putting the opposition on the back foot. The slow play the balls have killed him.
Wheeler- Future international & Saints number 6 in the making, looks like he has everything yet is wasted on the wing.
Lomax- This kid will make it big won't be long before he claims the number 1 shirt and sets super league alight may do this from the wing while Gardner is injured.

Saints have played 80 mins of the new season and people have said we are no longer a force................its a load of bollox. our best 17 is more than capable of winning the GF.
Like it was said before....we will come back to this post and all those cynics will be eating thier words.

Quote ="St_Maca"Roby- Man of steel 2007. Been missing since then, slow play the balls have killed him.'" I think that's very unfair. He hasn't even been missing for 7 days, let alone since 2007. He and Graham were our best players last week IMO. Compare him to Matt Diskin in 2009 for example: www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010

Quote ="St_Maca"Roby- Man of steel 2007. Been missing since then, slow play the balls have killed him.'" I think that's very unfair. He hasn't even been missing for 7 days, let alone since 2007. He and Graham were our best players last week IMO. Compare him to Matt Diskin in 2009 for example: www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010

Quote ="FearTheVee"I think that's very unfair. He hasn't even been missing for 7 days, let alone since 2007. He and Graham were our best players last week IMO. Compare him to Matt Diskin in 2009 for example: www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010'" Robys effort playing in a variety of positions has been magnificent. I meant missing in terms of his effectiveness from number 9 and tbh i don't blame this on Robes himself one bit.

Quote ="FearTheVee"I think that's very unfair. He hasn't even been missing for 7 days, let alone since 2007. He and Graham were our best players last week IMO. Compare him to Matt Diskin in 2009 for example: www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010'" Robys effort playing in a variety of positions has been magnificent. I meant missing in terms of his effectiveness from number 9 and tbh i don't blame this on Robes himself one bit.

Whilst accepting your Saints bias . you openly admit that some of the above have underacheived and many are a work in progress , will you still stand by your previous claim that you have the best individual talent in the league by some distance ?

Exceptional talent no doubt , but thats a bit like Leeds fans claiming Sinfield as the best Hooker in the league is it not ?

Sinfield probably would be the best British hooker in the league if he played there.

I grew up with the 70s and 80s teams, and in a lot of ways think that they were far more healthy for the club and speccies, not only of Saints, but also for other clubs and the league in general. I remember the chat being how this was going to be "our year for Wembley". There were all sorts of theories about how we got there every 4 or 5 or 6 years, and when we did get there it was fantastic. The whole town was buzzing. Getting to Wembley now, or the GF, is expected, there is very little magic about it, and leads to this reaction after one poor performance.

The salary cap is bringing back the days when different teams could expect to win trophies, and although Leeds are still in the hot seat, I don't think its a bad thing that Saints or Wigan or Leeds or Bradford can't dominate. If the natural order means that Hull or Hudds win things, then I am all for it. However, if it means that Wigan wins, then that just isn't natural!!

I dont quite follow, our no 7 Kyle played no.7 for England in the world cup. Sinfield is Leeds 13, or had you forgot???

I think hew was getting at the point of Sinfield has played 9 for England and Horne has played on the wing also but it doesnt mean its their natural position

I too stuggle with him there. You need an organiser and he isnt 1 and although Pryce should step up he didnt on Friday.

He is/was an excellent centre though Eastmond.

First of all I am by no means gloating, I come from a long line of Saints fans and they were the first team I ever saw and even supported, but being a London lad with family in a Town I would visit once every 7-8 years or so didn't do much for my continued support! Anyway, I don't want to see Saints do badly...I just accept it as part of sport and life in general. Every dog has it's day, of course you'll be there or there abouts at seasons end...but you aren't the side of four or five years ago.

Got to disagree with Gidley as best centre in the league, my Dad feels the same and reckons he's better than Newlove...no chance in my eyes! Newlove was the best centre in the history of Super league, followed by Senior and Lyon.

Pryce is maybe not the right type of SO to support Eastmond, I'll probably be proved wrong but there it is. I actually feel Kevin Brown would be a good fit for Eastmond.....doubt many if any on here will agree though.

Still, keep the faith but be prepared for a season or two without a trophy. Leeds (unfortunately) are still the team to beat, fancy Wigan more than Warrington myself.

Newlove wasnt as good as Lyon, Senior or Connolly, Lyon was by far the best SL has seen at centre.

Maybe. Strong competition from Yeaman.



For everything in the locker, read "Can high tackle at will and devastate player's faces".



Provided Potter doesn't decide to keep him on the pitch when injured.



Hmm. He could be, but needs to work on his discipline.



I'm a bigger fan of Puletua than Graham.



Shame he's crap, really.



UNDESERVEDLY MOS in 2007. Seriously, there were more deserving players at Saints, Wellens for one.



Promising talent, need to see more of him.



See Wheeler.

Glad no-one mentioned Cunningham as being a "world-beater".




Lyon was brilliant, but think he may have struggled had he played opposite Renouf.

Dont think he would really. When Renouf came he was past his best (still good) but Lyon was awesome and in his prime.