I was just thinking that myself.

Leeds were pants for most of the season in 2011 and they came away with a trophy.

From the commentary it sounded like our goal line defence improved significantly on last week but this week we dropped too much ball (unlike last week when I don't think we dropped one, bar Jamie's fluff up). Lomax kicking out on the full obviously didn't help and nor did Gaskell's poor kick which seemed to turn the match. However, both scored a try in the first half.

I think we are showing signs of panic again, which is what we did last season as well. And we had to cope without James Roby on the field and without Jamie Foster kicking from the touchline when we needed a kick from the touchline.

Everyone I speak to thinks this swapping and changing is not helping the team at all, even wish fm commented on it today.

Why is he trying combinations out?

He is reputed to be very good there.

I don't think we did miss Roby in all honesty (blasphemy, I know). The problems came in breaking Huddersfield down on their line. When the ball reached Wellens/Shenton/Meli any move we put on got smothered by Huddersfield.

We are showing signs of panic but that comes from lack of leadership and experince on the pitch.

The goal line defence does sound like it had improved as did the defence overall compared to recent weeks.

Surely trying combinations is out is what pre-season is for? We've royally cocked up the beginning to this season. Lets see if they can turn it around.

Exactly! He didn't want any practice games as he thought we needed rests, that's fair enough but to do our practice games during the season is utter crazy!

Trying combinations are what pre season games are for, I'm not saying pick everyone in the pre season games but he could have had 3/4 games to work on combinations before the season started.

An excellent game for entertainment with both teams sub par really.

Bentham was terrible in equal measures
Danny Brough was the difference and in all honesty he and Grix made the saints halves look average.

Cracking entertainment though, those that didn't see it will both admire and despair at George's third try though - if your saints fans.

So he should. Lomax and Gaskell have yet to play a full season in their respective positions. But even so, only a drop goal was between us.

Is there really a relevant comparison?

Leeds had a team of proven winners. Before last season they'd won 3 out of the last 4 grand finals. The team was littered (still is) with players who know what it takes come playoff time.

Can you say the same about this saints team?

The last grand final they won was in 2006, over 5 years ago. The team has changed alot in that time. Only wellens and roby stand out as key players who were there then and are still there now. Unless you want to throw in the likes of ade gardner?

It's all well and good saying ''hey look at leeds 2011! You too can be crap all year and still win the title'' But when you look into things it didn't really play out like that.

But isn't Lomax the second coming? Eddie and Stevo say so



And the Giants dropped the ball far too often in their own 40 to be dominant and put more points on. Like I said, two below par teams.

Lomax is a great player but he is inexperienced, like his halfback partner. Second coming? No! lol


So did Saints by the sound of it and yes, I would agree, two below par teams. Still, that can make a match competitive anyway!

Sorry, not read the whole thread but I did go to the game.

The Huddersfield halves were not all that. Brough had the nouse to go for the 1 point that was it.

It was a good game for defense on both sides. There was a 1 point difference and for me the big difference was not the halves, not the drop goal it was the discipline.

Huddersfield, for all the talk of the forwards being big made little headway. The were stuck in their own half for long periods, only to be lifted out of their half by needless penalties. Sia gave away 3 in the opening 15 that where not needed and not as a result of pressure. There was a time were gaskell kicked and tackled and from where I was I could have given the penalty for the late slide in by Wilkin I think it was. Just players not using their brains and gave easy yards which then resulted in the pressure, huddersfield could not gain themselves.

They had to push wide each time as the middle of the park was a dead end for them.

I thought the Saints lads gave a good account in defense and the attack was not all that bad, but came up against some equally good defense. I know it's only game 5 and maybe too early to be making big calls, but I think meli does not offer enough with or without the ball in defense or attack. Quite a few times posession came to a halt on that side. Wheeler would have held the ball rather than pass to ground, or over run a pass, first time ever I've seen a centre over run a pass.

CLough, not sure he is going to make it, he runs hard and tries alot, but he does that spin 2 yards before a tackle. It slows him down and makes for an easy forward tackle. It would offer something if there was 2nd phase play, but there is no offload. I know he's a Saints lad and it's heresy to say it, but was the least effective prop despite his no doubt effort.

They were the 2 players that stood out to me where improvements could be made. Lance was great 8/10 for me. Royce needs to do that more often and in a planned fashion not just a roby injury.

The penalty count was 9-2, so Saints discipline was clearly below par again.

I'm not too downhearted at losing 17-16 at Huddersfield. It's a really tough place to go and Warrington struggled to victory a few weeks ago. Huddersfield have also beaten Wigan, so they're a quality side especially early in the season when they seem to fly out of the traps.

Some of the over-reactions on here are ridiculous. We'll improve as the season goes on.

Gaskell and Lomax are vastly over rated as witnessed by their performances today.

And of course Longy et al all had blinders every week, didn't they?

No matter also that there is also the opposition team who, strangely enough, do have a bearing on the result sometimes you know! Any coach worth his salt will instruct his team to target our halfbacks because both of them can cause problems to the opposition.

Any penalties for holding on in the tackle today can be blamed on the coaching as last week Simmons stated the players were rolling off the tackle too quickly.

Actually, no. It can be blamed on the refereeing system in this country which is completely inconsistent.

And Royce was right. Last week they rolled off too quickly, gave the Dragons easy yards as a result. So 'blame' is the wrong word on two counts.

I'll disagree slighty here, your halves tend to stick with the ball, i said all game today we're ok Lomax has it, he aint passsing, most the time i was right, you get the roll on and then neither passes, been evident most the season so far, talented yes, savvy then no.

You are rather behind the times bewareshadows. The giants do not have a large pack. There was eorl.
Then there was an 18yr old who has played three games. And two second row playing prop, chan and a 21 yr old centre/winger playing second row and Kevin brown at loose! Lee Gilmour was playing prop forward or didn't you notice!

That's correct and why I don't think lomax is a halfback. He runs the ball to often and brings it back on the inside when it should be moving wide.

It's happened a lot this year but that don't mean he's playing bad but we do need someone in there who can dictate play and at the moment idea not doing that and we look lost.

Saintsfan commented on his kicking game because he's done two little chips thru but I'm more concerned about our long kicking game and lomax long kicking stinks.

He's not a natural halve and that's showing.

And yet, in games this season, they have both made beautiful passes, try assists, the lot.

The whole team just hasn't clicked yet. The same was the case this time last year.

It's HALF.

If you're going to say daft things, at least learn how to spell first.

I maybe behind the times but you obviously can't read. I said for all the talk.

If you bother to look at the pre-match thread on the huddersfield game, you will see how all the talk is about the huddersfield pack going to dominate our pack and smash our team by 20/30 points. ( my response was to that pre-match talk).

I am right though we gave away far too many penalties and that is what gave Huddersfield the territory they lacked from the pack.

As for it being the coaches fault for holding down, yes there was holding down, but also late flops, head high shots etc. I actually enjoyed the game, I thought it was defensively strong from both teams and both teams struggled to break down strong defence.

It was a one point ball game, we fell on the wrong side of it away from home. But my god the defence was 100% better than last week, if we can keep that D up then the results will come. If it was a one off then we will be back to square one.

Also anyone going to batter Ade for the dropped ball or Makinson for letting 3 in down his side, or is that reserved for foster. I don't think we should crucify them but neither do I think that foster is the spawn of satan.

ps with foster kicking we may have won, all if's and but's.

Hohia stood out for Saints. But Roby is always a threat. I think both should be on the field at the same time.