Stains RIP

Talk of the 'Decline of Saints' is a tad rash/hasty...

I think another pre season with potter will help as they know more about how potter wants them to play.

Sia coming in will add power and size.

Wheeler, eastmond, lomax, dixon and ahshurts all bit older and wiser to super league.

KC, Moore and roby fighting it out for hooking role.

When will Rogues learn that academy success counts for very little in the first team? If I've heard of one junior Pie wunderteam I've heard of six dozen. Where are they now?

no mention of the players leaving and getting older (KC)?

But they got battered by younger, faster and better Wigan lads.
You'll still have seven 30+ year olds in your starting team.

Oh and we've won more grand finals than Wigan.

What does having 7 players that are 30+ go to do with anything?

your obviously not 30 yet !

I've just turned 30 mate




If them players are fit enough then what's the problem?

I think we should cast a special trophy just for Wigan. The Our-Average-Age-Is-Younger-Than-Your-Average-Age Award.

Bless.

the players they are up against will be just as fit but faster and stronger.


If stains finish in top 4 next season that will be a good achievement imo.

Talking utter crap.

The age of 7 of our players being over 30 means we can't win anything!

Yes ok.

Saints biggest loss is yet to come, the retirement of Cunningham. You've prolonged it another year rightly or wrongly but it's inevitably going to happen and the loss of his leadership and ability coupled with the loss of Long's organization and kicking game couldn't be more detrimental to a side.

The decline set in 6 years ago.

One Chanmpionship in 6 years is hardly the greatest return for the "dominant" force in Super League, and supposed Golden Generation.

TBH i think saints will struggle to compete at the top next year, but rise & decline is a part of any side. For instance, once we reach 2014 or so, we're going to be replacing Webb, Sinfield, Diskin, McGuire, Burrow etc. all at once. I think losing Gilmour, Long & Cayless will be a big blow, and that a lot of weight will be placed on the shoulders of Roby, Graham, Eastmond & Wilkin to pull the rest of the side, unless you make some seriously big signings.

Personally I reckon we should be in both finals next year, and i think Wire and pies will be up there, as will you. Ultimately, no side can go on forever and we'll come to that point eventually as well.

Don't be soft. Dominance is about all-round performance, not just winning one trophy. We have been the dominant team in Superleague, previously with Bradford. We are not that team any longer and I should imagine won't be for another who knows how many years. Teams ebb and flow. Wigan should know that. They flowed away in the 90s and have hardly been seen since.

You men are all living in the past

We've been heading into decline for 6 years? LMAO

How many challenge cups, league leaders have we won in last 6yrs? Not to mention grand finals!

If we've been in decline for 6yrs then it's not bad is it.

Wigan have been saying they will be out of there decline for last 14yrs but with only 2 cups to show for it we will be waiting long time yet.

Noble and Fielden came in when we were 6 points adrift at the foot of the table. They were without doubt the right personnel for the club at that time. We are in a totally different position now. Just like Stains don't go through the season thrashing teams by 40 points anymore. Get used to it.

The real question for any Saints fan is not are we in decline, because you obviously are, the more prominent question is can you recover from it and how long will it take you to?

Every year you lot say we finished and Wigan are on up.

Never going to happen.

I'm happy to announce that all you young whippersnappers are now going to have the opportunity to go through what I had to put up with between 1968 when I started watching Saints to ... well ... Super League really.

You are in denial to say it will never happen. Wigan are on the up and Saints, whilst not finished yet, are certainly in decline. It will be interesting to see how they respond to the loss of Long and Gilmour next year. Perhaps the return of Fozzard will make the difference.

Have a strong coffee and look at your ins and outs.


you will not be as strong next season, end.