Yes an no.

With Long, in his prime, we would undoubtedly have been better. However, Leon Pryce was consistently ineffective when asked to assume the mantle of sole playmaker. And Pryce played with better backs.

You forgot to mention our defence, which was poor, just as it has been intermittently all season and that is because IMO we have some bloody lazy players in our team.

Got to say i agree with you here.I think people look at the period Leon was here with rose tinted specs,he was capable of moment of brilliance yet just as capable of going unoticed.

We got by with Leon at 6 as we had a brilliant 7,now we have a pair who try hard but just are not halfbacks and its up to Brown to change the team and the style we play.

You got rid of Pryce at the right time, not exactly shining in south france, injury prone, big contract comes to mind.

Pryce was a superb player for Saints. But he needed the support of other creative players to function effectively.

Long was capable of carrying the team on his own. Which just goes to show how good Long really was.

Ditto to the above comments.

Half backs are woeful.

Unfortunately it is not just one bad signing and playing one starlet in the wrong position.
The problem runs much deeper.

Perry, continuing with Flannery, Magennis and Gardner, giving extensions to Foster and Wheeler in Feb
(without having to prove anything in 2012) and four years for Wilkin have gobbled up the salary cap for scant return.

The continued refusal to acknowledge that fullback demands a different skill-set that Wellens does not have
is blinkered at best. Think there is a place for Wellens but not at FB.

However Lance must play 6 and Mr St Helens must be fullback regardless.

Giving a three year deal to Clough (who is a good solid player) to "Tie him up until his testimonial"
is unlikely to keep him hungry and shows how priorities have become badly skewed.


Great clubs are ruthless when it comes to hiring and firing.

Saints are too soft in this regard and it shows in the style of play and results in big games.

A few good points made in this thread. One in particular about us needing a leader. There is no one in the entire squad, bar possibly LMS, who has any of the attributes you need from a captain. We need someone to lead them and get the spirit back as we fold at the slightest hint of a tight game these days.

It's been said a million times but I will say it again, we are in dire need of a halfback or maybe two halfbacks!

We had fieid postion and pressure on Warrington in the first half and should have punished them but we are not skillful or creative enough.

Can we have a reliable goal kicker or play the one we already have please.

A blind idiot with no clue about Rugby (someone like Rogues) can see we are missing a proper halfback to play alongside Lomax, that maybe Gaskell but sadly we havent ad chance to find out this year.

Exactly.Rush once again out of his depth.I only hope if Brown does not show up that Rush is not given the job.

Does that make Royce Simmons and McManus blind idiots ?

Just gets me angry knowing that everyone in the world knows you don't win things without halfbacks.

I'm starting to feel that lomax isn't good enough in the halves. Don't get me wrong I really rate him but is he a #7 ?

Strong one going around Billinge at the moment is Brian Smith will be coaching Saints next season. Should make the Saints V Warrrington matches interesting next season.

Started by Rogues?