Wellens went into the game injured, by his own admission, he was more use on the bench. So makinson to fullback strengthened them. Meli's proper position is wing, so that's not a problem. The tries were scored down shentons side but they had players in position to effect tackles on webb, burrow after he broke through and hall. They failed each time.

Baniel

Had Shenton failed to defend the position before being injured? Of course it could just be coincidence that Leeds started to tear that flank apart after he went off injured.

Not sure I can take your comment regarding Meli seriously given his Grand Final record V Leeds while playing on the wing.

Not to mention this years Meli Brain Fart taking the Burrow Dummy

As for Bailey he was celebrating after being injured for 6 months coming into the start of the season, having a great season cementing an england place, replacing one of his stolen rings, winning again, the team setting records...need I go on

Plus it was all aimed at the leeds fans so how it can be taken as goading saints I'll never know.

All blown out of proportion really, aided in so small part by the fact it's Ryan Bailey

I'd be careful signing off each post as Baniel. You might forget when you're logged in as Wilbred.

Not sure if anyone has posted the (presumably edited) radio interview with Wilkin and Foster: www.wishfm.net/news?id=34402

Not sure if anyone has posted the (presumably edited) radio interview with Wilkin and Foster: www.wishfm.net/news?id=34402

Because when healthy Saints have the beating of us in Grand Finals.

Wellens was off when Saints were dominating and ahead. Shenton isn't Jamie Lyon. He's Shenton. We were in the ascendency when he got injured. Would Shenton have stopped Hall's try. Not a chance.

Didn't soliola come over to SL as a centre anyway?

That's Mr Pricklepop to you Jeff.

Well after having watched the match again I'm still none the wiser. When Kev is taking the final kick, the Saints players are behind the posts consoling each other, (including Graham and a very upset Makinson I think), Bailey is behind Kev waving his arms at the Leeds fans in the crowd.
The kick goes over and both sets of players walk towards each other. Wilkin comes into shot staring at where Bailey has been and shaking his head. Kev is then seen hugging numerous Leeds players and then goes over to Bailey who is nowhere near the saints players and they go crazy hugging each other. Bailey then clearly walks behind the sticks and is celebrating by clapping and waving his hands at the crowd. He is joined in this at various points by Delaney, mcShane in his suit, Peacock and then eventually the whole team. Webb also picks up Maguire over his shoulder and goes a bit wild.
At no time does Bailey go anywhere near the poor little upset lambs so where that has come from I dont know.

Maybe instead of whinging to the press Wilkin might want to apologise to the St Helens team and fans for his very lacklustre performance. Anyone want to guess how many times he gets ball in hand in that second half?

Shenton wouldn't have stopped Hall but he'd perhaps have stopped Burrow making the initial break. Shenton may also have stopped both Webb and Ablett but then again he may not have.

All we can discuss with any certainty is what he did defensively when he was on the field .... the rest is pure speculation.

When he was on I don't recall Leeds having much if any joy down their left flank bar a kick that Hall perhaps could have and should have done better with, especially as he's the best British winger in SL.

Is it a Kirke esque effort of somewhere between 2 and 4 times?

its all guesswork injurys happen and what is done is done. lets just enjoy it. (Big blow for england though)

Perhaps he wouldn't.

You really think Shenton's loss was the reason for Leeds win?

Who knows?

What is clear is where Leeds began to have a lot of success where previously they'd had little joy.



Soliola was playing right second row (as was Dixon when he replaced him in the first half), defending inside Shenton, Lomax and Makinson. While Leeds were exploiting the disruption down that flank he was shifted outside Dixon, inside Lomax and Meli although on some sets Meli and Lomax also switched.

More game time, fatigue, less familiar formation/s - expertly exploited by the direction out of dummy half by Leeds most influential players on the night.

For the Hall try Soliola was caught at marker and that was the gap Burrow went through after getting outside of Moore. Whether that gap would have been there had Shenton still have been on the field we'll never know but Shenton had defended superbly (IMO) before having to leave the field.

__________



That's his job. He didn't have to snatch it from Makinson, Hall was the only player to get a hand anywhere near the ball. It was yards infield no chance of being bundled into touch from that distance and proximity to the try line - Hall takes the ball and there is a 99% chance he scores. Lomax was the only other St Helens defender in the frame and he's the other 1% at preventing Hall touching down.

I noted that Bailey's ability to wind up opponents was given as a reason as to why he is in the England squad. McNamara is saying what the huge number and length of threads on this site attest to - having a niggly git in your team can actually be a good thing.

Depends if Bailey gets the opportunity, brings it to the party and whether the Antipodeans allow themselves to be distracted by it.

Time will tell but if Ryan Bailey's pantomime act is England's secret weapon it's as likely to blow up in our faces as it is in theirs.

I think he's earned the chance to make the squad on performance and he has the ability to make a mark. I just hope it's a positive.