And what have Hull done to upset you?

Wilkin didn't have the best of games and that kick towards the end was dreadful, but he played in a position that simply isn't his position. Alongside Pryce or Eastmond he'd be fine, but he isnt the type to run the game, organise the team and doesn't have a good short kicking game. He has a decent long kicking game and is good at hitting a short ball, he is not a creator. Unfortunately we were put into this situation due to the loss of Pryce and Eastmond.

This is the excuse we have heard all season so far, why not accept defeat for once! all teams this season have experienced injuries and I mean ALL but especially in the weekly rugby press there is only once club that roll out the whine.

I did not think it was as good a game as some make it out to be, too much lost possession from both teams, Saints all season have been bad at bunching at times, in the end it was just about a fair result, I don't know what you would be like if many of you supported an average team, you would be non stop on to the Samaritans, LOL, lighten up and yes the boys did well but not well enough!

We were beaten by the better team on the day. But Leeds were practically at full strength, they certainly had no key players missing, whilst we had BOTH our halves missing. You can't tell me that didn't play a big factor in the possible outcome?

I've seen many interviews with wilkin where he's called himself a ball playing loose forward.

I think he's to small to play in the pack and not fast enough or good enough for stand off, he Aint got a rugby brain.

About 4yrs ago wilkin looked the part, he was playing awesome and looked to be a great saints player. I think as the games got faster, the players have got bigger and stronger and the game has gone high intense, I feel wilkin has stayed the same, his development stopped where most players improved.

He still gets thru some hard work in defence but the times of calling him a ball playing 13 have gone, he's in same boat as clough, dixon as grafters.

It made a massive factor on the outcome.

We just lacked that cutting edge pryce and eastmond would have gave us.

The kick about 5 minutes before this, was the deciding factor, i think it was Moore. The kick that we put up and Senior caught it in the in-goal area. We didn't once put it along the floor, we was winning at this point and pressing on there line, all it needed was a kick along the floor and force a repeat set or even score. At worst we'd have had them right on there own line, instead they had a 20m re-start and got on a role from it, and scored. That was worse than the Wilkin kick.

Wilkin put the kick in, obviously with hindsight it was the wrong decision, but if it comes off everyone says what a genius he is and how good it was, it didn't come off but he was prepared to try it. I personally don't think he should have done it, but he did and it didn't pay off, but we lacked ideas on there line anyway, obviously down to no half backs.

I am sure Jon will lose some sleep over that kick. Presume he meant to kick it THIS side of the line and hope we either score or gain a repeat set, instead he came up with a horrow kick and Leeds must have thought it was Christmas. Biggest let off ever, a real heart breaker, gut wrencher, tear jerker, back breaker, head spinning moment.

WHY JON ?

The difference was, four years ago in 2006 Wilkin had the likes of Long, Sculthorpe, Lyon, Cayless, Anderson and Hooper on the team.
Cunningham was at his peak.

It was still quite a young team.

He doesn't have that luxury now.

It's an even younger team now.

Hey up St pete ever thought about takeing up coaching

thought not

We looked one-dimensional in attack, and we made some poor decisions (Wilkin's being the worst), but honestly, what do people expect when we have no half backs?

We did very well to get anywhere near Leeds, never mind nearly beat them, given the circumstances. I thought it a massive effort from the lads - they gave it everything and almost did it. Put Pryce and Eastmond in that side and it's in with a shout against anyone come play-off time.

I think everyone knows that we did well to be up there and almost win it. We all know we would have been different with a 6 or 7. This post is just about the brain fart we all witnessed, and are wondering WHY ?

The problem is that he wasn't expected to be one of the leaders of the team then, he is now. He hasn't lived up to his potential, but he isn't a bad player at all.

It wasn't good decision making, but I think the absence of Eastmond has shown that his kicking game isn't great. He's OK when it's an off the cuff thing at loose, but he's too inconsistent to do it regularly. His short kicking game is not great, and he often drops the ball into the wingers hands on long kicks as he can't generate the power to turn them.

Hopefully this will be the end of the calls for him to be a full time halfback.

Didn't Wilkin get MotM playing in the halves in the 2008 semi at Headingley?

I do coach mate, when it's possible with still playing myself.

I think the a few saints fans now starting to agree with me, wilkin ain't a top player!

Some of the so-called Saints 'supporters' posting on this thread really make my blood boil. We lost a very tight game not because of one incident, but due to a combination of factors.
The Whinos crucified us around the ruck area all game. As a club they've been targeting the Challenge Cup since their disastrous start to the season. More of their tries than ours came off forward passes. $h!thouse Sinfield's place kicking was better than Foster's. The Flannery 'knock on' was marginal. The Moore shoulder charge on $h!thouse Sinfield was even more marginal. Jammer turned his back at a crucial play the ball, which led directly to a try. As well as Wilkin's brainfart, there were similar efforts from Hargreaves and Meli. And most critcal of all we missd Leon immensely. Not only for his attcking options but his 'sweeper' defence, which would have given us a beter chance of covering the match-winning off loads. Having said all that, with key players absent we were still in front with less than ten minutes to go. 'Supporters' should not be bagging individuals. Give the lads some credit.

Totally agree.....................we should stop this critique on individual players, and move on.

Thought he just about lost you the game with that.

What a game though, some sublime try's.

Sts did very well without a their first choice halfbacks - Leeds or Wigan in the same position would have struggled to score a point. I've said for some years that Sts probably adapt better than any other side to being without a halfback - perhaps because you've had good hookers and you had to get used to playing without Long quite often?

Meli must be the most frustrating player on earth. He looks physically absolutely right at centre, but his hands are awful. Its like watching Kevin Iro on a bad day (which was quite often for Leeds unfortunately).

I agree....very well done Wilkin!

Oww bless, has he upset you?

Now why would he be upset TonyS? Afterall he told the truth, even you with your Leeds goggles on know this is so! We at Hull know just how many of the refs 'don't see' Seniors forward passes -and especially Mr Charles when he's running the line at games v your lot at the FC.
Never mind Tony, go to the CC Final with great expectations and get the best price on Leeds to win - afterall, think you'll find you have to go back a while to find the last team that managed to do back to back wins and your a due a win aren,t you. Cardiff when you lost to Hull so odds are in your favour this year......grannyfan Cindy

What?

She said, and I quote

" Now why would he be upset TonyS? Afterall he told the truth, even you with your Leeds goggles on know this is so! We at Hull know just how many of the refs 'don't see' Seniors forward passes -and especially Mr Charles when he's running the line at games v your lot at the FC.
Never mind Tony, go to the CC Final with great expectations and get the best price on Leeds to win - afterall, think you'll find you have to go back a while to find the last team that managed to do back to back wins and your a due a win aren,t you. Cardiff when you lost to Hull so odds are in your favour this year......grannyfan Cindy "