I'm happy whilst he's outperforming every other prop in the team (my frustrations rightfully so lie elsewhere)

Like I say, the tree ripping, tackle bursting, smiling assassin is a luxury player, who can't play like that whilst the team as a collective do the basics properly. Like supporting the ball carrier. What we have left is still someone making tackles and making metres. Yes he has flaws, but so did every player on that pitch last night.

Think back to the Anderson era. It was standard that virtually every time a forward took the ball up, someone (usually wellens) would come hurtling through on their shoulder in case they got the ball out. Graham took advantage of it, and has since redefined the prop forward role in aus. But it meant that defenders couldn't commit the numbers to the defence in case he passed, and his carries were bigger, and he'd get the quick play the ball. If there were someone in the team committing to that role wellens had in this team, all our forwards would look better for it.

James Greenwood 91 metres and 33 tackles was better.

Be interesting in seeing the mins he played compared to big Alex. Let's not kid ourselves here, it was against a club that been thrown together who ain't won a game this year.

For us!

If we are going to take our own team apart, then there are others who need to shape up far more.

Totally agree, London isn't a perception changing game, but as I originally said, this isn't the first time he's posted stats like these.

Big Alex did play shortish minutes from my viewing. What was pleasing was, for the first time I can recall, he was dictating our line speed in the first 20 minutes or so. I think being able for him to do that is far more important than any stats he posted last night, so am more than happy to overlook it - after all he usually kills it! No silly errors for the first time in a while too.

He was brought as a impact prop that brings aggression and big hits in defence.


Does he offer any impact ?

Does he have aggression ?

Does he do big hits?

Does he have a offload game ?

Does he have bust tackles?

Please answer on him in a saints shirt and not what you've seen on YouTube or prem sports.

I didn't know there was a position called impact prop. Without wanting to be facetious, he was brought in to play prop. And he's currently playing it better than others. Hence my confusion to why he's being singled out. If he's not living up to your preconceptions, that's not really a problem. Stats don't lie.

Depends how you measure impact. Does he come on and instantly change the game (for better or worse)? No. Would luke Walsh coming on instantly change a game for better or worse? No. If were granted the luxury of him coming on whilst our (entire) pack is on top, and have the opposition on the back foot, we might see a lot more of him.

Is anyone in our team at the moment? The most aggressive person in LP last night was McManus.

If we had a solid defensive line more players would have the confidence to go for shots. But yes he's hit a few - but obviously because he's not clearing out every opposition in a 5 mile radius it's not good enough?

The one and only time we've actually had someone on his shoulder was vs castleford and we almost scored from it ... If it weren't for Wilkins slippers. Could I recommend reading by previous posts?

Well, yes. 2 last night.



I don't have prem sports, and didn't watch any of the montage videos before he came.

Obviously he's a top class prop then and a great signing. We should be privileged to have attracted such a leading prop from the NRL. Certainly worth the massive deal we've brought him over on.



























In your opinion, not mine!!!!

Did I say that? No. What I am saying is all of your complaints about him stem from team wide issues. You can't have an offload game, if there's no support. You can't clear out a player, if there's no defensive stability or line speed. You can't have impact if were losing the ruck. You can't have agression when there's no team desire.

If and when we bring some of those elements into our game, and masoe is still performing as such, I'll be the first to slay the knife in. But, if he was offloading right now, you'd be asking why he's constantly throwing the ball away, when there's nobody there. So I can only judge him in comparison to our other props, and he's posting better stats than them (for different reasons, as I stated about Alex)

Quite clearly our best prop last night, again.

the reason for not making the 1on1 tackles is that attacking players are basically turning and runing away from him, preferring to take the tackle from the guy next to him. He then comes in as the 2nd tackler.

He was our best forward over Easter, and was our best forward last night. He played over 60mins last night I think, out performing Walmsley on most levels.

The problem is that people expect him to be coming on for 10minutes at a time smashing everyone in sight. Due to the limitations of his colleagues he is having to play longer minutes, therefore can't do the "impact" role that you seem to demand.




I dont think he is a particularly massive deal. He wasn't a top class signing when he agreed to come, more of a journeyman unknown type player, not particularly in demand from the NRL or elsewhere. His performances in the WCup gave the perception that we were signing a top level NRL prop, but that was never really the case.

And that's why we have problems.

I think you're being really unfair on him.

I see what you're saying about the not smashing people impact role but that, quite simply, is not what we're asking him to do.

The role he is playing at the moment is big minutes making metres, which he is doing consistently and on a good number of occasions better than all our other forwards. He's also making his fair number of tackles, a lot aren't one on one as you say but people aren't running straight at him because they know what would happen.

I do think you have a good enough rugby brain to see this so I'm a little surprised at the criticism he's getting from you. When we have Laffranchi, Amor and the likes back fit and his role reverts to a 10 minute impact role and he still isn't making big runs and big hits then fair enough. But at the minute that just isn't his role in the team, regardless of whether fans think it should be.

Soliola had another bad day at the office defensively 4 misses again and only 22 tackles made.

Its becoming too regular an occurrence, and is reminiscent of his early days at Saints when he was regularly getting caught flat footed or going for the big hit and leaving huge defensive holes.

I personally regard him as the key defensive weak link.

Interesting stat, When Soliola plays starting back row we concede on average 26.8 points a game
When he doesn't its 14.3

I don't think I'm being unfair. I've nothing against him apart from I think he's not very good and here for a well paid holiday.

I always try to be honest with my posts and try not to favour players or go against By players, I'll call it how I see it.

For example, I love sia, love his all action style, aggression and heart but I'm not biased to the fact he's a massive liability in defence against teams like Wigan and hudds who structured attack take him apart.

He just doesn't look interested at all to me and at this moment in time, I feel we've brought in a stinker. I just can't see what he's going to give us. Hope I'm wrong but im pretty sure I won't be.