While Roby has been fantastic this season and there have been games in which his presence has been vital to our ability to play, never mind win, his loss may not be as catastrophic as some people are suggesting. Undoubtedly we are a stronger team with him in it. However, how well we respond without him there will depend in part on who Simmons chooses to take his place in the organisational role (and I'm thinking Wilkin) and how well the team adjust to that change, which is quite a dynamic change. We've had a lot of changes this season though so the lads might now be up to adapting to anything.

Besides, I thought you Wire fans would be confident enough in your team by now to not think one missing individual would make your chances of a win much greater?

For once Dom the voice of reason

Roby will be a major loss, but the Lomaskell combination seems to be getting better every time I see them play together.

In fairness it's a pop at saints not at roby personally... You telling me you wouldn't rather briers be out injured than playing against you??

Baby Becks*cringe* Look's an utter bellend.

I have no problem with wire being better than us at present (Althought it would be interesting to see how it would go with both teams fielding full strength sides). Have some class for once. Your internet persona comes across as quite similar to your own opinion of Jamie Foster, and I'm sure you're not at all like that in real life.

Aren't I always? Your the maverick Ralphy!

huge loss to saints, bit like us losing monas.

should be a great game against them either way

A great game for you. I'll be happy with a sub 40 deficit. Is it possible to declare in rugby league?

Going to seperate fact and opinion. FACT - we did dick you when he was playing, nothing classless about that. It's the truth. I'm more concerned on what we have, rather than what other teams don't. OPINION- As for Foster, as usual you miss the praise heaped on him, he does look an utter bellend though with his hair, trying to be Becks.

It's always the way that the youth show their individuality through the way they dress and cut their hair. I would not hazard to guess your generation, but I imagine you wore something just as woeful at his age. Punks, Goths, Metal heads, skin heads, ravers, new romantics, they all like to stand out.

Some like longy have never got past having daft hair styles.

But in the end he does it to draw the attention. I'm sure he's not overly concerned about a few blokes calling him a bellend, I don't think he's doing it for your benefit.

If you were saying that he looks an attractive prospect, that maybe more worrying for him.

But feel free to send your fashion tips on a postcard to

Jamie foster appreciation society
123 Could not careless lane
St. Helens
The rose inbetween the thorns of Wigan and Warrington.

I wouldn't post how nice it was that one of your players has got a serious facial injury.

On the subject of briers, if he don't play, you don't win. God help the day he retires.

Without the PnB specs on.

He wasn't saying how nice it was that Roby has the injury. It was nice to not have to deal with him in the Wire match. There is a very clear distinction.

On the subject of one man teams. You know that is utter rubbish about Briers. Last year we proved we can do well without him. There will be a transition as Briers is an absolutely class player (anyone who denies it is blinded by partisanship.) But, Monas, Brett and, to some extent, Myler all have an excellent influence on the team. We also have GOB coming through who is looking to be a new Briers and we can always pay a lil extra if we need to. There will be no sts-like shutdown after the talent leaves (hopefully).

This statement from you is especially disturbing and confusing when we have seen this year that, without Roby, Saints stutter. On opening day of the season, without Roby, Wigan make you look like amateurs. This has been the case several times this year (including last night) You can preach about lomaskell as much as you want. Without Roby, Saints really really struggle.

You sometimes post some really good balanced stuff, but that is rubbish. Stop being so sensitive or you'll end up saying things that patently aren't true.

Are you saying that fans have a tendancy to be one eyed, emotional reactionists??????



Now there is an epiphany worthy of note.

No there will always be Tomkins vs Eastmond sort of threads or Challenge cup or Super league threads. Which is a possibly worthwhile debate.

Also, there will always be people who claim that Charnley is better than Matt King (or something) which is stupid and petty.

I was just saying this thread has been derailed for no reason. No one is happy that anyone is injured (especially when Roby is such a class act for England) people need to stop being sensitive and saying things that aren't true.

indeed, derailed, less of the bickering now.

(respectful) injury talk from this point on now folks.

I would have loved Roby to play (he still might). AS people have said, want to beat Sts without the excuse of the injury crisis.
Although they can't really use that.

I think we do well to beat sts (with the injuries we have), but this Roby news has made it more possible.

I couldn't care less if they played there U20's and moaned for years over their 'injuiry crisis' as long as we win and get the two points.

I think you must be confusing Roby with someone else. He has played in every game this season so far. Our game against Bradford on Sunday is when we find out whether we stutter without him (assuming he has actually fractured his eye socket and assuming he is unable to play as a result). Roby has been the glue sticking us together in some matches due to either the number out injured or the experience missing (for example: we haven't had Pryce playing all season and he's our experienced halfback). However, we will have Perry back from his ban on Sunday plus what will be the strongest team we have fielded since the first match of the season when we only had Perry and Pryce missing. It will be interesting to see if Simmons can continue his magic in blending yet another version of our team together to fill the gap that is bound to be left by the absence of Roby. We will certainly find out if we are now a one-man team.

you're right to pick up on what I said. I was referring to the fact that, as i mentioned, Roby has been the guy sts have looked to when the rest of the team isn't firing. It happened on the first match of the season and the one this weekend. Additionally, when Roby has had a bit of a poo game and isn't affecting the play, saints have lost. The form of Sts is really on Roby now. I may argue that the emphasis is on Roby more than K.F.C; as there was a triangle of dominance from sts when cunnigham was king.)

We will see what Sts pull out against Bradford, like you say. I certainly don't follow Sts as much as you do, so I can't speak for all the matches.

My point basically was that the comment can't be made that Wire are reliant on Briers, from a sts fan; when Roby has been carrying Sts a good distance this year. There have been times when Lee has played poorly and Monas or Brett has taken a great deal of responsibilty. However, as I said, when Roby is a bit off, Sts stutter.

I am sure this will change when Pryce is back as he has been great and really forced a victory at the pie dome last year.

It'll be good to see how much influence lomaskell have on games after Pryce moves on. Then Roby will really be faced with pressure.

Roby is class and any team would miss him, I would be surprised if Saints do though. The way Saints have managed their squad this season (so far) has been brilliant. They have put in some top performances.

He got the injury in the frst half, then played the whole of the 2nd half with it. Wouldn't be surprised if he did play next week.

Is this a projected crystal ball statement, if not then you are talking garbage. Roby has only missed half a game this season.
Whats interesting is that wire are on form and playing full revs, whilst saints have been ticking over with almost half a squad......yet are just 2 pts behind.

What a load of drama over virtually nothing... I've just watched the game back and roby didn't seem to be in any discomfort at all.

Wouldn't be supirised if he played with a mask on and didn't miss any games.

roby wont play next week but i think we will see him against the pies

While Roby has carried us on occasion, when they have been fit he has been ably supported by Wello and Wilkin. It is when they have been absent that the load has fallen heavily on Roby, and only then because invariably our halves have been out as well. However, us Saints fans will find out just how accurate your point really is on Sunday, no doubt! (And I daren't even think of Wigan the following Friday ...)

I do think the point about Briers was valid under Cullen. It isn't now because Smith has enabled Warrington to play as a team. While Briers would clearly be missed if he was out injured, nowadays I think that would be because of what he brings to the team rather than being the glue that stuck the team together as he used to be.