this has been said since 1895.

Viewing figures up, most coverage the game has ever had including fantastic coverage from Channel 4 (the game on Saturday was excellent)

The game isn't dying at all.

Looks like he's hanging on then...

Never in doubt, I’m not even sure if GH will act should we be in 12th following the Saints game.

That aged well

Those of us of a certain age can remember going a long time between drinks I.E between successful periods . The early part of this century our main rivals turned out to be Saints there was really nothing between the two teams . St Helens have had relative continuity we nearly got relegated. They must have done something right regarding team building

The biggest thing that I look at to see how far we’ve fallen is the quality of player we have now versus our golden period. With the exception of Mik Oledzki and Harry Newman (perhaps) I’m struggling to think of a single player we have in the current squad who would make the squads from around 2004-2012 or so. People might make a case for the odd player here or there, but this shows me how far we’ve fallen on the field.

I get that the overall quality of player in SL has fallen too, but if we’d had the right coaching and recruitment I’m certain we would have seen a blip in success rather than falling off a cliff edge like we did.

Quite. It's not a view you'll ever get out of social media though.

We struggle with overseas players - we never seem to get the quality that say Saints get - why is this?

Firstly I’d say it’s because of the current standings of the two clubs, we’re really in the doldrums and have been for years, they consistently challenge or win silverware. Then there’s the financial side of things, perhaps they pay more than we do for their OS players? Seems they did for Hurrell for example.

Finally, I get the distinct impression that they do much more homework on a player than we do, identify them earlier than GH’s end of season review, and then go hard for them. Look how pathetic we were in our pursuit of Jai Field as an example of how we do it. Don’t get me started on Thompson…

Put Saints overseas players in our current side who is playing poorly and they would look poor.

Conversely put Fusitua, Tetevano and even Martin in the Saints side and they'd look different players.

We haven't struggled with over seas signings when the team was successful have we.

Brent Webb, Danny Buderus, Kylie, Scot Donald etc

On Thompson - did anyone read his bizarre interview in the press? it may have been taken out of context but it read like a player who didn't really care about being here.

Never mind what Thompson thinks, what effing genius gave him an option for another year? Insanity. Half the problem with the squad is self-inflicted.

His performances tell me that. What a criminal waste of an overseas spot he is, I cannot for the life of me understand why we signed him once never mind twice…

We are not talking about a time when John signed the Magna Carta - since 2015 who would you say have been the quality overseas signings that Leeds have made?

I agree with you about the bizarre Thompson interview

Don't look down, look up. Thompson isn't the problem except in a minor way. In the meantime, Tetevano and one or two other better paid stars wouldn't look good in a saints side, nor any other, on current form. Their form might pick up following a transfer, granted. Pretty much defines flat track bully for me if so.