Interesting going back to the first page of this thread (which I did by accident!)





Seems like maybe there is more to Saints success than never having injuries - 5/6 players out, Lomax with one arm, Grace only just back having missed pretty much the whole season to date. Still a 40 odd point win and 4 points clear at the top. Couple of big games against Catalans and Wigan to come which will be very interesting.

I think people often underplay the missing players we have and think we are constantly 100% fit because the squad management has been strong (Hurrell/Bell/Lussick have been important signings this season, the long term play/investment in Dan Norman is starting to pay-off) and the youngsters (Bennison, Davies, Wingfield being the beneficiaries this year) come in and largely cover strongly. Last season we lost our first choice scrum half in the first half at Wembley for the rest of the season but people still think we had a perfect time of it.

We've had a big game loss this year when we risked Lomax too early with his injury and made a mistake playing Davies in the halves rather than Welsby - so obviously these things have an impact. But even then we were the better side and threw it away with an unnecessary intercept pass by a one armed player when we were basically cruising - the game should have been in the bag irrespective of the issues.

It is clear the team is very well conditioned and the quality of the replacements based on wider squad strength is the difference IMO, not some perceived multi-year run of good luck. It can't be coincidental that the best conditioned teams over the long term seem to keep more players fit and perform better on the pitch than the more poorly conditioned teams.

Much of saints success is built on their front row and outside backs early in the sets, accepting Grace has been injured theres still been strike and ability to win those early tackles and make meters. As I said before the game It really didn't matter the players saints were missing because they werent missing in the key area leeds are weakest.

Saints have built some good depth and recruited well, much to admire about what theyve done. We could do with a few more like them in our game.

Notice that Tom Grant has been dropped at least for his ineptitude.

well deserved

I understand why we feel like this.... However all refs need to learn how to do it......we all need to start somewhere

League 1?