oh no you called me a bitch

oh well at least I have 3 titles in a row to comfort me!!

I really can't disagree more. I'll admit, it suprised me, as I've never rated him in the past as a fullback/standoff, but he looked like a really natural centre, seemed to hit the outside of his man very well, but also had a good step back to fall back on. His hands are good, too and I never saw him bothered defensively.

I'd take him like a shot at centre over Atkins, who may well have been included if he wasn't injured, Sykes and even Smith.

Shenton looks to have a bit of Magic, but I've not seen very much of him, tbh.

looks like i was right!

Understatement of the year.



Leon has been so bad he in reality shouldn't even get into the Saints academy team let alone our starting line-up. If he was even remotely considered for England it would be a joke.

I'm sure the Aussie's would be thrilled to see Leon play. It'd be like playing against 12 men with one man wandering around at the back.

Hes not been half as bad as people are making him out to be. His defence especially, has been very good all season. OK, hes not made the breaks he is capable of, hence his form hasn't been brilliant. How do you know that Potter hasn't wanted him to just link up and try and be an organiser rather than a runner? That isn't Pryce's fault if the coach is telling him to play the game a different way. Now, i don't know if that's the case but it could very well be.

Also, are you saying we've been playing with 12 men all year as Pryce is e? Because if that's the case, why are so many of our players getting so much stick because considering how bad they all are, we've not done too badly, surprised we haven't won club of the year this season, for going the whole season with a team of and might as well have been playing with 12 men.

I agree about his defence. It has been good, much like all of our team.

I don't buy that Potter has told him to wander around the back and do nothing.



At times we may aswell have been.

Pryce has the talent in spades, but he uses it rarely. Sometimes not at all.

He often just laguishes at the back of play and doesn't get involved at all. His level of involvment is diminishing almost as quickly as his reputation as a big game player.

As far as i'm concerned Wheeler should be starting 6 next year. Pryce should be given the chance to prove himself off the bench or wherever. If he continues to be terrible then he should go.

No one is doubting that Leon Pryce has talent. The whinge so many of us have is that he doesn't use it! I've defended Pryce on these boards this season but after his vanishing act in the Grand Final, just when we needed him to be assertive and creative, I'm done with defending him. He does not deserve to be in the Saints first team lineup never mind the England squad.

And no, he was not the only no-show at the World Cup. But those who did show up have been called up IMO. Being tonked by the Aussies is not unique to last year's England squad so that in itself cannot be used as a yardstick for who is called up. But certainly Jammer and Roby gave their all last year and they deserve their call up. They were our stand out contributors. Pryce most certainly was not.


We weren't top of the table, Leeds were. We were knocked out of the Cup final in the semis and we even failed to achieve what the Chairman stated was our goal: to win the Grand Final. Granted, that was in fact Meli's fault but it would have helped if we'd have had an attack to speak of but we didn't and the responsibility for that most certainly rests with the coach. I dread to think what boredom awaits us next season with Potter at the helm. We will have to win any game we can by simply not allowing the other team to score.

I agree totally. Wheeler has shown commitment and real talent and I'd like to see how he does at what is supposed to be his 'natural' spot (even though he plays very well at centre). I think Pryce should be relegated to sub, should Wheeler be injured. That should give him the kick in the pants he clearly needs and also allow a talented and committed young player to step up and show us what he is made of. We might have two players getting us all fired up then!

You must watch with your eyes shut. He links up in nearly every play, but it is the exact same play that we put on, hence it is so easy to pick up. Hes dangerous when he takes on the line, and he hasn't been doing that, like i said, maybe because Potter has told him to link up, just like he has been for most the season.

Do you think his form has been acceptable?

Sure, maybe he links up every now and then, in that he stands, catches and passes, the same as every player could do. The same as i could do if Potter put me in the team.


I highly doubt Potter has taken what was one of our key attacking threats and told him to do nothing put pass.

Sykes was one of the worst players at the world cup, yet he still got called up, he is shocking.

I didn't say we were top of the league, i said we were up there at the top of the table, so i meant we were at the top end, which we were. Just because the Chairman stated our goal was to win the Grand Final doesn't mean we have a right to, i imagine every Chairman in Super League sets out to win the Grand Final, or get as close to it as possible, otherwise they might as well not bother.

However, i do agree that we may be in for a very boring year if Potter doesn't bring some flair into the side. One up rugby doesn't belong at Saints.

I don't think his form has been acceptable, no but thats because of the such high standards he has set himself. I'm not disagreeing that his form has been good enough. However, to say he just stands at the back and does nothing is wrong. He links up in nearly every attacking play we have, and if that's what Potter is telling him to do, then that's what hes going to do. We run the same move over and over again, who comes up with the moves and tells players were they should be? Not Pryce.

I like Chris Bridge, very under-rated, im happy to see him in there.

How likely is it that Potter is going "Well Leon you're one of our best attacking threats, one of our only pacey players, one of our only players who can score from distance and have the talent to be one of the best stand off's in the league but i want you to just stand, catch and pass".



He has been pants, by far our most disappointing player this year IMO.

Eastmond isn't ready for England except maybe off the bench. He certainly shouldn't be starting at scrum half or centre.

I didn't say that though, did i?

Maybe he wants Pryce to be more of an organiser, and create things, just like Long used to do, so that he can take over the role of Long and Eastmond can play the game Pryce likes to play. That just isn't Pryce's game, Pryce is best when he running at defenders when they are on the back foot. I also didn't say that is what Potter is telling him, i said maybe that is what he is telling him, we just don't know. If Potter is telling him to continuously just link with Long and put the same move on, then thats just what Pryce is going to do, and that is what Pryce has done.

I think bridge is very good player for Warrington and is very good with the ball but I don't think he's good enough for England.

IMO he's shown good form this year and earned his call up.

Pryce has been very good in defence and works pretty hard but that's not you want from a stand off.

Next year for saints the halfback combo will make or break our season.

Who would you have at scrum half or centre, then?

Not many great options staring you in the face though is there? I've got a feeling Smith will pick Chris Bridge at Right Centre, but left Centre is up for grabs.

Someone else.

I can't see past him picking Shenton for the other spot.

I think Smith has shown some balls in dropping established players.

He still needs to put up a good show in this tournement.

The lee smith pick shows though he hasn't totally gone for a future england strategy.

I think the saints players called up bar wilkin are justified.

I dont really want eastmond to be a standout performer as it will increase his standing when we have yet to seal a new contract.

I suspect he will chime in from the bench in some games.

Its myler and tomkins for 6 and 7 but i think burrow has been a bit hard done by.

Pryce now must see he is at a crossroads for club and country.

He will get a rest and time to think.

Personally I would like potter to give him the 13 shirt and focus on a new 6 and 7 which would be risky but would help the development of the team.

Freed of a sixes responsibility and the responsibility of being the senior half I think we would see Leon back to his best.

We have several options to try next year - wheeler and eastmond, eastmond and moore , wheeler and moore

And if it goes pear shaped Pryce and even wilkin have shown they can do a job in the halves.

Personally I think both wheeler or eastmond would make great sixes its 7 where we may struggle for kicking and organisation. That could bring in a 9 (moore) to take up the slack or we may need to look outside the club in the future.

Sykes inclusion must be a slap in the face for pryce and senior.

We're going to be smashed. I might even bet on a record defeat against Australia.

Burrows gets knocked out .... Well matey, a big man like you could not knock him out OR catch him

Not a threat ehh ? well your sad lot could not match his kicking game in the GF (AGAIN

) Still there is always nexy year for you lot ? The only thing is .... you will not be as good in 2010

Oh dear

A chomp of epic proportions!