54 - 0 = pure profit

We have beaten the Bulls at home 6 out of the last 7 times and a number of those have been tonkings. Our attack looks just as it has looked all season bar the Leeds game at home. So your point is?

My point?

Well it's pretty clear really, we have improved since the worst coach we've ever had was sacked.

That's a fact!

It's a fair call that we played on the Sunday, I'd forgotten that so only a days difference. But in reality I think we have been looking pretty solid in defence so could not see Bradford holding us for a full match with their open gate style of defence.

Josh Jones and Makinson have unreal potential. So excited by these two.

I think it is to be happy

Is that the same as no real potential? - Un - real

Makinson has been impressing me for a while now but Josh Jones is looking good too. Although the defence was really poor from Bradford, he worked hard and creatively for his third try, making some points out of an error. He's looking pretty good.

Wasn't it wonderful to have a fullback who played with pace and on both sides of the pitch? I love Wello but I am so hoping that Makinson will take over the fullback spot sooner rather than later.

Bradford were terrible, but fair play to your lads, scored some good tries and didnt give our poor attack a chance of a sneaky try.

Makinson looks impressive aswell.

Very poor display from the Bulls but I thought Saints also looked a good side and played some decent Rugby.

Was really looking forward to visiting your new ground left feeling a little underwhelmed to be honest. It's certainly the first time I've stood near the back of a covered stand and still got rained on. Whoever designed that stadium needs sacking! If it could be properly finish then you'll have a stadium to rival the Halliwell Jones etc.

Yup. The West Stand (opposite you guys) was soaked to the back. We could see that the East Stand was the same. That was the worst it has been, although there have been one or two occasions when we have had to negotiate puddles in the concourses. It's been a let down in that respect for us Saints fans too.

Bradford were terrible tonight..no attack.. no defence.. I think the injury list and the stress of the last few months finally caught up with us. Well done to Saints, some nice tries.

Agree regarding the East stand.. spent most of the evening in puddles lol

Don't worry, Shenton's salary is going on perforated cladding.

Yes, come to think of it where is the promised cladding for the end corners?

I presume the club thought we had got over the worst of the weather and would put off the painful cost of (partial) cladding until after the end of this season? With crowds up on what are admittedly speculative projections, why not get started - are the plans for this at least past planning approval?

Feedback from visiting fans seem negative generally due to the openess of the corners and rear of three of the stands -given the exiles games next week, are we in danger of underselling our attractiveness as a venue because we can't get better enclosed?
I've a north stand seat along with puddles in the windy concourse and not chuffed that it all seems to have been shoved under the carpet.
Does anyone have an update?

Sorry to derail thread, but staying reasonably dry and going to a concourse which is reasonably dry is pretty basic.

It wasnt so much when we were standing, I would definately come back. But I think it isnt great queuing for toilets/food in puddles, You have such a lovely stadium & it's a shame the sides havent been sorted because it would be so simple to fix. Dont think i saw a single patch of dry ground tonight.

PS.. certainly not moaning.. I mean look at Odsal in the rain

.. Just general feedback.

Never been to Bradford and stayed dry tbh. Lets be fair, our weather at the mo stinks. If it was cracking the flags, as it should be at this time of year then there wouldn't be an issue.

Bradford are still poop. Feel sorry for their fans.

Makinson is getting some over the top praise I see again. He had a decent game overall but hardly excelled against very weak opposition and for a player with the kind of pace he occasionally shows as having he just doesn't threaten opposition defences even nearly frequently enough yet for me. How some have him in the top 3 for MoM is a little puzzling... Jones looked far more dangerous on every level and overall did a lot more with the possession he had. He looks to have good potential but I find the blind praise he gets for every little good thing he does and convenient ignorance of any shortcomings a little bemusing to say the least compared to the treatment certain other players get on here...

And noone's allowed to use the fact that he lines up on the ignored right wing as an excuse as Shenton isn't allowed that leeway in Saints' fans' minds so I don't see why Makinson should be either.

And Hohaia was a disappointment again... He spent most of the game either just passing the ball straight on to the next man down the line or putting in little kicks straight at the opposition fullback or winger. I know he's never a #6, but surely someone of his pedigree and quality should be capable of more than this?

Makinson probably is getting over hyped but that's what most fans do on here like they did in the past with the likes of hardman, foster, tyrer, Dixon, ashurst, etc .

It makes me laugh when people lost next years team with nearky the whole u20s team and come out with rubbish that out going players don't Need replacing from outside the club because we've gout our kids.

IMO in recent years only Kyle Eastmond really excited in terms of pure potential but lacked heart and attitude.

Lomax and makinson are very good prospects and especially lomax who out shines the the expensive world cup winning halfback we have.

Don't get me wrong, we've brought thru some great young players over the last 20 years but I do think as soon as one kid has good game he's tipped for the big time.

You amuse me sometimes. You won't give Makinson praise (he single handedly turned our GF around and was our best player against Wigan, to answer your criticism about looking good against weak opposition, for example) and yet you want Josh Jones' babies and he's only played a few games. Jones is good but it is very early days for him. Makinson is further down the track in terms of experience and like all players he has aspects of his game to work on. But that doesn't detract from the fact that he works extremely hard in defence, he always raises his game in pressure/big matches (unlike most of our team), on the rare occasions the ball goes his way he scores (sometimes quite brilliantly), he assists, he plays the ball at speed and uses all the pitch (when at fullback), he's pretty darn safe under the high ball (and is extremely brave when taking the ball) and he's a decent kicker to boot. There are plenty of reasons there to allow for his areas for development given that every player has them.

As for Shenton, when making claims about Saints fans, do remember to qualify your statement with 'some'. I have never bagged Shenny and have consistently stated that being deprived of the ball (in part due to Wello working only down one side of the pitch, in part due to Hohaia only being able to pass to his left) has affected his game and scoring opportunities. The same applies to Makinson.

What i like about makinson, he does the basics very well. His defence, catching the kicks and his handling is good.

I do like tommy, I like his never give in attitde and you can see winning means a lot to him.

I think he could be very good fullback but I'm still unsure on his positional play in attack(wello very good at this) and if he can break the line on kick returns but he's still young kid and that IMO will come with experince.

We've improved so much it's scarey to think how bad we were under Simmons this year

Ditto

Jonesy is the more dangerous player when defences are tight, he looks stronger and has better footwork. Makinson has a great attitude, if he is to be our full back he needs coaching of when to time his run into the attacking line, something that Wellens was very good at last night.
We still played last night without a No 6 and can,t see this being resoved this season, so come the play offs we will be Lacking against tighter defences.

Makinson is indeed developing into a good little nuts and bolts player. But I've never seen anyone possess the kind of pace he does and yet threaten so little whenever he has the ball - he should be capable of so much more danger than he has shown on a consistent basis so far. I wonder if it isn't a mental issue - his break last night from Lomax' pass was very telling for me: if that had been a Sullivan or Quirk or Albert they'dve just seen the try line, pinned their ears back and looked to burn down the line and stitch the FB up. Instead Tommy's first thought was to hold back and to desperately try and find a pass back inside instead. He has the physical tools but I start to wonder if he has the mentality.

And that's my only worry with tommy, he don't seem to be able to break the line for someone who's a little live wire.

I don't think he's got great pace butches not slow.