What did you think????

I thought they were really poor tbh; we dominated from the outset and how the scoreline was level at HT is beyond me!

Our execution was poor in the first half, but it clicked to a degree in the second and it was an impressive overall display by Saints.

Forwards played really well (like I think they have been doing) and the backs did their jobs tonight (the difference)

Great win for the st's ... We all hate leeds

Look at Saints in the first 15 mins against Wigan and Leeds, there is no difference. We dominate territory and possesion in both games and come away with near enough nowt in both games.

Then throw TP in the mix and it all changes.

I don't think the win will change anything next week, but TP might. He brings a creative factor that breaks the oppositions defenses and then once that happens the rest of the team seams to kick into gear.
I think the coaches have really taken some of the critism from last week and done something with it. Basically by taking most of the kicking away from the halves once in the other half, grubbers, bombs all from other players, even Perry doing the dinks into touch.

Forwards brilliant, Lomax brilliant. Shenton one moment of utter brilliance.

Attacking play very, very poor.

Yeah. That would be the one moment someone actually passed him the ball in a threatening position.

Organisationally i thought the halves were poor, for most of the time we looked lost with aimless offloading and no clear direction to the play.

However this was made up by the utter dominance of the pack who smashed Leeds off the park and bullied them into submission.

If you look at things only one of our tries came through the three quarters, that was the wonderful Makinson try.

The rest were all through the middle with players busting holes and passing to support runners.

They looked like a side who was struggling to stay in the top 8, and after so many games, the table doesnt normally lie. They were rubbish for 90% of the last season, but managed to sneak through to the GF, and then beat us when we suffered injuries. They may be the champions, and World Club Champions, but that just disguises the fact that they are very poor.

What really pleased me about the game tonight was that we put the baby back in the bathwater. None of this stupid anti-Simmons 'never kick for a penalty' or whatever. We used our heads and played proper rugby. Sometimes that means controlling a game by being more conservative and at others it means going for the showy stuff. We were tactical and we worked hard. Once we scored our first try and, in doing so, quelled the anxiety which was clear in our mistakes up to that point, we gained confidence and began to show patience as we gradually took Leeds apart. Crikey, we even remembered to pass the ball to the right in a great attacking position and hey! We scored a fabulous try as a result! (Note to team: do that more often, assuming Tommy is ok to play)

Clearly we still have very definite issues with defence the minute a team pounds towards our line. We have other issues too. But for the first time this season I thought we played a really good game of rugby. Imperfect, yes; but a quality game that reflected a team capable of engaging the brain AND the brawn, and showing some skill too.

We played well, but Leeds arn't Wigan. I personally dont think we played much different from last week, but Leeds defence was pretty poor where Wigans was pretty awesome.

TP obviously adds alot, but not enough for next week i fear

Snap.


Great minds think alike or like, or is that moderator minds think a like.

I agree
Leeds where poor tonight.

Saints attack was clueless at times. Some very poor kicking AGAIN.
Some of the tries Leeds scored was from very poor defence from Saints too.

This perfectionist attitude Wigan have this year will be too much for Saints.

That said

COME ON SAINTS.

TP and Wilkin who had a really good kicking game.

the game changed when TP & LMS came on after 20 mins and we started to get on top after a 5 minute perid of really going toe to toe with Leeds.
Similarly in the 2nd half but a little earlier around 55 mins. It seemd to encourage people like Flanagan who I thought was superb.

The TM injury actually helped us IMO with Sia going to centre as we had another forward on the pitch to dominate them. Long before the end Leeds knew they were our bitches. Hope TM is better for weekend as he was impressive - again.

Still not sure of attack (esp Lance who is still not woth his place - god knows where he should be playing) with no dummy runners or run around options so still think even with this higher level of intensity we will struggle to beat the pies, as we can't expect them to be as poor again.

Lance is not looking like a good signing at all is he.

he is just not a hb, he's Royceys ultimate back on the bench