Wellens is a fine full back and doesnt need replacing

Meli needs replacing not Gardner

Other points I agree with.

Out of Lomax, Wheeler & Eastmond - Lomax is the most gifted. And that's saying something. The kid has star written all over him.



Forgot all about him. But it's a sign of how strong the squad is.



Soliola is a centre who can play back row, not the other way around. We shouldn't have any problems finding one top class second row out of Magennis, Dixon, Ashurst & Yates.



Is it balls. Wigan are anywhere between three and five years away from mounting a serious challenge. There's no comparison.

Sport goes in cycles and that's just the way it goes.

I feel my team Hull KR will be able to step up a level next year with a top-class hooker in the ranks and likewise Hudds can kick on further with a scrum-half after missing out on Carney this year.

When all's said and done though, all modern sport is about pace and if you haven't got it then you can't expect your dominance of the last few years continue.

You are stedily going downhill since you brought the new coach in. I think he is part of your problem, you just aren't playing like a saints side at the moment.

Those Wigan players are on the whole a couple of years older than the Saints youngsters.
For example Dixon and Ashurst are both 19, compared to Mossop who turned 20 at the start of the year and Joel Tomkins who is 22
Scott Moore is the same age as Mcilorum 21
Jonny Lomax is only 18
Eastmond turned 20 about two weeks ago, tomkins turned 20 in March
Wheeler is still only 19
Tom Armstrong and Sean Ainscough are both 19

You guys will be fine, I think this is a classic overreaction to a lose ina big game (see wigan forum).

Just two quick questions, Why are you letting Gilmour leave? Is it because of age/wages? Still looks a cracking player to me.

Also bin hearing rumour of Eastmond could be going Union is there anything behind this? Would be a loss to the game. (Although when he scored last week I'd gladly wave him off to union

)

Thanks

Team in decline pal. To old. No speed. Cant play when its dry. Told everyone this for years.

There is massive over reaction going on here, we lost a game to the form team in the league when half of our pack is out injured. We could do with another prop for next year but thats about it.

and an al bert or sully

well a winger with some actual pace wouldn't hurt.

It was the end of an era but not specifically for saints.

It's been 23 years since bradford, leeds wigan or saints didn't play in a cc final.

Expect alot more of the same in the CC over the next few years.

May take a few more years for the grand final to be donned by someone other than the above 4 but it'll happen pretty soon.

Where do Bradford come in this? It's 23 years since Saints, Wigoon or Leeds haven't played in a Challenge Cup Final. IIRC all the Bulls appearances in a Challenge Cup Final have been against us or Leeds.

full credit to hudds by far the better team on the day,its nice to see the salary cap starting to show its effect now,this year has seen the most competitive super league in a long time with teams @ the bottom either beating or competing with the supposed top 4 has to be good for the game,well done giants unlucky saints but you will be back im sure of it.

yes but look at the wakefield agiant saints and other matches against other teams how boring have quite alot of this seasons matches been

It's the end of an era for one Saints team. But give it a year and these youngsters will be dominating again in a new Saints team.

Eastmond and his ilk still have a lot to learn, but just give them a season or two and they'll be hard to beat.

theyre crap

It takes one to know one.

I remember Wigan thinking the same, with Brown, Hodgson, Robinson, Tickle, Wild, Hock and O'loughin coming through who were, with all due respect better players than Wheeler, Dean, Armstrong, Dixon and Ashurst.

LOL

Will they f*ck.

Eastmond is the only gem.

It's alright saying, ''oh we have these youngsters that will magically step up and starting winning trophies in x amount of years'' but bar eastmond it'll be tomorrow never comes.

Eastmond [ialready has[/i stepped up and if you had more youngsters as good as him you'd be looking at doing well.

I was listening to Granada Reports at tea time last night. They had an interview with Ian Millward which was very good. When asked about whether he thought Saints were coming to the end of an era he said NO. He said Saints always look forward two or three years and they had some good youngsters lined up to take the place of others who were coming to the end of their time. Saints will always be there or there abouts in the top four he said. He had only good things to say about Saints. I think he still misses us.

Because he knows he has no leg to stand on in slagging us off, and would probably end up slapped around silly in court if he opened his gob in the wrong tone.

Leeds have won three titles in a row on the back of players of the quality of McGuire, Burrow, JJB, Diskin etc. and that shows you don't even need a gem to lift the silverware just a competitive, well-drilled and professional outfit.

Nice one.