It's a tough call whether to hold the line or close down. It's hardly ever a straight forward decision.

There are those who will fly out the line, but I think it's different when you spot that there has been an overlap created so you fly out the line to shut it down.
AKA Sinfield in the WC semi.

You can hold your line but in all likelihood the winger will then simply stroll in. I was not there but just saying it could be a case of Percival spotting we are out numbered and having to make a least worst option call. If players fly out the line when there is no overlap then that's where they are taking unneeded risks.

I understand completely what you're saying. However if he held his ground then and stuck on his winger then it at least buys the players inside him a couple of seconds to get across and cover the attacking centre. By rushing up he was just leaving Burgess completely on his own.

For me it is always best to stay out wide because there is more chance of inside defenders reaching the centre as opposed to the winger.

Must have trained with Meli for to long? He looks a lot bigger this season?

Both he and Swift are inexperienced as individuals and even more so as a pair. It takes years of working together to know if you are going to "go in" or "stay out" Which ever you do you really need to do it as a pair.
Makinsons was a great tackle on Bowen, but had the Wigan attacker spotted what Makinson was doing and missed Bowen out Burgess would have had a stroll to the line.

Difficult decisions, but have to made together and that will take time. Swifts second try was the same from a Wigan pov Burgess could and should have stayed out.

Makinson didn't play.

I meant Percival and the inexperienced point is valid.

I'd give you that one, I've said it myself. Our back line is quicker than we've had for years, but also a lot more inexperienced.

Easier to gain experience than speed! They will both learn and be much better players for it.

Definitely. It wasn't a critism, just an observation.

Percival, Swift, Makinson and Jones have each shown lots of promise. Hopefully some brilliant partnerships can grow there over the next few years. They should get plenty of protection from our much improved pack.

Going back to Browns comments, you can understand his frustration. Weve had the last few seasons playing without a 7, we get GOB on loan last season and he was systematically removed from the game by opposition teams on numerous occasions, including Catalan and Wigan. The cynic would say opposition coaches have told their players to "nullify" Saints at 7 because we have no other half back option, which is correct, but not the most sportsman like of tactics. Brown finally gets the 7 he wants to balance the team and in his first outing, he lasts half a game before someone does the same to him. You can call it "crying", but the fact is, half backs need more protection from referees and the game in general, especially late tackles after they have passed the ball. Any good 7 will take the ball to the line and cop a shot, but there is a difference between that and an illegal challenge, whether it is a shoulder charge or a high elblow.

yep, a few yellow/ red cards and see the amout of these incidents dwindle away.

That was a hell of a collision between Walsh and Amor.
No one seems to be mentioning that. Amor is a big lad and running into him would knock the stuffing out of anyone if they (Walsh) didn't see it coming.
Having seen the video on here it did look liked they'd banged their heads in the impact.
Brown doesn't do himself or Saints any favours by talking like this.
It just brings people to draw comparisons by talking about Saints players who have knocked out opposition players by foul play.

I think the more reasoned fans of both sides realise its hard to tell where the injury would have come from, and Flower couldn't have pulled out in time. However there was no attempt at a real tackle and it was a shoulder charge.

Anyone know the attendance for this game?