Come on get real, Sinfield on form is one of the best in field kickers in this country, himself and Bluey will want to turn Saints around. Its not rocket science is it? By kicking the ball dead it allows Saints forwards to reset. Whereas isolating the FB/Winger forces the opposition pack to hurry back and get into position effectively sapping energy, (not a dig) but exactly what we did very effectively in the last 3 GFs!

To be fair (not a dig) but you aint half the team you was last season, leeds have become what people thought saints would be this year.

Early in the season it was obvious leeds was kicking the ball dead, the was calls for the rule to be looked at as leeds was doing regular.

I've argued for years that when the ball has been kicked dead from open play the team taking the tap should have the option of a 20 metre restart or restart from where the ball was kicked.

It's the first rule change I would make.

Agree on the first part - we really are not a patch on last year, but what you have to remember is its pretty much the same squad as last year. Meaning Leeds have it in the them somewhere and hopefully Saturday will be the time they come alive this season.

EArly in the season Leeds may have been kicking a lot of dead balls but I very much doubt it was on purpose. I think it just sums up how $hi7e our kicking game has been this season. But with the little general back, who did make some good kicks against the pies, it will improve this weekend.

That isn't a bad shout - it would be slightly harsh at times in certainly conditions, but it would definitely improve the kicking skills rather than just hit it as hard as you can just to get set on the 30m.

I'd like to see the RFL at least move the tap to the 40m line, it is a tactic that is used by most teams when under pressure and doesn't rely on a great deal of skill to gain 50m and a set defence.

Could be quite a tough penalty in certain conditions or when under some pressure - but would support this if the ball goes dead from the teams own half or maybe from the attacking 40m mark?

Would be better to just allow the team taking the tap to do so as quickly as they want, with no reference to offsides or set defences.

i agree it needs looking at - but surely this would discourage teams going for long kicks i.e. 40/20's which if go slightly wrong (just the wrong side of the corner post) could result in the opposition team getting the ball back in prime position for no good reason.

Probably would have to differentiate between going touch in goal, and going over the dead ball line.

If Saints play anything like they did on Saturday we will struggle - we are vulnerable down the middle especially if Kylie plays much - if there were stats for most fresh airs he would win hands down. There is talk of Diskin returning if McClennan defends him and JJB together Roby will have a field day.

I really think this is incompetence rather than a tactic. Leeds' kicking game has been very poor this year. 70% of our grubbers go dead too, and that's hardly intended.

I agree with your first bit, you defo have the players to win both the CC and grand final.

I honstly think leeds was kicking dead on purpose to get there line sorted as you was struggling big time.

I think Leeds kick it dead on purpose too. Leeds have the opinion as do I that not many teams if any can go 80 meters against us. What we are very good at doing is kicking it dead setting the line giving a daft pen away and letting a team kick down field and giving away cheap field position where teams often score. I am frustrated with the amount of times Leeds give away cheap points from unforced errors or weak pens.

Deliberately kicking dead early in the tackle count =

meh.... let's hope they have remembered to pack a couple of these in the Kit bag, or it'll be a tad boring tomorrow.