The club should complain, as Anderson did last year. Complaining is pointless when no matter what is said, Cummings just defends the referees. I never said he was bent, he is generally a shocking referee, and as others have said, is not SL Standard, and i've never once seen him have a good game. Cummings must have seen a problem with Smith last year to allow Anderson to dictate wether we have him or not, then Anderson leaves and we have him twice in three games. Coincidence?

It might be true that the referee doesn't miss tackles, but like i said, if he constantly penalties a team then eventually they will crack and tire, not because of bad defence, but purely because of the amount of defence they have had to do, which is the referees fault.

You singled out Long for taking the wrong option, yet you failed to point out several other players who made errors through-out the game, that was the point i was making.

that was so last season though

So which player in particular do you think Smith dilikes enough to start imagining infringements and penalising his team for them?

I don't think its a particular player, i think its more along the lines of the club as a whole.

Well then he balances out the fact that Ganson is a born and bred Saints fan doesn't he.

4 games last year, 2 out of our first 3 games this year. Lost 4 games out of 6, 2 games were with controverisial circumstances hence no more games afters Andersons spat.

Having watched rugby league for a long, long time, worse referee have seen for a long, long time. Some of his decision making he just makes up in his head.

I was behind the sticks at the other end, my gripe is that the touch judge seemed to wait for the try to be scored before getting involved. Suspicious indeed but I can't comment on whether it was forward or not.

We did deserve a draw, end of story, taking a drop as early as 10 to go is not something we normally do but let's face it you never got close to getting over after it did you?????? Not even close once. The penalty won you the game.

The decision on the first drop was not a bad one, it underlined the belief in our defence to hold you out which it did. It was only breached three times, one with a disputed try that hardly anyone can confirm was legit and came off a hopeful punt down the field and another from a high kick. You had loads of territory and possession and couldn't turn it into the tries to reflect that. Our defence is still awesome.

I don't know how you can say we go into our shell in tough games, when we have lost less matches in 5 years than anyone else. Most of those games have been tough and in plenty we've had the ringcraft to win them from losing positions. You're simply talking rubbish about that.

It just wasn't our night in attack with a patched up side, and Rovers played very well indeed. They're the simple facts. I'd have been happy with a draw.

In my opinion we bombed the draw and gave it away. We could and should have tied it up with a 2nd drop with 2 mins to go. We could not have been any closer and under the sticks as well, and Long even dropped back a bit for prime position but the ball was moved wide instead. BAD OPTION INDEED.



You expect your return victory by the way and enjoy this one as we're still a superior side to Rovers. A one point win and suddenly you expect to turn us over, that is arrogant, even if you end up being correct.

You really are a pr1ck.

Well it certainly was mate - watch the SL show today.


No you didn't and besides, the penalty was conceeded as Graham was spent and was struggling to get back - we were looking good for a try at that point anyway.

Not at all, against a team like Leeds they would have gone for the try all the way - as would ourselves. It outlined your team's lack of bottle.

You really think any team would kick from the scrum on the first tackle - think about it... It was a planned moved to exploit Gardner's distinct lack of pace and it paid off with a deserved try.


Not really, as like in the Grand Final, unless Gidley gets your team a few tries up, your team doesn't front up well enough and it is that reason you are no longer SL Champions.


A patched up side? We were missing Vella, Cooke, Gene & Colbon yet injuries are a fact of RL and it maybe it highlighted your lack of strength in depth?


Fair point.


Under Justin Morgan we are proving a team and club with sustainable improvement and in Saints; whilst I expect you to finish top 2, in the long term I think you will struggle to maintain that due to a lack of strength in depth and the retirement of some irreplaceble, world class players in Gidley & Cunningham etc.

Great input...

Precise and to the point.
Unlike your post,which was just full of recycled Rhino.

I take it the decline of your team is tough to come to terms with - shame...

You were still approx 20 yards out, the penalty was not standing square wasn't it?, I stand corrected if I'm wrong???

Yes we did deserve the draw at least. Why do you think we didn't deserve to win when we lead all the way until 5 mins to go despite being second best perhaps in terms of territory. It's not like you dominated the scoring chances or had any disallowed tries is it!

I wasn't aware 'the punt' was off the 1st tackle but if it was, then fair play. Looked in desperation to me as you were getting pounded on your own line. The try still came of a hopeful kick down field regardless of being planned or not (so not a line break), I'll wait and see how legitimate it was but the officials were nowhere. I'll have a close look at the highlights on the SL website.

Regarding fronting up, how do you think we have topped the table four times in a row if we can't front up? Bradford away last year with only two fit props is how you front up. Leeds away another, I could go on. You have no idea what you are on about. Do you honestly think we win every match at a cantor with 40+ margins? We had to match up to a monster pack last week at Huddersfield.

When HKR have won anything at all in super league and have had sustained success (10+ years) countless silverware and an unbeaten league run of 20+ matches then I'll take you seriously.

You really have no credibility whatsoever.

One final thing, the only way we could have improved last year was winning 1 more match, scored 1 more try and conceded 1 less. Sadly we can only really maintain our level, improvement is hard. Potter has big shoes to fill. It's easy to improve on mediocrity for HKR.

Oh look theyve beat us and she's got all giddy.

Where were these Leeds youngsters in both GF's.

Watkins is a great prospect, and Hall looks very promising, but give me Wheeelr, Eastmond, Frodsham and Dixon any day of the week. I'd wager all will play for England within 3 years.

I'll take that wager

How many penalties did Saints give away against Rovers at Knowsley Road last season?

Didn't you play a game at the Stoop and concede 0 penalties aswell?

Dunno, people have slept since then.

The difference is Leeds' top youngsters play in the first team while yours play in academy games.

Maybe when your old boys retire very soon you will find out the value in that.

You know it is people like you who must make supporters of other teams think we are a set of idiot whingers, you need to wake up and face it, we were undercooked and just came up against a team playing very hot and determined at the early part of the season

Hull KR have drawn with Bratfud and by all accounts _should_ have beaten the Whinos so why are you so keen to bash the ref, you would be better watching the game, it is no disgrace and it is no disaster. face up to it man on the day they beat us not the ref

Smith has reffed us for years, in superleague games up to this year we won 18 lost 7 Away games with him reffing. At home we had won 13 and lost just 2. So that is 31 - 9, if he is bent / hates Saints / etc etc then he aint making much of a job is he.

My advice to you is just watch the game and if we lose take it like a man not whinging like a little girl, we will still be there at the sharp end

I think your perception of these youngsters is distorted somewhat; and will be amplified when the likes of Cunningham & Gidley retire.

Eastmond looks a great prospect granted; and Frodsham has potential to do well but there's not a cat in hell's chance all four will play will play for England in 3 years.

I'Anson is a better prospect than Wheeler and Liam Watts is a better player than Frodsham.

You really need to take a step back and not be consumed by the typical RL media noises and the "bubble" surrounding your club.

You can't compare two players, like Wheeler and I'Anson, who have only played a handful of games each. When they have played a few seasons of Super League then you can determine who is the better player.

Says who? oh you well it must be true

Fair point.

I certainly think all fans of all SL clubs hype up their youngsters to be more than they actually are, but your clubs case, I get a strong impression that is even more so.