Try 1 A cross field kick with a poor attempt to catch it by the defence (and attack) Currie comes up with the ball falls to the ground gets up and puts arm over try line
Try 2 knock on at dummy half ball goes forward bobbles on floor, Chris Hill picks up the ball and scores a try.
Try 3 from dummy half to Patton who puts a kick over the top for Goodwin to score with no one around him.
Try 4 from an (immense and clear MOM ) Mike Cooper offload to Clark , Clark ships the ball onto Austin who steps a prop, breaks free from two weak tackles and sidesteps the full back for a great try.
Try 5 Darryl Clark dummy half try on the Huddersfield line.
Try 6 a huge pass from Dummy half which Patton has to Jump in the air for he ships it on to Austin who beats three defenders with a change of direction at pace and needs an excellent put down.
Try 7 from dummy half to Patton to Austin -who tries again to step his defenders but ends up offloading to currie who makes a good one handed pass to goodwin who takes two defenders over the line to score.
Try 8 from Dummy half to Austin who rolls an ordinary kick into a well defended in goal area except the winger with the worst hands in the world Uate cant take it and gifts Murdoch Massila an easy try.

motto of the story we cant pass the ball and create tries
if We didn't have Pattons kicks or Austins Side step we'd be in the .

if your looking for smart rugby league play with lots of runners regular line breaks sharp ball handling going through at least five sets of hands, putting the ball back on the inside for an easy try you need to look at the Huddersfield tries.

we relied on ref errors, defensive frailties, poor tackles, and Akelia Uate

yesterday was a shocker and I wont be swayed by a second half collapse by Huddersfield we are a million miles of St Helens a million....

7 or 8 lucky tries again!?!

exactly how most huddersfield fans saw it too the 1st try in the 2nd half was the only one that didnt come off an error or a ref decision

Goodness me, I think I'll pop over to the Jimmy Saville Appreciation society forum for some optimism and light relief.

I know there have been quite a few rule changes recently but when did the extra points for “artistic impression” come in?
Joking aside isn’t identifying opponents weaknesses and exploiting them an essential part of the game? If it isn’t can we have the points back from Salford and Catalan?

What on earth has happened to Akila Uate? At first glance yesterday I thought he was an academy player on debut. He can’t even seem to do the basics. So far must rank as one of the most disappointing signings from the NRL.

Totally agree think its time to show price the door and he can take Clark Austin cooper hill Hughes etc with him..2 and in the league just isn't the wire way we should be mid table but attacking like the Aussies attacked during the 80s

Yes and Ratchford is a terrible kicker only coverts the ones from the touchline and only kicked 9 out of 10 a real shocker.

I'm on both sides of the arguement on this.

I won't whinge over a nine try win, however, I can see where biscuit is coming from. I've said for a few years, SL is fast morphing into NRL, where teams "leech" off other's mistakes, rather than taking the odd risk, when say, 50 yards out. Safety first RL is being instructed, rather than a bit of [idevil may care, try your hand[/i RL.

We're a million miles away from 2011's brand of RL.

And in 2011 we ended up with sweet FA... I'm not fussed what brand of rugby we play if it wins us the big one at the end of the year

We're more like 2012 team

Ah, the luxuries of being able to be critical about 8 tries.

I would agree though, Huddersfield were architects of their own downfall.

We scored some sensational tries at Hull and [ieveryone[/i, Wire fans, Hull fans, media agreed we were brilliant, which we were.

So, I don't think the team is being told to suddenly throttle it back, more likely that the team has reverted to basics to feel it's way back to form. Fine by me.

Cue lots of "we weren't that good at Hull" posts.

TBH I don't think we were all that good at Hull.

I too am on both sides with this. Our tries v hudds don't seem to be all that industrious tactics-wise, just more reliant (as mentioned) on opposition mistakes, ref calls and in the main for me, individual skill/power. Against better performing sides, we'll struggle to break them down without a few more tricks/moves in the book. Also, our passing can still be a bit clunky and miss-timed where the runner has to slow in order to recieve the ball. I would ideally like to see us move the ball a bit better, like Hudds did on a couple of their tries; it makes the moves more dynamic and difficult to read, and presents a tougher challenge for the defence to adjust to tackle incoming runners.

I'm not complaining though, just pointing out some areas where we could improve, like others have. At this point in time, I honestly think we'd struggle to compete with saints on full power. That said, Holbrook has been with them for 2.5 years to sort things out.

Serious question...how does the current team match up against Tony Smith's team of 2016 which topped the league and reached two major finals?

I'm not getting drawn but I think his point is, come GF time when the opponents don't have weaknesses to exploit we could end up struggling to score running the risk of going over an hour scoreless in 2 GFs. He could cite the following to back up his case.

2018 - GF 4 points, CC 14 points.
2016 - GF 6 points, CC 10 points.

Avg points per final - 8.5 - isn't going to win a lot.

Hard to tell. It's better than his 2017 team I know that, and we don't have the smug "I couldnt give a " gurning.

Far greater chance of winning a grand final IMO, than the 2016 team. The league was pretty poor that year, and Warrington (bar the first couple of months) weren’t clear leaders or anywhere near the best team for most of the year.

Smith’s teams 2011-2013 were the peak of his stewardship and if we were going to win the big prize under Smith, that was the period in which it would happen IMO. He had a great few years and we were a joy to watch, but the title didn’t come and that’s in the past.

Now we have Price, and although I can’t be sure we’ll win the elusive title with him in charge, it was definitely the right decision to replace Smith and I think we made the right choice from the coaches available. Price has changed the mentality of the team, and although we won’t be the flat track bullies we could be in our pomp under Smith, I think we have the toughness to win a GF when the chips are down on a cold night in October. I’m hoping we can keep Austin fresh if that opportunity arises - he’s lived up to all expectations and despite having to take responsibility for organising all the attack (since Brown is injured) he’s also top try scorer, high on assists, leading MOS contender, a joy to watch and even a top asset off the pitch.

Times are good IMO.

I’m still struggling to understand the point being made. Who is more likely to make a final (bearing in mind you have to “be in it to win it”). The team that scored 3 pretty tries ( when exploiting opponents injury weakness), or the team that put 50 past them?
We scored some delightful tries in 2011, and were a joy to watch, but didn’t win the GF.
There is an argument to be made that in tight games it is a kick or individual moment of brilliance that breaks the deadlock.
As for W71, it seems your “I’m not going to be drawn” is your new “time to move on”. None of my posts are specifically aimed at you (unless I reference you) but you do seem to struggle with the idea that someone else’s opinion may have some validity, or even that by grown up debate a clearer view may be achieved.

Agree that it’s important to capitalise on opponent’s mistakes and weaknesses. What happens though when our opponents don’t make mistakes and/or cut out defensive weaknesses as their side gels over the season?- we’re going to need something else.

On the training pitch, you’d hope/imagine we’d be practicing some slick moves and passing movements to take into games and to see evidence of this in our performances. Against Hudds, there didn’t seem too much of this- more the capitalising on errors to score tries. Great if we have both; but against well drilled defences we’re going to have to create our own opportunities.

Someone mentioned about the improvement in attitude amongst our players under Price. I’m still not entirely convinced that this has been sorted. Take our recent games: saints, salford and Huddersfield- there’s still plenty to work on where our commitment has fallen short of the full 80.

I’m not trying to be negative, but, come the play offs; we really need to address some of these points if we are to achieve any success.

No I meant I wasn't going to get "drawn into" criticizing a 50 point win. The would be churlish. I just wanted to discuss the subject without receiving caustic responses aimed at me. I enjoy reasoned debate and think the O/P makes an interesting point.

True, but let’s take a step back and look at the big picture:

There’s only one team in the league who seem to have a more ruthless attitude than us and steam-roller other teams consistently. That team is not a huge way in front of us, and they did the same last year yet failed to make a final when it counted.

As far as I am concerned we can slowly learn lessons as we plod through the season in second place winning by a few points less per game than the top team, but as long as we peak in the playoffs I won’t be too bothered about Easter.

It’s really not a bad season so far on reflection is it?

Exactly where I am at. I would love us to add that slick passing movement that Huddersfield showed into our nal for attack. Yes lets have off the cuff "play what you see" rugby but some slick drills like Hudds showed could only be a benefit. I would also love it if we could deliver full 80 min performances on a more regular basis without the obvious "foot of the gas" complacency which is becoming our hall mark across a number of coaches/teams now.

As the OP said Saints are way ahead of any other team this season including us.

Comparing with last year is of little comfort to me - true they didn't make a final but your argument would be more compelling had if we won the GF. We didn't. We were unable to score for an hour an almost carbon copy of 2016. Of course there is a chance we could make the GF and win it this year (as there is for a few clubs) but we remain in the possible rather than probable camp based on the evidence so far and the obvious weaknesses we have. But you are right - it's a good season so far.

If we don't win it this year then Price will surely have to deliver it in 2020 or suffer the backlash. He wont be getting the 8 year luxury Smith got for sure.