I think you are right. It won't have been the sole reason, but certainly an important factor.

I have typed this message so many times and used words that have made myself blush...

SAINTS UNTIL I DIE

You lot take Matterson then

The main problem is there's too many players getting to the end of their career and other just starting - You couldn't really expect Eastmond to come in and play like Long from day 1, Roby isn't anywhere near as good as Cunningham and that shows when they interchange, Wellens while reliable most of the time is a bit too slow for a top level full back now a days.

This thread shows how clearly some of your fans have got used to success

A season without a final appearence could actually do you good

I know what you are saying and you may well be right but it shows that the club has a winning mentality and anything less won't do.

For too long in the 1980's and early 90's the club didnt have that

As a Leeds fan I know about the sh*t times

Beat me to it

These are great times, watching the youth develop and saying goodbye to great players. It's not all about trophies and finals, it's about how the club develops.
Be brilliant to watch Wire V Huddersfield, could be a classic and will be hard to call the winner

Saints were beaten today by a better team plain and simple. Had they of won would people still call for the coaches head?

I think at the same time we are doing Hudds a massive discredit. They played a great game today throwing 3 into the tackle and slowing us down were needed. Players stood up and were counted and that did them the biggest favour in the end.

They also did a great job on Gardner too!

Yes we have players in their twilight and yes we have players carrying knocks but top of the league and to get this far in the CC most teams could only dream of.

Even the great Wigan sides of the 80-90s lost at times. Its sport!

This thread is a utter disgrace. For christ sake we have reached a Challenge Cup Semi Final and are currently sitting at the top of Super League. What more do you people want exactly??? We lost today because we were outplayed plain and simple. I am not using injuries as an excuse as everybody has them but I am sure if Cayless, Long and Fa'asavalu had of been fit it might have been a different result.

Just be grateful of what uve got because one day all this sucess will come to an end. Potter is doing a fine job under the circumstances and we all should back him and the team. Get a bloody grip!

Just looking at this and other similiar threads and I dread to think what would have happened and been said if we had won today then lost the final to the Wire

Me too pal!