Unless they win something, which seems unlikely, I think Saints have given up the right to be involved in this comp for a while tbh. Give their place to a Hull or something - at least there would be a decent crowd.

The way it's going with saints at the moment, they'll be moving Kieran Cunningham's statue from outside Langtree park stadium to
outside the Wire ground.

not saying it is the case with Cunningham but think some great players are not always able to relate and improve lesser players than they were because they can't see/ understand the player's weaknesses or limitations. Unlike more workmanlike players.

In Australia there are good standard comps for coaches to learn at below NRL (Qld and NSW Cup), and most clubs have decent structures for bringing coaches through. Bellamy at the Storm is the best example, with other clubs knowing that his assistants are generally really high class.

There's a reason why Robinson and Maguire did very well in SL - they are damn good coaches. They are also a younger generation from when SL was getting the likes of Folkes, Simmons etc. They are seemingly far more technically proficient. Its probably no coincidence that NRL clubs seem to have jumped ahead of SL again.

The best older coaches are the likes of Bennett, who both keeps learning but also surrounds himself with quality assistants.

You seem to think I was criticizing McDermott??. I was very happy with what we achieved last season. I was merely pointing out a comment Hetherington had previously made and the fact that I would like to see what a good Aussie coach could do with our team. Apart from Murray we have never had in recent times what I would call a top overseas coach, who is very tactically aware, unlike most of our rivals. Not saying in the slightest that I want rid of McDermott.

On the contrary, it just seemed a tad left field to me. If it was intended to be hypothetical than my apologies.