It's always going to be difficult against a team that finished 16 points clear last year and with a virtually full strength pack to compete for 80 minutes with one missing Ma'u, Bowden, Satae, Savelio and carrying injuries to Houghton and Lane. The critical thing now is getting bodies back post the Wigan game (can't see us getting much there with so many out) - do we know timescales on any of these plus Tuimavave, Faraimo, Naulago? Kelly back is one thing but little use if the rest aren't.

One loss in three games, with a depleted team through injury and suspension and you've got the wagon ready to roll, as usual.

What was wrong with Houghton going into the match?

I’ll miss the Wigan match as out socialising

Have The Smyths in Melbourne Friday and then
Rick Astley and A Ha Sat at the local winery
Then Sunday I’ll sleep for 24 hours !

Gusty performance with players missing, the main point is we do have some who says Ratu cannot defend well and he does look out of position a few times but we went to pieces after he went off so he must bring something to the right side.

Really hope the injuries are not too bad as I still think we have the makings of a good team.

You can’t win them all Punos, although we did one year, Ratu brings that pace, which we do lack in our three quarters, we were under strength on Sunday, nothing won or lost in February. apart from two points.

I’d sleep during all those concerts, we get better bands at the bonus arena

Yes,but AP reluctant to pay for one

Masi played despite a shoulder injury, apparently.

Might explain his lack of minutes on the field.

The way our forwards are dropping Bienek will get a recall

Sorry I meant Matongo who was jabbed up. Had heard 2 were playing injured.

How many assistants do we need before the coach needs replacing?

I'm willing to give Radford a chance this year. I was disappointed that old habits had shown up again against Saints, but there had been some positive signs before that. I just hope that if it isn't working Pearson will make the right move and not allow the season to be wasted. Easter is always a good indication. Let's review things then.

i agree we have to give Radford a chance with this squad.
Have to say the coaches have to get players running onto the ball rather than receiving it stood still; or partly in motion.
the difference with Saints players and us on Sunday was so evident

The aggression and line speed in defence was the main difference. We just stand around waiting for the opposition to reach us which gives them an easy 10+ metre every tackle. Saints, on the other hand, were flying in and getting 3 or 4 men in most tackles which meant they completely dictated the speed of the game

So defensively nothing has changed ?
Is that why we let in 30 points in a half at home ?

It’s been like that for 3-4 seasons now, must be tactical, which I really don’t get.

Getting off the line quickly and being aggressive takes its toll, its very hard to sustain for any prolonged period. Despite what has been said on here even Saints don't do it all the time. I think what they are good at is sensing weakness and being able to turn the screw with a few big sets here and there when their opponents are struggling.

A passive defence can work fine so long as you don't lose your defensive shape. It relys on guys not jumping the line or making bad decisions.

With our big forwards we probably just aren't fit enough to be too aggressive in defence too often.

Watch the WCC match between Roosters and Saints - Saints were nilled and decimated by Roosters line Defence which inc A Morley.

I made a copy of the match and gave all my Youth team a copy - under 12s. I advised that we wanted to defend like that. The line speed never changed the whole game.

It's an amazing display of aggression and fitness for those interested. Sure it's on YouTube. You need only watch 10 mins.

Completely disagree, saints played like it for 90% of last season, hence them destroying super league, 90% of nrl games are played with similar intensity, hence so many competitive games between top and bottom teams

PS


A passive defence is ridiculous

You're wrong. saints do it plenty of the time. A passive defence puts you on the back foot. saints win games because of strong defence giving them the upper hand and good field position

It’s the 2000 WCC at Bolton
You tube that fooker and then see what you think

The problem we have is you have interchange your forwards, LR seems to have little idea how to use his bench. Two players never entered the fray till 20 minutes left of the game. The week before he had Fonua on the bench and played him for seven minutes.
If you want to keep them big men playing with intensity they need to be spelled. Playing Gareth Ellis at 39 for a full half when you have young lads on the bench seems silly. When some of them forwards walked off at halftime they looked done and it showed in the second half.

Agreed. Saints tactic of a rush defence would tire the opposition quicker than it would Saints. When they defend, the players who were making the most tackles in that set, be it Knowles, or Walmsley, then don't take a drive the next set, typically. This allows them to recover. As an attacking side, if you get hit hard by one of Saints players rushing out, and then you have players like Grace, Percival, Makinson etc. running at you, there is no wonder you don't get a dominant contact in defence, and they play on the back of that