so, more or less halfway through the super 8's we are sitting 3rd, having just defeated the champions on their own ground only the 2nd time in god knows how many years we have won on St.Helens soil!
if truth be told, i don't think we have played all that well, a lot of the games have been scrappy,close affairs,most of those we have lost,especially to the teams around us,those are the kind of games we need to start winning if we are to get to old trafford.
on the same token, we haven't really had that many "batterings" ,with the exception of Hull at home first game where we were incredibly undercooked and Leeds in the cup, we have been competitive in most other games, had we not made silly errors at vital times in certain games, we could be challenging Leeds for the LLS.

but we are where we are, i am happy with things at the moment, but a lot of people aren't, we had some right knee jerking going on after 3 and after 10 games and i said to judge us, and the coaches come the end of the season, so are those people who were calling for PA's P45 still feel the same or are they happy with how the season has panned out?

i would say that we haven't particularly been brilliant, still have lots of things in our games to be cross about but did anyone really expect us to be 3rd come the end on August?

Agree very much

A different bounce, a kicked goal or a chance taken here and there and we are top of the league

We desperately need to take more of the chances we make

at the start of the season some fans didnt even think we would make the top 8

to be where we are now is a great achievement and could be 80mins away from a grand final, id have taken that at the start of this season

Many pundits had us 7th or 8th. But if we fail to reach the grand final we will be called underachievers.....

I will gladly admit that I said come the end of the season I would not be too fussed to see PA go.

Fair doo's though, he's turned it around since then.

However if we make top 4 then lose in the knockout stage, can this be seen as an improvement?

It would probably suggest that he cannot take us any further.

If we go on and win it then obviously he is God.

Peoples perception of whether we have done well goes on their expectations. If you think we should be finishing 6th to 8th but finish 4th then yes we have had a good year.

However if you expect top 2 and a grand final appearance but we finish 4th and get knocked out in the semis it's being a bad year.

We often think or dream with our hearts not our heads when it comes to our team and this can cloud reality.

One of my main arguments were not giving the youngsters an opportunity and at times showing no fight or spirit.

Since then we have seen plenty of youth given an opportunity and spirit like the other night. A game we would have lost a few months ago.

All in all I'm happy with where we are now and will back the coach and players all the way.

The second half of the seasons performances have been played at a better level of commitment I would say, except for the odd game like the Wakey game here and there , they seem to have stepped up a bit, that may well have been PA's game plan from the start, I've had strong doubts about his ability to motivate them but they seem to have a lot more determination to get the wins now, so credit to him for that.
I thought earlier in the season we played our best football against the better sides and lost for one reason or another, but we definitely ground out a good result in France and last week was not an easy game, Maybe this will be the year.

I would rather we played Leeds than Wigan, should we get there, We have got a decent record against both, but I would say that we can get under Leeds skin easier , I don't think it takes that much to get them rattled.

I truly don't see us having a problem with Cas, I think D Powell has done a great job with what he has but they looked a bit jaded to me last weekend, We both have a rest now, but I expect to win this game and keep the roll going.

I never gave any thought to where we would finish the season when we started, to be honest I'm more interested in how we play on a week by week basis. But I'm giving it more thought now because getting to the GF is more of a reality if you are in the last 4, It wont be the end of my world should we fail, but should we manage it , it would surely have a good effect on ST sales.

dont think the players motivation and determination can be questioned, they work very hard for each other on the field, you dont get the best defence in the league without this and working for each other

Yes that's fair comment, the defence speaks for it's self, The attack not so, maybe I am sensing a change there, Some of the players have looked far more positive for the last few weeks, Kopczak, Leroy, and Ellis for eg have all looked better to me.

yes ive seen a change in style to our attack too started at the wigan away game, ellis having more responsibility

as for kopczak, are we not going to get the chants of sign him up going???? he is ooc after all

We had 8 players off contract.
Fairbank, Lunt, Learmount all gone. Looks like they will be followed by Dickinson, Bailey, L Johnson, Kopczak and Taai. Both Koppy and Taai have had good seasons but it seems they are not in Andersons plans ?

either that or they can't be accommodated on the cap?

was wrong about taai offers on the table but his agent wants more but the contact says they are hopeful of coming to agreement and no its not the postmans mate

Should keep Dickinson and Johnson. They will be cheap now and may well save us money later.

would think we will keep kopczak

dont know what crack is with taai at moment

Aren't they both England youth internationals? I'd be surprised if they weren't retained.

Dickinson is on loan at halifax as part of his development, think we will keep him

Dickinson is at Keighley.

not far away

Imo, i think your nailed on third, Saints have gone and cas to finish fourth. Giants to do a HKR and get to the final...