You seem to be picking and choosing players from across the NRL to counter example. Yes, if this Saints side played against the Aussie national team, is fully expect a stuffing … but I also expect that as an England fan! We certainly didn’t disgrace ourselves against the Roosters whom have been there or there abouts in the last two years, and despite the narrative some fans seem to have around Saints not being as good as under Holbrook, I think Woolfs Saints are much more “NRL like” and probably wouldn’t fluff some of the chances we did in that game. Whether that’s enough is another conversation, which is why I say I would really like another shot at the WCC next year if we win next week.

I will avoid commenting on the Leeds team too much, but I think there is a big difference between Mata’utia/ Sironen and Martin/ Bentley. Not least, Martin/ Bentley are both primarily right sided second rowers and don’t see eithers game translating particularly well to the left side of the field (though could easily be wrong). I said my piece on Bentley when the rumours first arose about him moving (really excellent defender and lots of industry (second best behind Knowles at Saints), but limited in attack and haven’t seen much line running from him in his time at Saints…), and whilst I quite like Martin, he was outplayed by Mata’utia and Batchelor. If Sironen is a hit (as a 17st, 6ft5 wider running backrower should) he will offer us more overall. I’m not sure how Bentley can be a big loss for us, given we have played without him for basically the whole year already? I’m don’t think he would have been the difference in any of the games we lost this year which is surely the measure of “missing” someone?

Welsby will be fullback next year, it was already announced by Woolf (https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2021/07/29/w ... k-in-2022/) and if Hopoate doesn’t perform (and I trust Woolf to have the best chance of having him perform) then Hurrell, Simm or Shay Martyn take his place - that’s not bad depth …

You seem to be picking and choosing players from across the NRL to counter example. Yes, if this Saints side played against the Aussie national team, is fully expect a stuffing … but I also expect that as an England fan! We certainly didn’t disgrace ourselves against the Roosters whom have been there or there abouts in the last two years, and despite the narrative some fans seem to have around Saints not being as good as under Holbrook, I think Woolfs Saints are much more “NRL like” and probably wouldn’t fluff some of the chances we did in that game. Whether that’s enough is another conversation, which is why I say I would really like another shot at the WCC next year if we win next week.

I will avoid commenting on the Leeds team too much, but I think there is a big difference between Mata’utia/ Sironen and Martin/ Bentley. Not least, Martin/ Bentley are both primarily right sided second rowers and don’t see eithers game translating particularly well to the left side of the field (though could easily be wrong). I said my piece on Bentley when the rumours first arose about him moving (really excellent defender and lots of industry (second best behind Knowles at Saints), but limited in attack and haven’t seen much line running from him in his time at Saints…), and whilst I quite like Martin, he was outplayed by Mata’utia and Batchelor. If Sironen is a hit (as a 17st, 6ft5 wider running backrower should) he will offer us more overall. I’m not sure how Bentley can be a big loss for us, given we have played without him for basically the whole year already? I’m don’t think he would have been the difference in any of the games we lost this year which is surely the measure of “missing” someone?

Welsby will be fullback next year, it was already announced by Woolf (https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2021/07/29/w ... k-in-2022/) and if Hopoate doesn’t perform (and I trust Woolf to have the best chance of having him perform) then Hurrell, Simm or Shay Martyn take his place - that’s not bad depth …