Patton is gash, but the combined ability of Lomax and fages still isn't enough to lace austins boots

As108, to be fair, there's a fine line between the quality of both our front rows (Roby included). Last game you dominated the ruck because of you back 3. Knowles, Lees and other were right up in our faces and our back three couldn't match, the front 3 were fairly level. It could be different this time though- Hughes and Currie would have hurt after that game- hopefully they have a point to prove.

Half back-wise, if we can gain any ruck superiority, Austin is a world apart from Lomax and anything else you have to offer at hb. Its a compliment to your pack that Lomax, though just above bang average, is effective.

Austin is nowhere near as good as you think he is. He’s only in Super League because he’s inconsistent which is why Canberra got rid and Warrington threw money at him. He comes up with some great individual moments but he goes missing for massive amounts of each game then scores a try from either a dummy or step. Lomax has been better than him this season.

Walmsley and Thompson walk into most NRL sides and are easily the top two props in Super League. I rate Cooper and Hill but they just aren’t on the same level. The idea that Lomax is just above bang average is nonsense, he’s one of only two players with 30 try involvements. No matter how good our pack is no average player comes up with those numbers at this stage of a season.

And imagine if he was consistent- bloody scary. For a bang average player, he's doing ok leading the mos rankings and being the lead try scorer. As108, please be honest, would you swap Lomax for Austin. 'Course you would. On the back of your pack, he'd have a field day.

The question is as108: Austin or Lomax? Being honest:

...............

(Please fill in the above)

Cooper has already walked in/performed at nrl level with St George.
To be honest, I'd have Coops over Thompson every time. Walmsley I do rate highly and at this point in time, has the edge over Hill. But take captaincy away, Hill is a fantastic prop. His England caps and performances will back that up. As will Cooper's, although not selected in the latest squad.

For me there isn't a lot of difference overall its the Walmsley-Hill comparison that shades it into Saints favour.

Thompson and Cooper are equal being slightly different in playing attribute, Clark is now quite capable of performing better than Roby as the latter becomes more injury prone, Walmsley and Hill goes heavy in Walmsley's favour because Hill looks tired and frustrated when things don't go his way.

I'd say he looks quiet because other teams now know hes the go to guy and teams are shutting him out the game. if we had Brown or Widdop out on the field along side him we'd be laughing. As it happens Patton isn't a world beater and goes through the motions. if there was another classy half out there alongside Austin then he'd shine week in week out i think.

It's pretty much the reason out attack stutters so much. Once Austin has been closed down the attack finishes or it goes through patton and not much happens. The lad cant do it all on his own. Lomax is world Class for me, but if he played next to Patton all season hes have days where he looks quiet an all.

Its worrying that we've not adapted to this,

Canberra offered him more money than Warrington to stay. Parramatta also offered him a contract but sure that doesn't suit your agenda.

Can't believe people are moaning about a game being promoted

We shouldn’t underestimate how much Ratcford brings to our attack. His absence is showing at the moment, he is the one that usually makes the extra man.

Quote ="wire-flyer"Can't believe people are moaning about a game being promoted'" The Saints Club have responded with a nice taster video at the end. https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2019/06/25/w ... or-no-one/

Quote ="wire-flyer"Can't believe people are moaning about a game being promoted'" The Saints Club have responded with a nice taster video at the end. https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2019/06/25/w ... or-no-one/

Are you really that dense? Each week there are raiders fans commenting on our FB about how lucky we are that he’s ripping it up and how missed he is. Hardly a reject.

Quote ="Judder Man"The Saints Club have responded with a nice taster video at the end. https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2019/06/25/w ... or-no-one/'" That was the second clip in our video that we put out at the weekend. it's not a great response, its all one sided.

Quote ="Judder Man"The Saints Club have responded with a nice taster video at the end. https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2019/06/25/w ... or-no-one/'" That was the second clip in our video that we put out at the weekend. it's not a great response, its all one sided.

Don’t try and debate with AS, it really is pointless.

Yes, but the message is we are looking down on Warrington in every sense of the word where as Warrington need a plane to do that.

Thompson wouldn't walk into most Super League sides let alone NRL sides. He's a good hard running prop but he's prone to errors and has minimal handling skills. He's one of those who knocks a few over makes a few yards and you love him if he plays for you. If he doesn't play for you you're not overly fussed!

It's pointless any fans saying 'so and so would storm it in the nrl'. Until they actually go and do it, its irrelevant. Cooper is one of the few props in super league who has proven himself over there.

Thompson is playing above himself. A backrower stepped up hence his errors with the ball in collision at times. He'll end up busted, and retiring early. I've seen it at Wire over the decades. He's doing great but he's a cricket score off Warmsley and if AS can't see that, he's blinkered with scouse mist.

That's a ridiculous thing to say. You're entitled to your opinion, but it's just wrong. He's a superb young prop, arguably the form GB prop this year. He should get in the GB squad ahead of some of the established names.

Reading this thread makes a mockery of the league table doesn't it? We've apparently only got two decent players, Roby and Walmsley. The rest are inferior to Warrington's equivalent. Our front row is weaker, with or without Roby, our halves combined can't get near Austin. And I know none of you rate Coote. Which must mean either our centres or wingers are absolute monsters for us to be 6 points clear of you?

FWIW I think you'll win this game. We've not been playing particularly well and have been rotating 4 or more every week for a while now, so we've no real momentum or form going into the game. You also need to win more than us to stay ahead of the chasing pack, it really doesn't matter too much if we win or not, we'll still have a two game buffer. It doesn't feel at all like a big game if I'm honest.

I rate Coote, think he's a great player and a great signing. You're a better team with Coote in it than Barba. He is still a massive threat in attack, great support runner as a fullback and sound in defence. Great fullback for me. You will win on Friday I'm sure, we are a bit too laboured in attack I feel. We definitely have it in us to beat you but it will be a tight game so hill will be moaning instead of doing his job, we will come up with lots of errors with a low completion rate and you lot will just have to get the basics right to beat us.

Still hope we can beat you though, comfortably would be nice just to raise that but if self doubt in the saints camp ready for the business end.

You're right, it does make a mockery.

1st Vs 2nd and you're dismissing it as another run of the mill game. That right there is the stereotypical Sin'tellins fan arrogance we've all come to know. As we say in the trade: [i"All the gear and no idea."[/i That's a saints fan pretty much summed up.

Saints fan dismissing the game as unimportant... they are favourites but I will still be gutted if we lose, Saddened couldn’t careless (I don’t think so).