They'll be nothing next season in my opinion... The only player capable of being a threat in their team is Kyle Eastmond, and there's a rumour going round that he might be going to union? They haven't even got any decent youngsters coming through unlike us with Farrell etc. It's Saints turn to go through the like we went through when we lost our big stars like Robinson, Farrell etc. Can't wait!

I wouldn't get to excited yet, they still have more International players than us and we was saying the same thing last year. Although our games have been close against them apart from Murrayfield they still have that winning mentality, wouldn't get to carried away just yet but I agree that if we can improve our squad before the start of next season I see no reason why we can't challenge them. Soliola will be a big player for them IMO.

It won't happen that quickly, KC will hold them together.

Personally I hope they stay competitive. It would be great next year to be up there and competing in semi finals and finals with the likes of Warrington and Saints. Let's get some fire back in the local derby.

Washed up doesn’t even describe KFC these days. His fat body is shattered and they will be lucky to get half a season from him.

What has he done this season to suggest he's still the force he once ‘supposedly’ was?

Saints will win nothing again next season as their match winners just aren’t what they once were………

If only that were true. Roby, KC, Gidley and Wilkin on his day are still serious attacking threats.

Give over. Numerous times we were under the cosh last season, only for KC to come back on and give us the direction we needed to get back into the game and go onto win.

SOmething that Wigan lack in abundance.

They are in decline but they still have some class in their team and will still be a bigger threat to Leeds than us next year due to the experience they have.

Eastmond will move into the halves and Soliola (whatever hes called) will move into centre so on paper they wont be losing much.

I do think with Eastmond and Pryce in the halves they will struggle on the organisation side of things which could cost them in close matches. Eastmond is class though but I am not sure if he is going to be so good to carry them through matches like they may need him too. Pryce has been annonymous of late in the halves and they really need to look at finding another position for him if possible.

The good news is the derby is very much back and we should have some belting matches against them next year.

Lets not kid ourselves into thinking they will sink into oblivion, and to be honest nor do i want them to for the sake of RL. Our games against them is the most anticipated match in the Rugby League calander and the fact we are becoming more matched with them year on year is only good for the entertainment value.

He did a good job of that on saturday.............

Grego wins the thread.



Seriously though, I don't think Saints will be as strong next year as they have been this, but the difference won't be too much. As much as I hate the guy and his terrible attitude, you can't say that Sean Long didn't inspire Saints to awesome things when he was on the pitch. They'll miss that in 2010, along with Lee Gilmour. Nick Fozzard won't add much.

All in all though, Saints should be fine for another season or two at least. Unfortunately...

saints will still probably be closest to leeds next season.

they'll still have one of the best packs, soliola will add more spark outwide and with long gone eastmond can add pace in the middle of the park.

They're still gonna be up there.

I agree.........

On the positive side:

Next season we will be stronger in the pack with the addition of Fozzard and Moore; and our three quarters are stronger with the addition of Soliola.

Our other young lads - Eastmond, Wheeler, Dean, Lomax, Dixon and Ashurt - are a year further on in their development.

On the negative side:

Wellens' lack of pace is a growing problem;
KC is another year older, but that is pretty much negated by the addition of Moore.
Gilmour will be a loss.

On the whole, we should be stronger in 2010 than 2009, IMO.
The loss of Long is no massive problem.

I cant see anybody pushing leeds at the top they seem to have a very good established team that know how to win big games when it matters and a good coach who is very good and with smith going and esatwood coming in to replace him who on paper is a much better player they will be hard to beat home/away.

Unluckly for saints, as may have been previously said, is that a lot of the big players are coming to an end within a few seasons of each other.

Cant really see fozzard adding a great deal but can understand why they have got him again, runs hard and straight, and by all accounts trains the house down, so will be a good one to show the young lads.

Saints major problem for me is how pryce responds, he can be brilliant, however he also can become a complete passenger, and without long steering them round the pitch, his missing persons act could prove a massive problem.

To be honest, we need someone to compete with leeds and as much as this hurts, saints are still the only ones on this years form who can do this.

However depending how We, Wire, Huds, and KR go next year there is a better than average chance of the top two monopoly being broken.

I think that is wishful thinking pal. Eastomd and Wheeler have shown they are the future, and it will be interesting to see how Dixon, Lomax, Gaskell and especially Sean Magennis fornt up next year.

Saints just don't have that wow or scare factor about them anymore.

They are a very, very beatable team imo

Nor do we and so are we.

Underestimate St Helens at your peril. They have some superb youngsters coming through with a class act in Soliola and a virtual new signing in Moore. They will not be as weak as some people are claiming.

Too much wishful thinking IMO.

all teams are beatable.

I think what he means is that many teams have gone to Knowsley Road, and rolled over. Where as now teams may go there and fancy their chances. Once that happens, yes all teams are beatable, and some teams are prized as a scalp more than others, and you are still the biggest scalp of the moment, as you have had the most recent success.

I dont think your decline will be as great as many on here, but it COULD be a dificult two years for you especially if the young lads dont quite cut it.

This is not a pop, but if a similar thing happens to you as did us in 2006, I just cant see your fans getting behind you like ours did.

The grand final turnout pretty much validates that point. I totally agree.

your right there

Says a lot though; we were having a really tough time, and instead of people losing interest, ticket sales increased because people wanted to show their support. That'd never happen anywhere else, save maybe Leeds. Definitely not at St Helens.

You can't have it both ways. People in the past have had a pop at Saints not increasing their attendence significantly. But therein lies the logic of the argument. If the attendence figures have not increased to people's liking, then there must have been a good following in the harsher times - and boy were they harsh.