We could end up playing Huddersfield away qnd let Wigan and Leeds smash each other. If we win vs wire and leeds lose then Leeds will finish 4th. Unreal.

Agreed. Nobody will want to face us in the playoffs.

That was an outstanding defensive effort from Saints. That Makinson tackle was exceptional. And Josh Jones tackle whilst still on the floor to stop them breaking away was excellent.

We really need to get Walmsley back on the pitch though as I felt that although our defence was bang on, we were struggling against their pack. Is Roby hurt? He looked to be struggling with his arm a bit.

Proud of the lads.

There is some truth in that, but there's no doubt we'd be considerably better off playing our semi at home. It's not the be-all-and-end-all, but it is important.

Wish someone had taught Jon Wilkin to kick this well ten years ago.

MASSIVE boost having Vea back.

Great performance, always good to see Vea back, he's a massive handful for defences, and just runs all day. Mose played well too, hopefully he can keep that level for the rest of the season. Think Walshy is starting to look the business again.

We are going to miss josh Jones big time. He's been quality the last 5/6 weeks and a threat with the ball. He does fo the odd silly thing like early in the game last night but I think he's a big miss next for us.

His two catches from kicks last night was top quality.

I agree, I never quite understood why people started saying he wasn't good enough. Not been his best season apart from the last couple of weeks, but he certainly hasn't been bad. I've always rated him.

Its a strange one he was a bit hit and miss first half of this season, then soon as he signed up for Union his game picked up to the level we expected from him. My biggest worry is Quinlan looks scared of the physical stuff, non existence defence and could,t get rid of the ball quick enough to Swifty to run the ball out, happening in almost every game.

I said this about Quinlan the first time I seen him play. His defence is worst ive ever seen from a saints fullback. It's the fact he can't tackle but the fact he just Doesnt want to.

He's got good hands and good support play but his kick returns are shocking. I don't think he's beat a man all year on a kick return.

He's up there with one of the worst fullbacks ive seen in a saints shirt. I can only think of Leon Felton who's worse.

Given the problems we've had just putting a body in the full back jersey this season we should be thankful Quinlan's as good as he is. The truth is we could have been much, much worse off.

But what does he give us? Yes he supports well and he's hot good hands but the kick return on the first play is the most important carry of the set. It can determine how the set goes and he's dead with the ball or flings long passes to swift which gives defenders time to get up on us.

I can see why he Doesnt play NRL as he's not physically up for it.

He needs to play better than this though he's had enough games now to settle into the structure, I don't think I,ve seen him make one successful one man tackle yet. Just get the feeling come "knock out rugby" time it will cost us, like St Pete says he doesn't play NRL its far too physical for him. Somehow we need to give him less exposure to a one man tackle but thats easier said than done I suppose.

He's got pace so why not try and run around the defence?

Beggars can't be choosers. A half-dozen games is hardly time enough to integrate fully into one of the most difficult positions on the pitch. It took Talau a full year to get going at centre. And let's not forget that he's a half-back recently moved into that role.

There's no point wailing about it. It's not like we've got a dozen young full-backs champing at the bit for a game.

It's the fact he won't do any contact in attack and defence which has nothing to do with only being here one week or one year.

Tackling at fullback and kick returns are not effected by game plans or being here a short time. Id kick to him all day as he cant hurt anyone with the ball.

The is no excuse for that williams try when he was basically skinned

Thats correct, its the very basic element of the game to be able to tackle, his timing to defend is the worse I,ve seen in the Superleague and Championship. Great when he's being put through a gap and picking up an offload, but he is very much a passenger in defence, lets hope he can sort it out.

The was always a reason why he doesn't play first grade and that's it. Funny that some wanted us to sign him for next year lol

No different to Steve Prescott. I saw him beaten in a very similar manner by Sean Edwards at Knowsley Road.

He has neither the build nor the bulk to be a fullback. But he's all we've got.

Deal with it.

Preccy was a much better defender one on one, he was good at bringing the ball back to the opposition, quite often beating the first man. He's scored quite a few 100 metre solo tries as well.

I don't think so. Preccy was actually HANDED OFF by Edwards on that score. At least George Williams is quick.

Stevie could have been one of the greats with a few extra inches. But he was a horrible tackler.

Preccy did make quite a few one on one tackles in his seasons, Quinny has not made any at all so far.

I think I,m going to leave Preccy alone now, just in case we start to go down the wrong road with this one

Yeah, well - seasons vs games is not a fair comparison.



People really need to remember just how dire the situation was when Quinlan got the call. Sure, Tommy would do a good job. But only at the expense of an entire wing.

Besides, it's not as though great fullbacks are everywhere in this league. Take away Hardaker and you are left with a very shaky bunch indeed.

Wigan's starting fullback dropped more clangers earlier this season than anyone.

Not sure why Steve Prescott's got brought up, however, in a Saints shirt I thought he was excellent in the fullback position. That isn't rose tinted specs, I genuinely thought he offered a lot in attack and was very very good on the 1 on 1 tackle.

And Shaun Edwards made everyone at some point look rather silly because he was a legend of the game. One of the greats.

Aye. Precky was light so he wasn't much use when a forward broke through and ran straight at him, but he was brilliant in situations like that Williams break.

You mean, aside from when Shaun Edwards (a considerably slower player) did him in very similar fashion.