We started the game with remarkable intensity and London didn't get into our half in the first quarter of the game, then we seemed to get bored and the game became an absolute chore to watch. Not really a game that I can deduce much from at all.

Yet when they did get in our quarter they scored!

It was the type of game I was expecting with Saints winning at a canter through soft trys, but London also scoring some soft trys.

Its par for the course in matches against what in effect was lower division opposition.

Positives for us were the defence when in the opposition half, however this was blotted by the fundamental weakness of our defence close to the line when yet again our fringe was exposed.

Some of the youngsters got a run out again.

When watching tonights match you can see why RL is struggling as a professional sport.
The game hasn't got the playing resources for 14 professional clubs, and I think even 12 is pushing it.

With regard to Browns future , I expect him to last the season and then Saints will review were the club is at.
If we flop in the playoffs, then he will be out the door. I would expect Saints to make the final eliminator before falling to either Wigan or Leeds. A grand final appearance would probably see Brown retain his position.

The side on paper should be challenging for honours. If its meekly surrendering, like it did against Leeds and Wigan then changes on the coaching front will need to be seriously considered.

Can someone please, please, please make a GIF of McManus's distained shake of the head when London scored that ridiculously soft try in the first half. A worrying moment if you are a player that.

Tonight just sums us up. Some fancy tries, some absolutely class moments from Walsh and Lomax but ultimately a complete lack of desire and commitment. The club to me just seems to be in a malaise, like a boat adrift at sea with no set destination. There is no focus and that steely determination that characterises champion sides just isn't there. It comes down to having a coach that cannot properly motivate his players, a team lacking a captain and lacking inspirational figures.

As the atmosphere was akin to a library it was shocking to hear how quiet Saints are as a side. Only Josh Jones seems to be at all vocal. Put an O'Loughlin, Graham or Sinfield in this side and give it a better coach and it would be fantastic. There are a lot of good players in the team and in Walsh we have the best back in the competition.

We might struggle against Bradford next week on that performance, first 20 mins our defensive line speed was OK then it dissapeared for the rest of the match.
If Walshy didn't play today we would only have won this game by a couple of points, the only other player putting a lot of effort in would be Dawson.

Can you imagine the pies or Leeds tonight playing London if their owners had slagged them off? You'd have seen blood and snot!

Take lomax and Walsh out that team and we wouldn't score a try. I've said it a few times, Luke Walsh is to good for saints.

I've already predicted a loss next week

Dawson puts effort in and it's something a lot of our players lack but he's not saints quality. He's not a top 4 team player IMO.

He's one of many players we have that a dead with the ball but he does try so fair play.

We have a decent run in now so we need a plan in hand on how to approach these types of games. Do we go hell for leather & with a settled side or rest a few each week and play at optimum efficiency, but target certain games to play at 110%?

Ok I did not see the match.

It may have been drab. These affairs usually are. However when you look at the scoreline. It falls into what you would expect.

I predicted 50 -12.

Given that Leeds beat them 54 - 6
Wigan beat them 36 - 14

Our team was running somewhere between the strength of those two teams in terms of players.

The last time I saw Saints put a weaker team to the sword was Wigan. Once a good team gets ahead. They stop playing up the middle and start throwing the ball wide thinking it will be a try every set.

There is little you can take out of a game like this, but all sport has these uneven contests. But in a sport like RL once that intensity drops it's very difficult to get it back up. Saints were never going to lose and once that was clear, all teams and players switch off and start thinking about something else.

Highlight of the night was the messing about in the warm up. Other than a touch of frostbite and hypothermia a night to forget.

It was cold tonight. I got in my car and it said 9 Degrees. Hahah I don't think so!

Just out of intrest, what odds are you offering?

www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/4003? What's concerning is "we need our fair share of luck" - what coach works on needing luck??? Also, what's "a growing team"? (From other post match reports)

www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/4003? What's concerning is "we need our fair share of luck" - what coach works on needing luck??? Also, what's "a growing team"? (From other post match reports)

The statement on the club website and in the MEN is a clear dig at Nathan Brown.

The capitalisation of the second 'THAT' is a very obvious criticism of something Brown has done or not done that has annoyed McManus.

You mean
?

I admit, there's a number of options for whom the intended target for that statement is, but not one of them is brown :s unless you think brown is trying to avoid that part of his job?