Over the last few week I think plenty of us, myself included, have identified who we feel the under performers are in our team. After tonight's improved performance how do you think these players in particular went?

Michael Shenton - In all honesty I thought he had an average game tonight. Some very poor defensive reads at times allowing Leeds the overlap, we was fairly lucky they only took advantage once. Having said that, when he read the plays correctly I thought he defended well and stuck to his tackles. Attacking wise I thought he was the same as he has been, the ball died with him a number of times, not for a lack of effort. However, his centre play was absolutely marvelous to put Tommy in for his try and shows what he can do against a stretched defence with space in front of him. A pretty standard performance with a couple of great glimpses we haven't seen for a while. I still feel Josh Jones will offer us more at the minute from what he showed in his brief stint.

Lance Hohaia - I thought Lance went quite well today. His defence seemed vastly improved from last week and he took the line on a few times which was good to see, on occasion troubling them. His kicking was a bit better although still not great, a couple of very good, smart kicks which gives me a slight bit of hope for him. It seemed to help with Wilkin taking a bit of the pressure off his kicking, Wilkin's spiral bombs were very effective. Hopefully he can kick on and improve even more next week, he's still got a way to go.

Josh Perry - Best game in a Saints shirt. His defence was outstanding, hungry and aggressive, what we expected when we signed him. His go forward was also very good, he dominated the collision and got some slick offloads away which helped us push forward offensively. What can I say about his clearance kick, Johnny Wilkinson would have been proud of that one. He was a glimmer of his former self tonight and hopefully he can continue that form, more of the same please Josh.

Gary Wheeler - What I was pleased with today is that he cut out the vast error count from last week. I don't blame him at all for the error leading to Leeds' first try, that was some veteran play from Peacock, perhaps could have carried the ball a little tighter. In attack he was good and looked threatening with his step but can be greedy at times. If centre is a long term position for him he needs to work on his centre play. He often takes the wrong options and feeds his winger at the wrong time or not at all when he should. This should come with time and experience in the position though and it's promising to see him come through another match unscathed, despite bending his leg under his own body. His defence was good in general, seemed to make plenty of tackles and rarely got knocked back in collision, shouldn't of missed the tackle on Sinfield for Delaney's try though. Hopefully as he learns the centre position and gets more game time he can kick on.

I mostly agree, but I think I was less impressed with Hohaia than some.
When he's at 2nd receiver, I think he's starting a bit to narrow and travelling a bit to laterally. That could well just be something that needs ironing out on the training paddock though.
Good smart kick for the Lomax try though, and he defended much better than I've seen him so far.

Perry seemed to do more minutes as well last night which is a good sign. If he plays like that for the next year and a half I'd be very happy. We cant ask for more than 100% effort if he gives that I'd be happy enough.

I thought it was a poor kick, straight to two leeds defenders, only their fumbles and a lucky bounce got that try, imo

At least it made ground. If it hits the floor theres always a chance the bounce could go your way.

hardly makes it a good kick though

I didnt say it was. But it does make it a better kick than flying straight into the arms of the FB or Winger. Ala most of the kicks against Wigan in the CC.

I wasnt impressed with Lance at all.
And Im now starting to agree about Shenton. Great pass but im not sure he is worth his place in front of Wheeler and Josh Jones.

Nah, it was a good kick that. If you can find the ground with backspin that close to the line you're going to cause problems.

Overall, though, his kicking was still pretty rank.

I thought lance hohaia performance was a improvement but still poor. His kicking game again was shocking.

Lance looked less of a problem last night because he didn't get involved as much. His kick for J-Lo's try was good but other than that I'm struggling to think of things he did that were a positive. His positional kicking is awful.

I disagree. Judging by the bounce he'd put spin on it and he'd hit the ground at a very awkward distance from the line, causing mass confusion.

I thought Hohaia had an ok game last night but more people came into attack, so taking the spotlight off him. This season seems to be about protecting our senior players from criticism.

Lance was okay and nothing more, but that is a definite improvement on what he has been and hopefully the improvement will continue. What encouraged me was he took the line on more last night than he has in the past 6 weeks combined. His kick for Lomax's try was definitely a good kick, he spotted Brent Webb awfully out of position (defending 1 out from the ruck) and just dinked the ball into space with spin. We were fortunate with the roll of the ball after that but it was a good kick. Kicking in general still has a lot to improve on though.

He was well below what you expect from a 'star signing' . Doesnt offer enough at 6 for me at all

Can you imaging the damage Leon Pryce could've done last night?

I thought Shenton and Perry had two of their better performances in a Saints shirt. Clearly the speculation about Shenton had him fired up, he was everywhere defensively and his flick pass for Makinson's try was quality. Perry was much improved and when he looks for work and offloads the ball he can be quite a handful. Unfortunately, he's far too inconsistent and I don't anticipate much of a future unless he replicate yesterday's performance on a more regular basis.

Hohaia and Wheeler were rubbish I thought. Take out the kick for our opening try and Hohaia's contribution was minimal. Some of his kicking was horrendous and I don't think he really knows what he's doing in that position. As for Wheeler, some shocking defensive reads and errors but he is just coming back from injury, so I'll give him a few weeks to bed in yet.

Hohaia hides behind the PTB too much.

If he wants to convert to 6 yet I don't see any urgency from him to become a 6.
Bar his defence he seems to be coasting.

Rush has given him plenty of support in the press.

Think Lance needs to decide if he wants to make a go of
things and give it a dig (or not).

Thought Perry was awesome last night. When he's firing he's inspiring. Really gets in the faces and is a ball ache to tackle when he's fired up. I think he's the key because he lifts the others into being more energised in the tackle. All too often last night I could still see that timid defence which wasn't pushing Leeds back. When Perry was on he lifted us a few times and it's the kind of form that we need.

So Perry comes on and does that just as I've given up and written him off as looking past it... Marvellous... If he can keep that going for the rest of the season (BIG if) then he may turn into a decent signing after all.

indeed, more of the same please mr Perry

It makes me sad to think about it.

This highlights everything that is wrong with playing Hohaia at 6 - he doesn't know what he's doing!! It shows in our attack time and again. He is great a pointing at the defence and kicking the ball like he's playing aussie rules with the opposite full back, but other than that he is awful.

I was there last night and he didn't do anything of note what so ever. I try not to be negative about players without reason I'd rather be constuctive but we are carrying Hohaia and will be for as long as he is playing in a pivot position.

Wasnt all this said about Leon in his first season at 6 for us ? i seem to rememeber people bemoaning the fact his kicking was awfull and his passing was bad.Going of what Rush said post match last night Lance is going to be 6 for the rest of the season,we can moan and complain all we like but the bottom line is he wont be moved until next season IF Brown decides he isnt the 6 for him.

Lance was very poor IMO, the win seems to have glossed over some utterly rank kicking and decisions again.

whats with the skip Lance does when he gets the ball it slows him him down a tad when he should be on the move.To me he seems to think of what he is going to do next.But after saying that theres Tomkins he does the same thing but better at it

.Lance does it regulary.Not a fan of Lance tho.