In the first half last night our kicking and chase game was really good.

The forwards were also strong in attack and pretty aggressive defensively.

However our movement and passing with ball in hand is laboured.

Compare for example how quick Wigan can shift the ball to the three quarters to exploit space. Against 12 man Wigan last night we should have been able to do that. However the halves dont seem to be able to know when its right to straighten up the defence and when to move the ball left or right.

I think one of our issues is that Roby is obsessed with either passing left or running left. He needs to mix and match a lot more.

Overall considering that many Saints fans consider this to be a shocking team, in a state of flux from a coaching and playing perspective, we have done really well to finish 3rd in the league. All we need to do is tweak a few things and we will be top of the tree again.

Next season i look forward to the further progression of Swift, Foster, Makinson, Jones, Lomax, Gaskell and Wheeler in the backs, along with the likes of Greenwood, Forster, Mcgennis in the forwards.

Swift is the player that excites me most, and i hope he gets plenty of game time next year against the lesser sides.
I personally see him being our next fullback

Anybody else got the horrible feeling that we're gonna make the Grand Final and lose out again?

Last night was much improved on recent efforts. Our forwards stepped up and looked to offload the ball. It was Puletua's best game of the season and in that form, he'll cause every team a problem. Defensively we looked fairly strong although Wigan still managed to open us up a few times especially down their left, but we managed to scramble really well. Offensively at least we managed to put some moves on but Lomax and Hohaia were terrible at times and the dummy runners were very mistimed again, but the effort was there. Wilkin was horrendous, he needs to stay away from the kicking game and stick to hitting lines off the halves. I'd definitely bring Gaskell in for his kicking and ability to pass and organise but it won't happen unless Lomax / Hohaia pick up an injury. Much improved though and we can all go to Warrington with a bit of hope but still as clear underdogs.

Can,t understand why we have not resolved that issue with Roby, I,m sure opposition coaches are aware of it. We often end up with slow lateral movement on the right with poor service to Shenton and subsequently Makinson.
Swift looks the most promising outside our current 17, very elusive and his defense has improved...........yes Potential full back for me also, perhaps needs some help from Wellens on how to read the game when defending.

Despite a welcome win at Wigan, I found last night's match frustrating more than anything else.

In fairness to the lads, the most pleasing aspect of the match was the attitude demonstrated by the side, particularly the forwards, who got stuck into Wigan from the start. That was great to see, particularly as we've been embarrassed by them in that department too often over the last couple years.

But just how clueless we have become with the ball is a marvel to behold. Before the sending off the game was going the same way as the cup tie earlier in the season. We had a great start in terms of territory and possession, but we could have carried on all night without scoring. Wigan, by contrast, got into our half once and walked over for a try.

The sending off made it a winnable game for us, but if anything it served to further highlight just how bad we are with the ball. When we did break away at the end it was more down to fatigue catching up with Wigan than us manufacturing space against disadvantaged opponents. As is now standard, our abysmal kicking game didn't help matters.

Rush's refusal to pick Gaskell is a masterclass in obstinacy. I don't pretend that he is the answer to all of our problems, and at this stage of the season I can't see him making a huge impact, but we are in such dire need of a half back who can kick and pass a ball that I find it impossible to fathom the logic behind keeping him out of the side.

Please don’t let hope optimism or blind faith obscure your view on reality will you!

The forwards are looking good but our back play was just lamentable as always. Our playoff chances come down to completely dominating upfront in every game - we have the personnel to do that but not for 3 games. We're basically relying on luck and opposition frailties - not a great place to be.

This is team I would put out against wire next week

1 wellens
2 makinson
3 shenton
4 Jones
5 meli
6 gaskell
7 lomax
8 Perry
9 roby
10 laffranchi
11 Wilkin
12 sia
13 tony p

14 lance
15 lms
16 clough
17 flangan

I would bring lance on at 9 after 25 minutes for tp or even gaskell if the lad aint performing

Your not wrong pal

The 8th win in our last 10 visits to the Piedome shouldn't be sniffed at.

And for the 3rd time in little over a year, the 26-18 scoreline shows up. Spooky.

Plus that was the score when we beat them in the 1984 Lancashire Cup final when Meninga ran amok.

Time to live in hope. Thats what cup games are about

Well it would be if it had been me coming out with the silly fat talk. No sad to say our best days this season have probably gone (but you never know) but that’s the best I can say, so sorry to sidestep your predictable jibe, but as you can tell from my remarks your words don’t describe all or even most Pies at the minute.