The difference is that Walmsley isn't carrying the Saints pack week in, week out. With the exception of the odd reminder of Westwood's halycon days, Hill is and is getting very little rest or bench time as a result.

Most weeks, Walmsley has LMS, Masoe and Amor alongside him, all big units that sap energy and mean Saints physical prescence doesn't lessen when one of them isn't present, in the way that ours does when Hill departs.

Yawn, yawn, yawn.

A decent topic has been derailed by stats bores. Love off and play Top Trumps. Stats can only tell so much.

Back on thread, the future is only bright, IF we sign an organising half back, and an accomplice (preferably). What we currently have at the club in the halves, are plainly not at the level we need.

We have good players coming through, in many positions. Get them halves to play alongside, and they'll prosper even more.

and if the dive with tom daley was still going then a few of your lot would be on it and no doubt win it

I beg to differ about stats they are comprehensive enough to reveal if a player has had a good game.

Internally the players are judged on an even bigger set of stat measurement.

..the future is orange if we buy Jack Hughes and have Laithwaite in the pack.

I firmly believe that the next 2 seasons will see this team go from strength to strength.

It's mainly based on the quality of the young players, who get better each year and more experienced...... I think the Asotasi signing will have taught the club a major lesson in recruitment.... i dont think we will make that mistake again.

We have had to overhaul an ageing side... which has effected us alot this season in terms of league results... But i feel that with some new HB's, that corner will have been well and truly turned.

I do think we need 2 big nasty forwards to give us some real bit still though.

As much as our pack gave 100% and played extremely well; the Saints game showed us that we lack some beef upfront, especially after comparing our forwards' stats v Walmsley and Masoe.

Simms and Westwood provided some great aggression upfront, but we need an 18 stone brute to
make inroads and tire out opposing defences.

Another poster mentioned that it would also relieve some burden from Hill who would perhaps make more breaks similar to the past 2 seasons. That said, he is still absolutely outstanding.

A concern also is that Westwood isn't getting any younger. He has been such a cornerstone for us and it's he's going to be nigh on impossible to replace. That said, Philbin looks really promising and Currie has made big strides.