Totally agree, been saying something similar on all the games this season, no leadership and direction, running around like headless chickens at times. Not sure if this rotation of players is working either, our pack is very soft with no weight mass.

Well done to Catalans, taught us a lesson we use to be good at..........play for 80 mins.

But given the choice of players for Captain????

Wellens
Roby
Wilkin
?????

It has to be a player who will play most weeks most game and be able to have some impact on the game and verbalise that to the other players?

Role reversal of the Salford game with a decent first half and an awful second.

The defence has been well covered in other posts but what about the attack? We hardly got near the Cats line in the second half.

Well payed Catalan and can't argue that they desereved it.

Back to the drawing board lads.

I'll keep saying it - Lomax is NOT a scrum half.

Now, before I get the usual bunch of fanboys throwing their panties at me in disgust this does NOT mean I think he is a bad player. Far from it. I just think his undoubtedly valuable attributes are better suited to other positions.

You think it was bad tonight, just wait until you play them in France with a French ref, then you will know the definition of pain

I really don't see any obvious candidate on the pitch. Yeah, Wilkin could do a job. But it's a bit like picking Steve McClaren as the England manager.

Don't worry, about a thing.

I can see your point re. lack of cohesion. I think we're relying on individuals at the moment and the whole side isn't pulling their weight both offensively and defensively. Our defensive structure looks all over the place right now.

Given the negativity on here, I'm scared to check redvee......


I still think the team has enough in it and it's fixable. But the question is will it get fixed?

I would play Gaskell at scrum half and Lomax at stand off, keep Lance away from the half back positions and put him to full back. Lomax and Lance are mis fits in the side at the moment, Simmo is not doing any set plays with these two, he needs to make his mind up what his best back line should be.

I agree.

We have lazy forwards - they don't leg drive in attack and they don't work hard in defence. And Wello shouldn't be on the pitch. (I never thought I would say that)

Royce won't do it because I think he's soft, but I'd drop one or two of our forwards and stick some newbies in there who will be hungry to show the coach what they can do. It worked a treat for us last season; we should try it again this season, but on this occasion by choice rather than by necessity.

Not with the forwards and fullback we have, no.

There's just nobody dragging the team forward and backwards whilst bawling in their ears. Even top class players will look like amateurs if there isn't strong leadership on the pitch.

Now we're finding out precisely what James Graham's true worth was.

Just a thought I had mid week, bit from left field..


Wheeler and Gaskell at halfback???

Personally I think the half back combo of Gaskell and Lomax is fine, we were not short on points. It's the amount coming in not going out!

He's also missed around the ruck, where he would clean up with Robes.

But then we all knew what Jammer's true worth was. Or at least those of us with eyes in our head did anyway! He is a massive miss and there was a great big Jammer shaped hole on the pitch today with nobody able and/or willing to take on the mantle.

That's a hell of a lot of inexperience. Especially if Gaskell has an off day with his kicking like he did today. Wheeler would have to lead the team and I'm not sure he has it in him - yet.

I thought Wheeler was going to Wigan?

In terms of leadership? You don't have to be the captain to hold a player down? In the last 30 seconds we could afford to give away penalties ad infinitum. Don't give me sportsmanship, give me someone willing to hold down to the hooter and suffer the sinbin.

Or you could go down in a voluntary tackle, but dont mention that to Bradford fans...

Few things that are worrying for me at the moment, but nowhere near bad enough to be calling for Simmons to be sacked, more things I hope he recognises and works on/changes:

- We're struggling to gain any meters forward. Even when we were on top in the first half it was down to good positional kicking and in your face defence in their half. Our forwards are simply not making enough yards. If we're without TP now, then I hate to think how much of a struggle we're going to have to compensate for him.

- A lot has been said about not playing the 17th man, and it was very frustrating tonight. Catalans were dead on their feet at times, Hohaia should have been introduced around the ruck, allowing Roby to move to LF or 2nd row for a period. Bringing an attacking, elusive player on for 10 minutes when you should be knuckling down and closing the game down is not the right move.

- I do wonder if signing Hohaia has mucked up the equilibrium in the backs somewhat. Gaskell and Lomax were fantastic in the first half, and showed just why they should be the starting halfbacks from now on in. With the team captain at FB, this spot is also taken, so where do you play him without putting someone's nose out of joint? This takes us back to the above point; utilise him as an impact sub, 20 mins per half, allowing Roby to rest, or move to LF or 2nd row to help try and gain some yards.

These are just things that were niggling at me tonight, and whilst they are being used as sticks to beat him with in other threads, I would just like to see him try and rectify the issues before demanding his head forthwidth.

Makinson was a plus point tonight; that lad really is some player.

Well that was fun wasn't it????

I made a tongue in cheek comment last week after the Hull KR game saying that I pray we don't defend as bad as that again. However, where Saints' defence at Hull KR was like a slow leak that was consistent over 80 minutes, this week it was like a small crack then all of a sudden the dam wall was smashed down.

I've no problem in Saints getting beat and Catalans are a very good side, well drilled and well coached. But to be honest it's the manner of the defeat that worries me. The same things are happening over and over again!! It was deja vu - basic tackling again just non-existant. Catalans didn't do anything special and the worrying thing is that they didn't need to. I'm boring myself lately highlighting tackling technique but it's such a vital component if the defence wants to stay solid and dominant in the game. Saints' is shocking, they lose the collison in the tackle time and time again causing an already fragile defence to look even worse. By slowing the tackle down with good technique - dominating the ball carrier, it's a extra 3,4,5 seconds that at this level is so important. The gaps were huge and the defensive slide was so lazy and slack that for Sa's try you could see it being scored a mile off!!! It makes me wonder what they do in training.

Sia had another really good game and him along with Lomax, Gaskell, Makinson deserve some credit for their performances. I personally thought Lomax was mom, he took the line on and was our primary offensive weapon -really hope he can build on this performance. It was no co-incidence that he played well with Gaskell at the side of him. I've always thought that Gaskell is more of a typical scrum half than Lomax. Gaskell is controlled in his play he does the little things well which gives Lomax the chance to express himself - they have to play together for the rest of the season. It's the best combination we have in the halves at present.

But special mention has to go to Tommy Makinson who is one of the brighest prospects we have. In fact I'd go as far to say that he could be like a Roby or Graham - I think he is that special. Doesn't seem to get much media attention he just gets on with his job and excels whenever he takes the field. Flawless under the high ball, great hands, rugby brain, fast, he has all the attritubes needed to take himself into international recognition. I'm pleased he played so well infront of the sky camera's so others can see his abilty.

His mate on the other side of the field could learn a thing or two. Jamie Foster is beginning to become an enigma. He scores points which at the end of the day you need but is he good enough in general play to become a Saints regular for the future? Where you can say yes for Makinson you can't say it Foster. The mistakes he made tonight were bad he himself will know that but it's not the first time he's done it. Being a good goal kicker doesn't mean you are a good rugby player - I want him to suceed at Saints because his desire to play for Saints is obvious and he is a product of the youth system but I can't help feeling that there is something missing from his game to take him into the Lomax, Makinson, Gaskell category of potential.

Anyway roll on Huddersfield next week

I agree with this.

Something that irritated me after the GF was that Rob Burrow's try was glorified - when actually he just ducked and ran, like he always has done - whereas Makinson's try got no recognition at all but was in fact one of the most audacious, skillful and incredible tries I have ever seen, made more incredible by a few facts: he was the youngest player on the pitch, he was the least experienced player on the pitch, he was playing in a position he hadn't played in until he came into the first team and he did it in a GF when we were losing. All of that was tremendous and he seems to have just picked up where he left off. Some of his work tonight was outstanding but he never gets MoM.

Saints players faces were a picture at the end ,that defeat hurt them you cant win them all ! Well done the Frogs .

I think, for once, Roby was outplayed by his opposite number last night - Ian Henderson was absolutely magnificent!

Also, the re-introduction of Lopini Paea and the brilliant Remi Casty 10 minutes into the second-half proved the turning point. They punched big holes in your middle and kept you on the back foot.

Anyone agree that Casty would have been the ideal replacement for James Graham?

the Catalans equivalent would be Baitieri or Millard who are always the unsung heroes - Robinson rates Baitieri as irreplaceable in his team but his work goes unnoticed like Tommy
credit also to Menzies whose little touches here and there are great to watch but taken for granted,you can't buy that experience unfortunately

regarding JMR asking about Casty being a replacement for Jammer ? how about Robinson a replacement for Simmons ?