Our new coach was there today with his BBC duties. I'm sure he'd say he's focusing solely on Huddersfield Giants, but he must also have had a sly thought about the job he's walking into. I wouldn't be surprised if Eamon got a call on Monday to say he's decided to go back to Australia to farm kangaroos.

Brown has built an impressive squad at the Giants. They've got some of the most exciting young players in the country and in Greg Eden, Leroy Cudjoe and Larne Patrick have three outstanding prospects. His pack there is big, disciplined and he has natural half backs with a kicking game.

We all know he didn't really want another job in this country and the lack of opportunities in the NRL meant he had to stay, but must be regretting the series of events that lead to him accepting a job offer from us right now? Instead of Greg Eden, a potential Billy Slater, he's going to inherit a geriatric Paul Wellens. Instead of Cudjoe, Lawrence and co he's getting Gardner and Foster. Instead of Danny Brough he's getting Lance Hohaia. Instead of Earl Crabtree he's getting Josh Perry. At least he'll have a better hooker.

Taking over Saints right now is one hell of a task. It's not a squad that you can make compete for trophies with one or two signings, it could take years.

He's got 3 Years. I should think that will be enough.

Brown knows he's a good coach and will back his ability. He will have no regrets at all. He's taking over a big club, good players, great youth, great stadium and top class training facility.

He will get us organised and sorted again and I think he's a top quality coach we need and I'd put money on with 2/3 good signings we will be back on top.

we were comfortable today. it was their cup final against us, they upped their game. they did well but not well enough.i dont see a problem with todays result/performance. why bust a gut when you dont need to!!!

There is more talent in the Saints squad than at Huddersfield.

People need to remember that many of those players now regarded as stars at Huddersfields were cast offs from other top teams.

Danny Brough the classic journeyman halfback, played for most of the yorkshire sides and was known more for his offfield antics than those on the field.
Luke Robinson wigan reject who went to Castleford then Salford before becoming a top class player at Huddersfield
Shaun Lunt Saints academy reject.
Kevin Brown, wigan reject
Keith Mason another journeyman pro, originally at Wakefield then at Saints were he looked average. Then signed for Cas before being picked up by Huddersfield and turned into one of the countries top enforcer props.
Luke George.His dad scored at Wembley. Played a few seasons at Wakey and picked up as a 24 year old
Greg Eden bit part player at Castleford making just 11 appearances, now lauded as a potential international fullback
Jermaine Mcgilvary, superstar player for RL giants Batley and Barrow before breaking into the Hudds first team.
Scott Grix, another journeyman, played for Doncaster, Halifax, Leigh, Widnes and Wakefield before joining Huddersfield.

If Nathan Brown can turn all those misfits into a top class team, he should be able to do a lot more with the genuine talent we have at Saints.

We aren't as bad as Hudds were when NB took over! We'll be reet.

We thought we were and that was the problem.

However, with a scoreline like the one we ended up we clearly weren't comfortable and clearly we haven't learned the lessons from the Dragons game. All that saved us today was the lack of try conversions by Widnes.

Why would he have regrets about coming to a quality team with a better youth set up than Huddersfield when he joined there and already challenging for the big time? He is taking over a team at the same level as the one he has produced at Huddersfield so it should be easier for him to take us further! with his eye for talent and obvious talents as a coach not to mention his ability to attract quality NRL players (Luke O'Donnell, Todd Carney) i'll be surprised if we're not champions again within 3 years.

Brown is a proper rugby coach and knows how to get his team organised. I could listen to him talk rugby all day which is a improvement on our last two who could send a insomniac to sleep.

He's just what we need and can't wait for him to bring the good times back.

This!

Agree 100%

spot on

I thought Brown looked a little worse for wear today. Certainly looks to have lost even more hair since being announced as Saints boss.

Good point St Pete.

I just hope he curbs some of his bad habits when he joins Saints, I'm sick of the SKY camera's panning to him only to show him spitting on the terraces.

Brown had lost hair before the start of the season, not since he agreed to take over at saints. (have you seen wane going thin)

Do I sense a little fear?

The is no doubting brown is a top class super league coach and I'd put money on Wigan going for him if he'd been available.

Brown IMO is a McGuire style coach.

They're both certainly from the same school of thought. Wrestle, wrestle,wrestle!!!! I presume we'll see a change of heart and opinion from many of the posters on here who despised Madge's style, once Saints begin playing it under Brown.

He may be a top class super league boss but plays a style of rugby that's almost identical to that of Maguire's first year. Slow down the play the ball, three in the tackle and the like, given the complains from Saint's fans about the style of rugby Wigan played. What are your thoughts on picking up that style next year?

And I'm certain IF we do start with wrestling tactics there'll be a change of heart from Goon fans too ....

I for one have always thought McGuire was a very very good coach and Wigan still seeing the benefits of his time as Wigan coach now.

Both MM and Brown are smart coaches that are willing to do what it takes to win. I'm not a big fan of the holding down as it makes for a worse game of rugby league but I blame the ref for not blowing up.

If a team can get away with it, then good luck to them.

Don't like it but it's in the rules and all the other successful teams do it so why not. Let's be clear, nobody wants to see slow, lazy wrestling techniques around the ruck being rewarded. We all want to see a quick, exciting game, or at least I'd hope we do. But the current rules allow, encourage and reward laziness around the ruck so we're only cutting our nose off to spite our face by not following suit.

Our stubborn refusal to play that way - or at least our inconsistent execution of it - is one of the major reasons why teams get such a ridiculous roll on over us like Catalans at LP and Widnes tonight.

Bring on the defensive drudgery. As long as its partnered with offensive flair, of course!

Like I've just said, I'm not a big fan for spoiling the game with consistent holding down at the play the ball but it's the refs I blame not the team.

Ive always been a fan of mm in the way his team are organised and well drilled.

That's the bit I'm not looking forward to.

Oh, and the bit about bottling it in the playoffs (we at least get to bottle it in the Grand Final) and the bit about going back to Australia at some point every season.

You keep trying to compare browns record with that of saints which is impossible. Hudds and saints are totally different teams, different players, different strengths, different styles etc

He's done a terrific job at the giants and I've yet to hear a giants player or fan have a bad word about him.

My only concern is the whole saga of is he going or is he staying every year. Let's hope McManus has told him its just not happening.

If all teams were defensively sound around the ruck we'd see the ball spread much more IMO. The fact that against most teams the likes of Roby jumping out of dummyhalf is enough to break them down, doesn't exactly encourage Saints to spread it. However were Roby too find it unfruitful running from dummyhalf Saints would have to change tack and for the better IMO.

He's got a team that was constantly below the middle of the table to a genuine top 4 team. Imagine what he can do with a team that constantly gets into GF and a strong cup run? With the resources availiable at Saints for him we could return to the top again

Forget what has gone before. In the seasons we got to the Grand Finals we had players like James Graham, Leon Pryce, Keiron Cunningham, Sean Long, Jamie Lyon etc. We don't have those anymore. We are not in a false position in the league.