Handley didn’t look right to me last night. Had a few opportunities to run into space, but chose to cut back. Odd as thought would be full of confidence……

Saints defence caused that. They are the best defensive side in the league.

Don’t understand why Roberts gets stuck; he’s literally just turned 22 and has filled in okay as a reserve player. Nobody is saying he is first choice first grade.

He put the kick in for the set up to that wonder try a couple of weeks back and went past 5 saints defenders to score the first last night. Also jammed in beautifully to deny Leigh a late score at their place.

The service he was getting last night wasn’t great either; passes he couldn’t run on to for example.

What I do think we lack is some star quality in the side, comparing to Saints. We are workmanlike with some very good players but we need one or two more genuine threats still.

Handley shot the line again for Bennisons try.
His D is still questionable.

But I agree, he should back his pace more when he gets space in front of him.
I don't think too many will catch when he puts the foot down.

He is a big unit but doesnt seem to use it.He's decent under the high ball but looks short on pace and speed of thought.He's doing ok filling in but im with Bats i dont see him at Leeds long term.

I think "going past five defenders" is overstating it a bit. He stepped inside a number of defenders who overcommitted on the back of Croft's long pass. He came off second best in trying to catch a contested kick and that led directly to a try. He's no more than 50/50 in that scenario, and the opposition knows it. That's not to say he's rubbish, he isn't. However it has been suggested by some that he might be capable of securing the number two jersey next year. I just don't think he's anywhere near good enough to be a 1st choice winger at Leeds.

No chance Roberts will be first choice winger, he’s not even a winger by trade hes a centre.

We will look a different side in that Edge when Fusi is back

Yep. We are a far, far better side when he plays, which only makes his consistent absence more frustrating.

There were several times we tried to do a Saints on Saints and take the first two carries with wingers, only to be stuck on our own 10m line still. Again good Saints D but we have to find a way to get out of our own red zone more efficiently.

This isn’t just a saints thing, it’s a rugby league tactic.

Your backs take the drives out of yardage to give the forwards a rest. You can’t expect the forwards to be constantly carting the balls in and then doing the majority of the tackling.

Saints defence was just too good

Realistically, Roberts is a stop-gap to cover injuries, and as such he's not the player to provide us first class service. He's still young, but he's light years away from what the likes of Newman, Watkins, Hall (etc) were capable of at his age. He's more consistently reliable than Olpherts, looks like a better prospect than Tindall ever did, but not much more than that. Against the best teams he's going to look weak under sustained pressure.

I'm generally in the pro-Fusitua camp, but the timing of his latest injury set-back was poor to say the least. Hope it was a case of bad luck rather than bad management of medical issues by the player/club. Hopefully when he comes back in he can put a string of games together. I have to say I'm worried about how he goes with the disciplinary as well.

You’re putting Newman in the Watkins/Hall category? Wow…!

Exactly how I feel too Exeter, I don’t mean to criticise Roberts unfairly, but he is what he is, and that’s not long term first grade material. The role he plays can be filled with young players, and eventually one of them takes the chance and shines.

Fus is a very frustrating player, he’s capable of very good performances, but like at his other clubs just doesn’t spend long enough on the field to justify his position in the squad. We should be looking to replace him, its a shame the timing isn’t 1 or 2 years later otherwise one of the kids could well take the shirt from him next year.

He could be, its just a shame we have a coach who has absolutely no idea how to get our most devastating runner into clear space.

If Fus stays fit he could well get another year, which would be ideal in some ways while the younger players mature.

However I don’t think he will stay fit and so expect us to sign an overseas player in a 2 year deal or something.