Unacceptable that for a home opener with a new coach against his former team. To be out-enthused and out-played so easily makes this probably the worst home opening since newly promoted Doncaster turned us over in Bobbie Goulding's debut. It's the first game so I'm not writing off the season but if we don't improve our defence (as I was expecting under Brown) it won't matter what we do with the ball.

To be fair to Manu, he is an attacking player who in a good side will be a big asset, I've always rated him since he was at Cas, the players to really blame are the established ones Roby, Wilkin, Wellens, Meli etc, absolutely no sign from any of them that they have been St Helens players for years.
I said on our board that its far too early to write you off yet, but as bad as you were, Hudds were really very good.

I live for days like this.

Lets be honest, he had a total shocker today.

That's because they have. But surely you saw that last season too? I did. It was only Jammer who kept the forwards honest. Without aggressive forwards who are willing to tackle then the halves don't have a fighting chance, especially halves who weren't allowed to play together last season.

He did. He had some of those last season too. This really should be his last season. And Meli's. And Perry's. And TP's. And Wilkin's too on the basis of tonight's performance! To be fighting while there is almost a try being scored is just beyond ridiculous.

Add Laffranchi to tha list as well.

To be fair, the pack did ok last year until we come up against a big physical pack.

I question if TP wants to play anymore but seems happy to take his salary. Hes to lazy for me and looks like he couldn't care less.

Perry (see my previous posts)

Wilkin, he's been rubbish for years but could get away with it playing in a great team but now we see the real wilkin.

No you got it wrong, he will move Lomax to prop Roby to full back, Hohia to wing and Meli at hooker. It`s all good stuff from Nathan, he likes to mix and match, as we found to our cost.

I've just posted it the thread I started. I'm right.

SP,
The problem with that is losing four aged overseas players is who do you replace them with. you don't have the younger players good enough coming through, and the overseas market has virtually dried up.

As I've said due to the silly early kick off i couldnt get to the game, so my question to those that who were there, is what happened to the team that ripped Hudds to pieces 3 weeks ago? i know that was only a friendly but WTF??

Two things happened. The whole of the Hudds team turned up this time (last time they were missing their forwards) and none of our team turned up this time.

Too many players have been here too long now. Wellens should really be used only as a squad member now, not the starting FB and captain. Meli should have been binned, Wilkin too. He is just a penalty machine. Hohaia is a waste of money that could be used urgently elsewhere.

This isn't a knee-jerk reaction on the base of today's performance. Anyone with 2 eyes could see this happening last season, and nothing has changed, apart from the aging players getting older.

What is worrying was the absolute lack of energy, urgency, cohesion and teamwork. Considering we've just come out of a full pre-season with a new coach, and no players called up for the England squad, that is not good enough by any stretch of the imagination. I notice the crowd was already down on last season. That has to be a worrying stat for the club.

Also - and yes, this is flogging a dead horse - but the stadium looks a right mess without cladding. Like some ty Subbuteo ground.

I expect them to receive an @rse kicking of the highest order this week.

Has Nathan told the players he might be leaving at the end of the season?