There are 3 factors effecting our play so far this season.

1) We are in a transition phase this season, by blooding our young players, Mick Potter was signed up to do this task, so far in the last 4 games we have played a lot of youth. Last night there were 5 young players on the field, if 2 out of the 5 develop into superleague standard then we are in a better position for the future. Eastmond, Wheeler, Armstrong, Nixon, Foster and Emmitt look as though they have the potential. While most other clubs are going for the short term overseas fix.

2) Lack of a left centre, this is a gamble the chairman has taken, at the moment its a risk because the abscence of Meli means we look weak on that side. But come 2010 Jamie Lyon will definitely be back.

3) Reffing the game, we have seemed to adopted the Aussie wrestling game at the tackle play the ball. This has the biggest effect on Saints this season who rely on 3 to 4 second play the balls to create open fast rugby.
But once we get the faster hard grounds I can see Saints being more predominant and the scrappy wins will replaced by bigger win margins.

But:

Edged past an awful Warrington side.
Played well at Hudds but the scoreline flattered you.
Beaten by KR.
Beat Celtic by 4
Thrashed a woeful Salford team.

Next week's a very big game.
If we go 4 points clear, it'll be tough for you to claw it back like last year looking at the lack of depth in your squad. But a win for you, and it'll be all in the balance.

You've seen a lot of our games for a leeds fan?

consider then on the other hand

edged past Celtic playing their first ever SL game with NO warm ups
Played well aagainst Wakefields acadamy
Lucky at HKR with interesting video ref decisions
SLAUGHTERED by Manley
Edged past an awful Warrington side
Thrashed a woeful Wigan team

Hang on you said all this same time last year, we give you a 6 point start last year. Ade Gardner quoted in the press you will be caught, which happened. So going behind by 4 points is even less of a challenge at the moment.

If (big if) we beat leeds on friday we are 2 points behind with a game in hand, hardly time to panic

Which table you looking at mate?

Lets be quite honest here. There were a number of youth players in the side last night that wouldnt get in the normal 17 if everybody was fit and healthy. Wheeler, Dixon, Ashurst and Emmit are players for the future and playing in the games against the likes of Salford will only aid there development. Some people on this board expect wonder performances everyweek and for this year at least this isnt going to happen due to the sheer lack of strength in depth. Personally I would get used to this as its going to become a regular thing until these young players get to the standard that we have played over the last few years. Some people on this board really do need to get real and dont expect world class performances and world class tries everyweek.

As expected right now really. Leeds top slightly ahead of Saints. I expect these 2 to pull away further as the season goes on.

I personal opinion is it will only be leeds pulling away. Leeds had a few injuries yesterday and put on a very good performance against Wigan and with no reconised hooker.

BORING. Salford are a non entity, the RFL should be ashamed they allowed them back in the big time. Its time to wind the club up and bring back BARLA and stick em in the BARLA league. Total nothing club, I hate games against them as they make you think about your life, about TAKING your own life that is.

Flick off salford and dissapear into a black hole, somewhere near calcutta.
BORED pointless game.

Wigan are completely shocking though. I dont read too much into performances this early, its just about results.

Salford were poor last night but to start thinking off taking ur own life is abit drastic!

Saints best form will come in the summer months. We're not playing particularly well, our ball control in particular is pretty poor at the moment, but our defence is extremely solid. We would've nilled Salford last night if we hadn't took our foot off the gas slightly in the last 10.

But, we've won 4 out of 5 and have Leeds at home next week. That gives us a chance of leveling ourselves at the top with Leeds. We could be in a far worse position.

They can only beat whats infront of them!

To be honest I cant see us beating Leeds next week. Only Gilmour and Puletua will strengthen us next week as Fa'asavalu hasnt been in any sort of form for over 12 months. Leeds will be back at full strength next week and will probably beat us by more than 10

I fancy us next week.

Not over enamoured with Leeds, hammering Wigan should be expected with how garbage they are. We have more pace in the centre than usual with Gilmour in there, our pack is good enough. If we defend well, we have a great chance.

Salford played well last night despite their limitations.

We went through the motions and managed to set the links established between 7,6 and the centres for the first time last night.

It was disappointing to conceed when the hard work had been done, but we had Emmitt, Dixon, Ashurst on which was a pack at academy level not so long ago.

We can't have been as bad as Bradford.

imo gd start to the season considering we lost so many key players from last year, i wouldnt of expected any better than we have now like st ty said from previous results it all makes sense we have had a pretty gd start compared to 2007/08

I'm not that optimistic about how we will get on against Leeds next week. From what i have seen of them, they look good, they look organised, their pack is aggressive as usual and they look good in both attack and defence.

We are lacking in attack, we just don't seem to have clicked at all this season.

I do however disagree with the person who said that the scoreline at Hudds flattered us, i think it flattered Huddersfield. If you had actually gone to the game then you would have realised that fact.

Leeds' youngsters do seem very good, and they have got international players all over the pitch.

You have to bring youngsters through sometime, and it seems that the time for our youngsters to start playing is now. However, i do think that we could have done more in the ways of recruitment. There is a difference between bringing 1-3 youngsters in at once, rather than 4+. Wheeler, Dixon, Ashurst, Emmitt, Armstrong, etc...

If you look at other teams they are generally bringing through youngsters gradually. It will remain to be seen in 2-3 seasons whether we will have a 'head start' so to speak when foreign imports are limited further.

If we perform as badly as in these first few games,Leeds will wipe the floor with us.

Looking forward to next week - will give an indication of how the season will pan out.

We lost narrowly at home to Leeds last year at a similar stage so all is not lost if we do lose - let's keep that in perspective.

Whatever the result next week it will have nack all bearing on the season it's far too early imo.
Looking forward to it and hopefully we'll win but it's not the end of the world for whoever loses.

Who lifts the hubcap isn't important. Let Leeds have it. I'l happily take 2nd with a GF win