A genuinely hard prop, a mouthy half, an out the back centre, a captain who will strike fear into OUR players and inspire by performance.

Absolutely this, 2022 season is a free hit from me, I just want to enjoy watching my team again. Sadly this may be another season to write off.

Good post. Tonight showed the gulf in class and Saints had another gear or two which they didnt need. I'm right behind Powell but he has a massive project. We have 2 marquees that are not delivering, a pack that is not fit for purpose, and a number of players on contracts that we are stuck with which Powell would not have signed. We also have some players who think they are better than they are. In truth every Saints player was better than his opposite number tonight.

But we aren't a great side, not even a particularly good one right now. Haven't been for quite a long while and we have just played the 2 best sides in the league for the last 12 months. If anything it's a good thing we have had them this early, as it gives Powell a good idea of where we truly stand and hopefully he can make the adjustments needed - That is where is challenge lies this season. Sorting out the dead wood, improving those with some potential and hopefully, by August/September, showing some progress towards being a half decent side.

Hope whizzy rascal drives off with the ball next week so we don’t have to play

I'll judge Powell this year in whether he renews Hughes contract. That is the litmus test. Everything else, he's inherited, bar Pete and Oliver.

Another one escaping critism on here is Toby king..since he signed is over inflated contract he's done naff all..buck up or buck off

I don't disagree with a word of this post, DSM, but the elephant in this particular room is the expression "dead wood". We all know who they are. Some of them got their contracts extended, while Chris Hill was given leverage to leave a club he's served very well, for over a decade. True, his best days are behind him, but we're left with a pack of second rowers, with all the strength of an astronaut's fart.
We've lurched from problem to problem at half back since Briers' retirement. Our recruitment STINKS, and some of the blame lies with Powell.

It's going to be a long season. At this rate, I can't see us being involved come late September

we are a mediocre side in a medicore league.... nothing toinight was a surprise.

it will take 2-3 seasons to turn this side around into a decent team.

the pack must be in the bottom 3 in SL.

He is on my list in the clear out thread.

What I would give for Jake Connor right now.

He was awful tonight Matautia. Don’t see it with him one bit. I’d rather give Connor Wrench a go.

We need to send Philbin out on loan and hope he never comes back.

This is all SO predictable. We know the prop forwards are poor. Simple as that. Miles away from where we need to be. At least two big props are needed. Until that happens, mid-table at best.

Another bunch who are not copping they flak are those behind the scenes who sign these average wannabes and let players leave i.e Chris hill mamo..they should be named and shamed..

Looked brilliant with that relentless Hull pack giving him acres of room, but behind our motley crue of grumpy, happy, bashful and several dopeys?

We all know that props are an issue. But surely they aren't to blame for our clueless ability to create anything in the opposition 20?

We might as well play his mum, Maggie. At least arrange a swap(shop)

We are unable to play on the front foot. Cooper and Bullock fronted up well for the first 20 minutes. They're a 2 man pack, hill is badly missed, Philbin is a second row, mulhern is an able understudy at best. If butler isn't even worth a go to see if he performs better then he has been a total waste of cap space. Harrison is obviously exempt from criticism, but its unfair to expect him to be a possible saviour too.

How we have failed to recruit a single top quality prop for the last 3 years is beyond me, its a joke.

Her decision making is questionable, after marrying Keith Chegwin.

I wouldn’t bet against Saints winning the lot this season as they are just relentless and their speed at play the ball just kills teams and just shows the depth of their squad when they didn’t even need Hurrell who would have had a field day against our spineless bunch and agree about our recruitment over the last few years has been shocking.Les Boyd on his own would have done better than this shower.Only 5 games in and not one good performance does not bode well for the rest of the season

A lot of people convincing themselves “we’ll be great when we “buy two big props”

Is that burying the head in the sand of the major cultural issues at the club?

The investment in the playing roster in the last 10/12 years has been astounding with very little to show for it.

Do players sign for Warrington because they want to and they’d die for the shirt and hungry to improve and succeed? Or are they going because of the big contracts offered ?

The team is not short on talent, international props Cooper and Philbin, two Marquee half backs, international hooker in Clark, international back row Currie, England knights captain Walker, natural try scorer Charnley, Holmes and Mautuai were stand outs at Cas. Ratchford England squad.

Loaded with Talent but not playing to their potential on a consistent basis and all going missing in big games for the last 5 or so years (CC win in 2019 papered over cracks)

Play off defeats against Cas, Hull, Catalans in reason years I couldn’t help but wonder if the players couldn’t wait for the off-season to start rather than work for a few more weeks to try and win a title.

The club seem happy to be a top 4 team as long as the gimmicks keep on going Greg Inglis/Wizzy Rascal/ cringe marketing (big pie smash)

I’m not sure how it changes, you’ve tried signing players from good environments (Williams, Charnley, Hughes, Widdop) but rather than change the culture they seem to slip into type.

Hopefully the change of coach is the answer but it’ll take a few years to find the right character of players not just 5 games.

You have the talent to compete for both trophies each year (if anyone can with this Saints team) but might take a few patient years before we see true progression.

I don't disagree with your reasoned post. This is not going to happen overnight in getting the right balance of players in both attitude and skillset. The most disappointing facet of last nights game, was we didn't look like crossing the whitewash if we played until Easter. I thought our effort was good, but application with ball in hand is so frustratingly bad. We are pants at chasing a game, and wonder why we continually try to force it when it never ever works for us. It's been glaringly obvious what our problems are for a couple of seasons, and as many, including yourself, have pointed out, it wil take time to turn round.

The only two times I can remember getting in the opposition last night, Matautia knocked on playing the ball and Clark threw a pass which bounced off Philbin's chest. Both first or second tackle in the count. Not sure last night told us anything about ability to create anything in the opposition 20, we spent no time there.

Like the Wire of old, Saints didn't need to do much apart from getting the basics right, then just wait for us to cock up, which we did many times.