It's helped by the fact that it's a pretty level playing field, any of the teams can make a push for the top, sure some teams are ''bigger'' than others but it's not a HUGE difference like we see in Super League.

And you think all Super League is 5 drives and a kick, did you see Wakefield and Widnes the other day? Couldn't even get through five drives!

Is your girlfiend Mike Rush?

Two great wins, away from home, against the two "top" teams in the league, both off the back of great defense. Where did that come from? I reckon it came from games like the London one, maybe not the most exciting, but perfect preparation for the big games to come. Why is rush our coach? Because he has set a course to get us to OT. We aren't there yet, but he's given it a chuffing good go.

Have to admit that that result shocked the bloody life out of me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it's shocking how anyone can question the job mike Rush has done this year. Is sole job was to get us in a postion to put a play off run together and he did that, we then beat Warrington in their own back yard and only one game from old Trafford.

The guy has no top level coaching experince, took over a team with zero confidence but he's still bagged for "not playing young players" and " playing boring rugby"

Well done Mike and KC, you've done a terrific job.

We have been to the playoffs every season since, when? 2006? Or did we get into the playoffs in 2005? I can't remember. Anyway, obviously since 2006 at the latest.

In that time we have had Anderson, Potter, Simmons and now Rush as coaches. Clearly our ability to play play off rugby is not simply a coaching matter otherwise we wouldn't be so consistent across so many coaches.

IMO it's a mentality. What the players showed tonight was what they generally haven't showed this season: a desire to play. I think the last time we saw Saints play anything near that kind of rugby was against Leeds at Langtree Park. I feel like I've been duped out of my season ticket after the trugid rot I've had to watch. I might not bother paying out next year and just turn up for the play offs, like Saints have done.

We can only hope!!!!

Hang on a minute, we've only just turned up in the play offs?

We've beat Wigan, Leeds, wolves, Catalan away thus year, we drew at hull and we have finished 3rd!

Finishing 3rd doesn't mean we've just showed up.

I kinda get it both ways. I think Rush has exceeded expectations. We have also had some very dull moments. It's been effective rugby this year. Players picked on their defensive qualities.


We've all bagged him for not picking gaskell etc. Me included.

There is an arguement to be had about whether playing conservative rugby in the weekly rounds does not help sell season tickets the life blood of RL clubs. But tonight is not the night. Tonight has justified Rush and he should take the credit for tonight as that's the way he has coached the team all year and for playoff Rugby tight defense, is the key.

Well done Rush.

It does when we are talking about style of play which, if you'd read my post, you will clearly see that is what I was talking about.

Indeed. It's good to know you wish the club's support and finances to be reduced.

You would prefer to watch a team that plays great stuff all year and falls to pieces in the playoffs? Try Warrington then.

I get the point about playing more entertaining rugby. It's not just Saints fan on her own there, and not just Internet posters either.

We where great last night, but although finals are important for players they are not the life blood of a club, weeks 1 - 27 are the week that bring in the big money for the club from the 14k that go regular.

If they are bored then clubs would suffer if that fell away and fans only turned up to watch the entertaining games in the playoffs. I know some people will go week in week out regardless of entertainment value. But thousands also will maybe think twice.

In a way its a seperate arguement to last nights game. In playoff rugby you do play tighter style of game, but the weekly rounds are open to a bit more in the way of chancing your arm.

It's been tougher for Rush as he had a huge handicap to cover at the start of his reign so you can see why he would choose to go the route of minimal errors and a narrower game, but it's a balance that I hope we can sway a little more to getting the ball wider earlier next year.

Can anyone really link entertaining rugby to gates? When was the last time saints played entertaining rugby? I'd say the millward era. Have the gates suffered since then? No! If Anything they have improved. A few fickle fans will use this as an excuse to not renew their season tickets, but the vast majority will be back next year. Gates are more influenced by what happens around the game, and whether the club is successful.

Fair point.

Consistent evidence comprehensively proves that the top 3 driving factors for attendences in SL at any given moment in time are: the overall "buzz" surrounding the game itself, the innate interest in RL in the area and the quality of facilities at the stadium. On-field performance is a minor factor. Fact.

Are you seriously saying we didn't entertain you under Daniel Anderson?

Daniel Anderson took millwards entertainers and turned then into defenders. Yes there was still plenty of entertainment left in the players then, but he started the shift to boring rugby. Potter took it further, Simmons never got chance to do anything other than fight injurys, rush has steadied the ship. I see nothing from brown to suggest he will play entertaining rugby

Anderson added steel and structure, we were still entertaining and more importantly winning. Under Plodder we were so dreadful I was close to not renewing my season ticket

At their peak did you not think Hudds played entertaining rugby? I thought they played some stunning stuff.

Last season they played great rugby and IMO the best team to watch.

They challenged the Goons for the title of the greatest grapplers.

Saracens just convinced 41,000 people to go to wemblely to watch a regular league game against Leicester. The result was a stunning 9 all draw (that's 3 penalties each).
No, brand of rugby is down the list on what get's people through the gates, I reckon.