I agree. Seems like he has zero decorum or class about him.

Our two main local rival both seem to currently have coaches who are similar in their attitude.

Poor technique by Henderson? That's a poor excuse even by your standards. Keep your head down, it gets knocked off by Puletua, keep your head up, it gets knocked off by Perry, great choice! When you make a hit like that, you take your chances. It's your responsibility not to make contact with the head, and if you do, then you have to face the consequences.
The VR decision was terrible. Ian Smith seems to be doing his best to make a career out of controversial decisions. God help us if Smith and Child get together as a team.

Or Alibert as ref, Hicks and Child as TJ and Smith as VR.

I quite like Thierry. He got suspended for missing the tackle count twice, but will Smith get suspended as VR for the decision on Friday, or for the knock-on try by Greenshields a few weeks ago? Will Thaler get suspended for the knock on try by Leeds against Wigan in the semi? Thierry had no help from the TJ's or the fourth official. I think he's improved a lot in the past 2 years. Thaler, Child and Smith seem to thrive on controversy. Silverwood can't police the ruck properly, Ganson is by far the best for me.

I think you'll find that most Saints fans are quite happy with a coach showing passion.

We've had coaches that where so unresponsive it simply looked like they did not care one way or the other win lose or draw.

Hopefully that won't change next year as NB is known for showing his emotions too. Remember that try in the playoffs at Warrington.

As for Saints not being in the same class as Wigan, Warrington, Catalan and Leeds.

Well you have one of those teams right, but the other 3 are fair game as far as we are concerned, the best thing about getting into 2nd or 3rd, is that with a stroke of luck we may never have to meet Wigan in the playoffs. Warrington are not all that this year though, pretty much even with ourselves. Some good performances some distinctly average.

It will be interesting to see what approach TS takes, as his run in to the challenge cup is Cas/Bradford/Saints/Wigan/London.

I'm expecting him to ramp it up and then do a Millward and give everyone the week off against London.

Saints will more than give you a run for your money, but mind the Pies don’t give you indigestion so close to Wembley!

How did Wigan get on against Leeds btw?



Rocking out of the cup

It does tickle me no end. Were Saints 'all that' scraping past Widnes? Were they all that, with their 'top class' performance against Catalans?

As for putting yourself on a par with Leeds; well, no.

we over indulged in the dw earlier in the season....you lot suffered from indigestion in the semi final rout...by the way congrats on being one of the 1st pie munchers to come on here after the semi only took 8 days

Didn't you post that we are back to our best?

The only did just beat Widnes but teams have these games and it's important you scrape the win rather than lose, it's a sign of a good team to win when playing poor.

We are only 3 points behind you now and we've only lost two league games (both to Wigan) in our last 13 super league games, we are now showing the character needed to get to old Trafford at just the right time.

We won't finish top but it certainly wouldn't shock me if we finished second this year, we've got cas, London, Warrington and hudds at home and wildcats and Wigan away, IMO we will only lose to Wigan.

The fact you lot haven't mentioned us all year, havent posted on our board but now the is a 7 page thread on your board and youve started posting on our board suggests your looking over your shoulder a little.

good luck to you,but i know whos shoes id rather be in and its certainly not yours,especially with mid season collapse brown in charge next year...

Browns mid season slumps at hudds isn't a worry I have, saints are different club, different players, different staff so it's strange that you can try and compare it.

Your coach has a play off slump, so I'd rather be in our shoes.

you go for your 6 losses on the trot we`ll go for a 3rd win in 4 years at wembley,and before you say it no i wouldnt want 6 final appearances on the bounce only to lose the lot

You've never had the title of super league champions and won't again this year, another play off disaster awaits you.

I frequent various boards, at various times.

I will put it to you here, seeing as you have admonished the responsibility of on your own board; what facet of Friday's game was top class?

I will reiterate here; I see nothing from Saints, certainly not on Friday's showing to make me think Saints are remotely close to the Saints of old.

There was a multiple page thread regarding the Leeds v Wigan CC game, are we fretting about those two sides also? Or should we ignore other games, entirely?

I would not claim we are the Saints of old. Neither would I claim would I claim that we are favourites. However we are in the mix with the rest and Leeds have shown that Wigan can be taken down from their current peak. Just as they showed last year with Warrington in the playoffs. You've made a final great, I would have taken 4th in the league and a CC win at the start of the year. After March I would have just taken making it into the top 6.

I just don't think anyone has been able to match Wigan this year in terms of high intensity and consistency, you can take our close call to Widnes as a sign of our form, or you can look at the longer term form, which shows we can match it with anyone but Wigan.

It's all opinion, but I think the league table tells the tale better. Quite clearly we are in the mix.

That's great mate and we all know wigan are the best team so far this year (being top helps)

But what part of the game on friday made you possibly think you can cut it with those gunning for a final (wigan, leeds and wire)?

In fact, what from any of your games this year has made you think that? Was it beating warrington at home (on their worst performance of the year and yes it was worse than salford)? Was it losing to wigan so many times? Almost losing to widnes? Losing to bradford? Letting leads slip?

Or on a bigger scale, you say Tony Smith has a playoff slump problem (bull btw. He won with leeds and lost be a penalty last year to the eventual champions and a team that dry bummed yours in the final) well what do you call losing 5 grand finals on the bounce under how many coaches? As someone said, I'd rather be in a final this year with a team of proven winners than floundering in a lucky 3rd with a team of bottlers.

I'm glad you pointed out that Tony Smith had a good Play off record at Leeds but has a poor play off record at Warrington.

That proves my point to the poster who told us saints will have a mid season slump under Nathan Brown but as smith has proved, it don't pan out the same just by having the same coach.

If you take Stains record out, against Wigan, they are in great form.
We have to play Pies (h) and Stains (a)... We CANNOT aford to lose both.
The thought of an away trip to Stains/France in the play-offs, fills me with DREAD.
We MUST stay strong.

Back on track.
We'll be OK, come the play-offs.
The loss last year to Leeds, was, lets say, UNFORTUNATE. It's just a pity, our key players chose to have an "off day" on that day. I'm sure Mr Smith will have them pumped-up and ready, come the last Saturday in August, and the end of September/early October. He's had the experience of both, in the last 7 years, or so. And, as a team, Warrington are improving under him.

Ahh, this where you are wrong. When the Wire appear in a grand final win or lose this will be one of the proudest moments in your clubs history.
You,ve just not managed to achieve this paricular moment yet........once you do everything will become clear.
They maybe you will give the saints respect in that they have got to 10 grand finals.

But haven't won one, since Tony Blair was Prime Minister.
All our yesterdays.
Let's concentrate on now, and not wallow in dewy-eyed nostalgia.

Oh, the nostalgia to savour, when Tony Blair was Prime Minister we use to beat the Wire 80 - 0. When it comes to grand finals, the wire don,t have that honour of using the word nostalgia.

i`ll give you the same respect as you give us until then..well you know the answer..as for proud moments ive had many watching the wire just like you may have had watching your lot..losing 5 in a row would not rank up there in the proud moments column