And they’ve run away with the league. That 2nd place isn’t closer to them doesn’t make them a worse team.

Which teams are we comparing them to? Saints of 05/06? Bradford of 03?

Neither.

Don't kid yourself, they would get smashed by a lot of past teams and I'm talking kid table teams from 5-10 years ago.

The league this year is such poor quality, they are the best of a bad bunch.

Name one of these mid-table teams. Utter nonsense.

I wish there was a bit more competition but these sorts of 'back in the day' throwaway statements make me laugh. All smacks of sour grapes.

I’ll give one glaring example, and I don’t think that team was all that either. But the 2017 Cas team in very similar run away, were much better than this Saints side. And although competition also not all that, was better than 2019’s lot.

2017 “back in the day” was the bomb

I totally agree. It's pure nonsense to say the game doesn't develop and move on each year.

This Saints team should be praised highly for their level of consistency all year.
Absolutely fantastic team.

Our golden generation team couldnt have performed anywhere near the level Saints performed at last week with the number of key men missing Saints had.

To say mid table teams from 10 years ago would beat them is laughable.

I think the point being made is that systems, tactics, fitness and nutrition improve over time, but the qualities of the players is dropping.

The best relative measure for me is Howe many of the top English players are playing in SL?

I'd say many of England's likely 17 play in the NRL, than in SL. Also factor in that the top southern hemisphere players stay in the NRL target than come to SL. That leads to a drop in quality

In 2005 Leeds lost the major trophies. There is not a team now that would come close to handling that side. That side was the best side in this country for the last 25 years.

Christ, some of them players are still even managing to kick around now in this league, all those years later. That is how much it as regressed.

It's an impossible comparison though isn't it?

The current Saints side is probably capable of competing with NRL sides at the moment, looking through their team I'd say a fair number would get into first grade in Aus.

You could say the same thing about Leeds back in the day, and some Bradford and Wigan sides before them.

I'm not sure you can say more than that since we can never put these teams on the field together.

This is a very good Saints team. Easily the best team in SL this year( not saying a great deal) and probably the best since Warrington early part of this decade. But that side lacked mental toughness and failed getting a GF win it should have. Wigan and Leeds have shown throughout this decade that is the key ingredient; both being lesser sides quality wise imo but had the big game mentality. That still has to be proven by Saints.

Going back further i don't think they would have got over the great Bulls side. Saints 2006 side was probably the best ever in SL for me and our 2007-2010 side would have schooled them on the big stage.

Gotcha - I asked someone to name a mid-table team from the past capable of beating sts and you name Cas? The team that finished top of the league? Not sure they qualify as mid-table.

I reckon the current sts team would beat our 2005 side quite comfortably under current rules. In 2005 there was still no wrestle and lots of acting half scooting. That side would be smothered. It was more entertaining then IMO but the wrestling genie isn't going back in the bottle any time soon.

This current Saints side can only really be judged if they win something (not the LLS) IMO, its all very well sailing through the year like was in 2017 but if it comes to nothing then they can't be classed as a great side.

For me Cas are a mid table side, so I answered correctly. This Saints side wouldn't beat that Cas side. The fact they also ran away with the league in 2017 highlights my point, as you don't have to be anything special.

No way would any team of the last 5 years here, beat our 2005 team, not a chance.

Pure hypothesis. In other words it can't be proved.

Just checking - you think the Leeds '05 side is the best side in the last 25 years?

The 2017 Saints side (including the appalling KC coached version) did beat the 2017 Cas side, twice, let alone the 2019 version.

We were awful all that year but would have knocked them out of the play-offs but for giving away a ludicrous late penalty for shepherding then losing on golden point.

This Saints team is WAY better than that Saints team and also better than the 2017 Cas side (in my opinion of course). I think Cas lost five out of 30 that year, Saints have lost three so far, but two of those with deliberately weakened teams.

But none of that will count for anything if we don't pick up a trophy - we will just be another impressive Saints side that didn't fulfil its potential.