He's only been here for a couple of months. The current squad had nothing to do with Nathan Brown so you can't blame for that side of things. For me, the main issue this season is the pack, and has been for a while now. We aren't talking about an issue than has just popped up this season, we have had this same problem for a while now. Luckily for us, we had James Graham who carried us on his back for a couple of years, and who do we replace him with? A Second Row in Anthony Laffranchi. I have no doubts that he would be a quality second rower, but out front row is so poor that we have no other option but to throw him in there. Even when we had Jammer, we were still struggling against the likes of Wigan and Wire's packs and what ever way you dress it up, we have been overachieving for years now. We reached the Semi Final last year - in fact we were 40 minutes away from Old Trafford. The worst thing that could have happened IMO. We needed to reassess things and start a fresh in Pre Season, and unfortunately 2012 papered over the cracks once again.

Wigan and Warrington have both been through periods like this one, but the fans got behind there club and backed them 100%. It may take a year, it may take two or even three, but we will come back stronger, I have no doubt about that. Leeds are coming to a stage now where the likes of Sinfield, McGuire and Burrow are approaching the end of their playing careers, and I expect that they will go through a similar sort of period to what we are going through. Brown has given a great amount of young players an opportunity this season, and although that may be down to the injury situation, he has trusted in them to do the job which will prove to be highly beneficial in the long run.

Our pack consists of five Second Rowers, and our only real Prop is Alex Walmsley - a signing from Batley who I imagined would only play half a dozen games this season. Paul Clough has been superb for us this season, but I still see him as a Back Rower personally. Our only other Prop, Josh Perry, is out injured once again, and LMS doesn't look as though he could care less at the minute. When things start to go wrong, the first man looked at is the coach, but there isn't anything he can do at the minute. He is doing his best with the squad he has, and he deserves a chance with a full squad before people start pointing the finger. We are the only team in the competition without a decent set of props and halves, and they are ultimately the key positions on the field. Look at Hull KR. They aren't superb out wide, but in Dobson and Burns they had two halves who knew exactly what they were doing, and we playing behind a set of props that ran hard and straight and took them forward. Nothing fancy, just hard work, and the halves gave them direction on the back of that.

We have had the same problems for years, and I can't understand how any of that is Nathan Brown's fault. Any coach in the world - no matter how good would struggle to coach these set of players, because the reality is, we aren't good enough in the key areas. You can't fault anyone for effort, but the fact of the matter is that you can't compete against the best sides without a decent set of Props, and a 6 and 7. Until we sort that out we won't go anywhere, no matter who is in charge.

I see your point re rushing anything but the situation with Long wasnt quite as you put it. Briers was already gone , Goulding was volatile, Martyn was injury prone Hammond was a loose forward by then and we were thin on the ground for cover. Longy was ripping it up at Widnes and was a known talent at the time - the pies only got rid for off field issues not a lack of talent.

I think a panic move would be silly but Stevie Wonder can see we need a scrum half so if we could get a decent one in I honestly dont see how we could go wrong (assuming we actually buy a scrum half and not another bloody fullback). If there was a Sean Long somewhere in the Championship I'd love us to sign him up !!

I'd get Sean long until the end of the season if he's up for it. It would be 100% better than we got now.

I'm sure he'd love a last hurrah in the redvee and he couldnt possibly be worse than Wello or Howarth

I don't agree - and I am not trying to start an argument here - but Brown has to work with what he has in the squad for this season. He took a chance on Howarth there to see if he could offer anything we have been missing over the past few weeks. He couldn't. Move on.

Until Brown is given time to ship out the players he doesn't want, and bring in players he does, then we can't really blame him for not having any halves. That blame has to rest on McManus, Simmons and Rush for the players they have brought in and signed up for too long.

I'd Potter to the blame list too ..

I believe the offer was made.

Some of your faults are the props. LMS, L'Franc, Perry and Clough are not players to win trophies which Saints fans think is where the clubs should be.
For the future you have to stick with your younger players.
Makinson was your best player at HKR. Percival is excellent for 18 yrs but will need help . Jones needs to be given a permanent place whether 2nd row or centre. Walmsley is your best prop already and I'm sure Greenwood will be very good. Walker is one for the future when fit.
You do have to get some system going where the younger players can take over from the seniors who are not doing it.
Priority surely has to sort out for good the five spine of the team positions.
1, 6,7,9,& 13. Roby is your only certainty out of those five and he's not playing at present.
Brown has to sort these out with McManus.
This season has almost gone for you so for the future things have to start moving now!

Really? hmm I honestly think he could drag us round the park, one last time.

Which way? Long to Saints? Or Saints to Long?

Long to saints.

Of course they did. Why would we need a HB?

Long has offered himself to Saints? And we said no? Please tell me I've read this wrong.

Why would we need a halfback when we have Mr St Helens Wellens, a second row who can kick a ball (sometimes) and a 3rd rate salford castoff to play in he halves.

Madness.

To be fair there is no way we can know what Long is capable of. But the romance is tempting.