You can't cook it. You've got to eat it raw.

I still can't see us finishing in the 8 unfortunately. I'd love us to do it obviously but I still see too many weaknesses. While finishing last is maybe a bit OTT there's more chance of that happening than us finishing top, or even top 4 IMO. Am I alone in thinking we're going to struggle again this year?

I don't think this season is going to be a breeze, especially being undercooked in the front row at the moment. it won't last forever though and we will give most teams a game.

First time I read that I thought, 'here goes TT having a laugh again'. Then I had some lunch and I've changed my point of view; don't know what it is, but every time the Mrs gives me those mushrooms my mind goes all mushy and I become, .....you know, sort of agreeable to [ianything[/i and worse, I lose [iall[/i critical faculties, and for some reason, it now seems a well reasoned argument.

Did you get the room love?

Too many things I can't remember; still floating at roof level, in fact. Did you know it's possible to use the keyboard by telepathy?

We're gonna win the league, we're gonna win the league, now you're gonna belieeeeeve us..........

Just for the record, I've not personally insulted and agree with you

Yes. You're all alone! For about a fortnight.

He's not.

Head voted 10th in the poll.

Heart says we must and WILL do better.

Note to heart: your misison is to show head that this time you were right.

Nope, I think we will, hope I'm wrong but I think we're too light in the pack and with too many new combinations in the backs. Plus everyone else around us has strengthened as much if not better than us. On our day I think we could compete with anyone if it all gels....but how many days will we have?

But....I might reconsider this once I've seen us in serious action on Sunday, as the Hull game was a mismatch of preparation with them coming off a local derby...so we'll see.

Ahem....

Well, we certainly showed them.

Heart note to head: If you want mission impossible, do it on your own time...

I'm not throwing the towel in after 1 game, i still believe we can make the top 8 with the quality of players with have at our disposal within the squad.

Yes yesterday was a shocker and i do find myself constantly questioning some of Potters tactics and decisions (like dropping Phil Joseph even though he has been a stand out performer in pre-season)

It is time the forwards stood up to be counted though or we will be in for a long hard year...

I went yesterday...

I thought you had plenty of chances in the first 10-15 minutes to get over the Catalan try line. You just needed to keep hold of the ball instead of either knocking on or rushing the ball. That's were mistakes came in!

Catalans are no mugs, they'll beat or at least give the "big-boys" a decent game this year. They looked very organised both in defence and attack.

It's the first game of the season, stick with it and you'll get your rewards. There's positives there I felt for you yesterday you just need to keep with the side instead of getting on there backs for example booing?

All the best

the booing at half time was a poor do.

Do you truly believe this? That we have quality in our squad?

I honestly don't see any of the following as 'quality', in fact most of them I class as poor Super League players. The fact that we had to have a partnership of Walker and Crookes yesterday shows how poor our squad depth is.

Briggs
Crookes
Ainscough
Jeffries
Platt
Pryce
Sibbit
Sykes
Walker

6 out of those 9 didn't even play yesterday, and one of them has been shipped out

What's that got to do with anything? Judge666 said we have quality in our squad, those players are in our squad.

Why? I didn't boo, but I did not clap them off either.
The team did not bother to perform yesterday, the fans have payed their money, they have every right to show their disapproval.
If you went to a concert (or opera - tt) and it was sh11te, you woudn't clap the band would you?
I think this blind enthusiam and acceptance of sub-mediocre performances, has helped get this club where it is. Its about time, the team and the board knew that it's not acceptable anymore.

I thought the booing was pretty pathetic too. Catalans are a much better side than us and such a pasting should have been expected.

To use debaser's analogy the concert was crap but the band I went to see was made up of sub standard musicians in a number of positions. We're a bit like a band that had a great past but is now made up of session musicians who are filling the boots of the greats!

We do have quality within our squad, i'm not suggesting that we are blessed with world class players but i believe players such as:

Kearney, Sammut, Gale, Elima, Whitehead, Kear, Scruton (on his day) Langley, Diskin, L'Estrange, Kopczack, Burgess have a good enough pedigree to make most top 8 sides. Along with Lulia, Purtell and Manoukafoa who have enough NRL first grade games under their belts and also Pryce who does score tries whatever your views are.

NONE OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED WOULD GET INTO THE SAINTS TEAM.

You stated 'i still believe we can make the top 8 with the quality of players with have at our disposal within the squad.'

This indicates that you think that there is quality throughout our squad. You have then gone on to list a number of players who will be in the starting line up, obviously they are they best we have on offer but you have not mentioned any of the players that we will have to play when we get injuries. That is my point, we do not have quality players at our 'disposal', we have a starting team who should scrape the 8, with a back up full of poor quality super league players who no one else wants.

Ok add Chev Walker and thats 17 named, a game day squad. If you look at other teams (that made the top 8 last year and tipped again this year) Hull FC for example, look who they have in reserve outside there first choice 17, mostly kids.

I don't believe any squad outside Warrington, Saints, Wigan, Catalans and Leeds have any better depth than ours, maybe Huddersfield. So....on that basis we should be competing for a place in the top 8! like i said at the start of this thread and others, 7th or 8th place is achievable.