It would be interesting to read the thread we had last year that discussed the appointment of KC.

Can we all just calm down a bit. We've got a rookie coach, new coaching setup, new captain etc. I'd have taken 3rd after 14 games. And of course, can we really judge/write off Cunningham already? Give him a chance to settle in ffs.

No team is consistent this year. Everytime we think a team looks unbeatable and are gonna run away with it, they end up losing a few on bounce. Only a few points separate the teams from second bottom to fourth.

Cunningham will have them sorted. It's just going to take time to put his own stamp on it.

We're all bagging the style, but if was only a few weeks ago that we were playing some very entertaining stuff, a lot of which was centred around Vea and Greenwood attacking the wider channels. They're missing, but surely Wilkin and LMS can fill these roles?

We did a lot to hinder ourselves against Catalans. We were often rushing up so quick that the line was breaking and individuals were getting stepped easily. We also seem unable to get our tails up in defence without giving away a penalty. We also gave Percival's side practically no ball, fair enough when Turner was having so much success, but once he's gone off?

If KC just stops half of our penalties that we give away we'll do better?

Catalans had so much time in our half due to penalties conceded that there going to score.

Wilkin as our Leader is a problem who gives most of the penalties away?

KC is doing ok give him some slack FFS.

The frustrating thing was the lack of discipline, and lack of brains. Childs was obviously in one of his penalise everything moods, so we should just have taken the foot off the gas in defence rather than rushing up quickly and giving him the opportunity to penalise us. We should and could have still won with a bit more composure and clear thinking.

There were certainly signs in the first half of the attack clicking a bit. McDonnell's try was well worked, and shows what we can do with a 1,6 and 7 working in harmony.

As an aside, I think it was the 2nd week in a row where we haven't been awarded a penalty for the opposition defence being offside.

It's worth making the point also that because a lot of teams this season are playing "bump and offload" (in many cases without even attempting to maximise the yardage gained) with the backs too taking greater risks - instead of playing the more traditional, call it conservative if you will, style of play of three/.four drives - pass and or kick, the number of missed tackles will naturally begin to climb.

This isn't an excuse - but I do think we need to keep this fact in mind whenever we start talking about number of tackles "missed". I certainly don't think all missed tackles can be judged equally.

Saints were beaten around the ruck most of the game.There were times when cats were getting quick play the ball off held calls and other times saints could not even provide a marker. It was a very poor showing from saints stemming from a very weak defence and indiscipline.

I think a lot of what has been said above is massively unfair.

We are third (3 points off the mighty Leeds who everyone is saying are untouchable) and have played most of the season with a lot of injuries. We are only now starting to see a settled squad (Walsh aside who is gone again).

We have played a forward's slug fest recently because we simply had to as that was/is our strength. The outside backs bar makinson have struggled.

I think we still need time yet before a full assessment can be made of Cunningham, Long and Lolesi.

The only criticism I think the coaches and players can fairly receive is the discipline which has been disgraceful.

I would not agree with bashing players in open. But apart from that we are 2 games off the top spot.

It seems we have caught the bug going around the rest of the leagues fans.

We all want a close competition, but then start panicing frantically when we get it as a run of results causes huge swings up and down the league.

The shame is, that if we were under the old system then fans would be spouting nonsense about it not mattering till the business end of the year.

The one thing you can say about the new system is that it has got people interested in the week to week results, even if that causes over reactions in both directions.

For me it's no time to panic yet.

Looking at the losses, Leeds and Wigan were predictable.
Catalan in France are a tough prospect and when did a good Saints side not lose to Hull KR??

The Hull FC at home loss was disappointing, but chin up it's not all bad at the moment.

I don't see how it's that much different. We've nibbled away at the edges of this problem - but unless Saints, Wigan & Leeds (at the very least) suffer a catastrophic number of injuries all three know they will be there at the end of the season.

We can fiddle about with the structure of the competition all we like - until we address the root cause of the problem (the top teams' clear leverage in money and resources) not much is likely to change.

Whilst I agree that the usual suspects are very likely to be there or thereabouts as per usual, each game does matter more now. Leeds, for example, can't afford to finish the season 5th as they have done in the past. The less points you gain now leaves you a harder time come the Super 8 (Is it still called that?) stage when you don't have the luxury of playing cellar dwellers to gain easier points come the back end of the year, and the further back you are then, the less likely it is that you'll be getting that top 4 spot.