I watched the reserves yesterday before the main game and we commented at how the saints reserves looked so well conditioned against the way our team looked, then when we got to the main game we said the same about the Saints players against how our lads looked.

As we discussed it during the game we seemed to have being saying the same thing over the most of this and last season. perhaps this in itself could be a major part of our problem, especially in defence where teams seem to be able to shrug off our players so easily when we attempt to tackle.

Who is our conditioner and can we not get them to study teams like St's methods because it was more than apparent that right through from main team down they simply looked that much more conditioned.

Have to agree with you.

As a Saints fan, i couldnt fail to notice the bellies hanging out of the shorts of a couple of your players.

Too much lard and not enough muscle at Cas for me.

I suspect you can get away with a bit of lard on your small narrow pitch, however when you play on the bigger pitches you will get given the run around.

We play better on the wider pitches

Which is funny because our good wins have all come on bigger pitches

I would say we are in bottom 3 in terms of strength and conditioning in the league.

Huh? I think Cas players look pretty toned. Cunningham has a bigger belly than most of the Cas players! What I think when I see Cas is that they look comparatively slender. They need more muscle, which I think is what is being said. I didn't notice any hanging bellies though!

Take it you did not go to the match!Higgins and Widders looked a tad overweight

Its almost certainly down to a more scientific approach to nutrition rather than the actual physical conditioning regimes. Look at the youngsters Saints churn out, completely different build to the Cas kids.

Supplements at every meal I reckon

Loreal?

Its nothing to do with conditioning its what you call beer bellies this has gone on for years at cas and its about time someone put a stop to it.

It quite easy why this Cas dont take under 21 leval has a proper comp they think it is a waiste of time just now but in a couple of years time when the youngster flood through they will dominate it as you lot found yesterday.the other reason lots of under 21 are only part time.

I did go to the match, yes. I stand towards the away end. I saw Widders and he just looked big rather than overweight. I always think Cas players just look too lean.

Earlier in the season Cas were winning a lot of games late in the match so conditioning didn't seem to be a problem then.

Biggest problem with Cas is our individual tackling technique. Compare it with the big improvers this season - Huddersfield, Hull KR & Harlequins - and it's easy to see why they're all looking a decent shout for the top 6 and we're now down in 10th.

All these sides seem to be much more effective in the tackle which puts the opposition under pressure and means they (the defenders) don't waste energy with missed tackles etc.

Against Warrington Sargent seemed to make about half the tackles whilst he was on the field. It was no great surprise we lost the game whilst he was off the field. Cas need to find some way of getting a few more of the players to tackle like he does. Until they do we're always gonna concede a lot of points and leave ourselves needing to score a pile of points to win a game.

I remember after we played Huddersfield pre season I said I was concerned at the conditioning levels and evidence of hypertrophy work on the players. Particularly arm and thigh girth.

Im just as concerned now as I was then

Because we're worth it, too!