www.loverugbyleague.com/news_196 ... -hype.html Not only does he criticize players after winning Grand Finals, Jon now thinks Leeds Rhinos fantastic season is a load of hype and that St Helens aren't as bad as people make out. No wonder why our sport can't sell itself when one of the so called star players dismisses the team of the year with cr@p like this.

www.loverugbyleague.com/news_196 ... -hype.html Not only does he criticize players after winning Grand Finals, Jon now thinks Leeds Rhinos fantastic season is a load of hype and that St Helens aren't as bad as people make out. No wonder why our sport can't sell itself when one of the so called star players dismisses the team of the year with cr@p like this.

I saw this the other day, and I don't really see what the issue is at all with what Wilkin has said.

For a guy who missed 7 tackles against us on Friday. Another 7 tackles in the earlier meeting at Headingley and 6 missed tackles at the game at Langtree he perhaps should be concerning himself with his defending rather than how much hype Leeds are getting.

Leeds were missing a number of key players, a week after a cup final win - when Saints had a week off and all of their best players available (of which Wilkin isn't one) - and Saints only just scraped a win.

How the BBC ever picked Wilkin as a pundit for anything - is beyond me.

He's talking to the Saints Faithful (and waivers). As with his earlier comments post CC final, this is about getting flagging fans who were unhappy with Saints lacklustre start to go to the super 8s. They are at home this week and the club will want to get people through the gates. The likelihood of achieving that aim is improved if Wilkin tells them we are not as good as the hype and they are better and can still win the comp if not the League Leaders Shield. In short he's doing his job.

Exactly. That is my reading of it.

Imagine being a Saints fan and being told, we only beat Leeds because they were tired, we are still not as good as them.

There is no X-factor at Saints at all.

Eddie and Stevo can harp on about Luke Walsh until the cows come home - but he's a run of the mill kicking halfback (He'd have stayed in the NRL if he was THAT good).

This Saints side is not a patch on the one Leeds beat in the last 6-7 years in Grand Finals.

I wouldn't have ANY of the Saints side in the Leeds side (Assuming Aiton was fit) - and that includes Roby.

Don't be silly. Roby and Walmsley would walk into this Leeds side, and Wilkin too.

I personally would prefer to play Wigan or Huddersfield in the play off semi than Saints. I do think us fit and raring, is too good for Saints, but I would never under estimate them.

Don't have a problem with Wilkin's comments, the Leeds team can speak for itself on the pitch.

They remind me a bit of some of wane's ill-judged rants that seem to fire up the opposition just as much as his own team.

I may be biased, but this is the Leeds forum, but if Leeds had not been in the CC final, Saint would have lost to a Leeds side who wouldn't have got out of 3rd gear.
We've hammered them 3 times this year...which indicates it's not a fluke. Beating Leeds 6 days after a final, including a probable 2 days of celebrating, is nothing much to crow about.
Saints are average. I'd happy take them on again in the play offs, and it'll be a comfy win for us. No worries at all.

You were doing well there until you mentioned Wilkin
Just because he's been around the block, everyone at Saints are trying to make him out to be some kind of Kevin Sinfield type, it's embarrassing for all concerned.

Of course it would have made far more sense for a senior player like Wilkin to come out and criticise his own team, and suggest that they don't really stand a chance of beating a far superior Leeds team any time this season as they will inevitably win everything. In fact, he probably should've told his team's fans not to bothering turning up to any more games this season. His chairman and coach would probably encourage him to do so.

Saints finally have something to cheer about after so many key losses. It doesn't matter how Wilkin performed, that it was right after the ccf, that we had 6 players out and another on the bench that was never going to get more than 6 mins of play time. As soon as he has a reason to talk tough he was going to take it xD.

I'd say more a Sean O'Loughlin type. I quite like him as a pundit though. Speaks well and knows his stuff. There's an element of truth in what he says in the article too.