And how do you know that is the way the coach has planned it? On more than one occasion Simmons has said that they don't need to go one up 'anymore'. I thought that was a turn of phrase, but maybe it isn't? Maybe, with our halfback problems, the training and game plans and set pieces and skills work he did when he had Pryce and Gaskell at halfback have all been undermined as a result of having virtually no strike players on the pitch? I cannot see how after five matches, two of which we have won, one of which we drew, you can possibly say with certainty what the problem is. All we can say with any certainty is that we have one dysfunctional halfback, one inexperienced one, some very important players absent through injury, a backline that is too slow (bar Shenton) and not pulling its weight and a prop in James Graham who seems to think he should be a halfback instead of one of our primary metre makers.


Roby has gone off the boil in the last two matches IMO.

Because the line up is generally worked out in training, and the half backs staying wide will be part of that.

I'm sure Royce hasn't asked the players to leave their balls in the dressing room, but that appears to be what they're doing, and ultimately that's his responsibility.

There are far too many mitigating circumstances and it's far too early to be making judgements yet, though. We'll see.

I'd say Puletua and Soliola would be you're impact players. Remeber the salary cap is infull effect these days, so a 2006 line up is hard to match.

We do look a bit weaker at first glance, but I for one really rate Wheeler as a centre and actually though Lomax looked good there last week.
The problem is imo, it feels like we could have Greg Inglis in the centre for us, and we still wouldn't get the ball to him.Whilst I'm a fan of Wellens, I'd say on a few occasions this season his handling at 2nd receiver has slowed our attack somewhat.

I feel like we've got the weapons (Shenton being the main example), but just aren't able to use them

Do you attend training sessions then?

Speaking of which. They weren't half getting a pounding at the training session yesterday! Players shouldn't displease their coach as their coach always has the means of making them pay!

This is something that's been noticeable this year. Wellens is great at picking out good angles when we're working our way out of our own half, but when we're in the opposition 40 and we need a quick shift, the play tends to die on its arris when Wellens gets his hands on the ball.

Might that be as a result of playing him while injured?

And isn't that the coaches fault/responsibility?

If your name is Mick Potter, yes. Otherwise, no.

We picked up injuries because of Potter's poor training too, not sure what the reason is this year - perhaps some sort of adverse planetary alignment.

And before you start SaintsFan, that wasn't aimed at you

Two things: firstly, it's an injury he contracted last season which cannot be resolved by surgery but only painkillers; secondly, we have hardly any backup this season and so unless Lomax (injured on Friday) or Foster can step in, we have little choice at present but to play him. In an ideal world, his nerve problem would heal and he would be fine again or at least we would be able to slot someone else in but we don't really have an ideal world at present.

I think foster has got all the skills to become a good fullback. He reads the game very very well.

As for having foster on the bench, I just can't get my head around it! No team in the days of multi skilled players has a outside back on the bench. It's a total waste of a bench spot!

We have roby, flannery, Moore, Sia, wilkin that all can fill in the backs if needs must during a game.

Lomax went off on Friday right after he'd had a knock, but I think it was a tactical substitution, so was coming off anyway. He also wasn't getting any treatment when he got back to the bench, so it couldn't have been that bad.

Have we heard any news to say he'll be available/unavailable for Sat?

I'm not usually in favour of bashing coaches and I am still far from calling for his head. As a rule I think that coaches should only be sacked in the off season, or when the season is more or less already over.

However the only person who can impliment solutions to our current situation is the coach.

The loss was not a great shock, Quins are a decent outfit at the moment. The shock is the 16 -0 , 18 - 0, 20 - 0 scorelines against Wigan, Wire and Quins.

It's only been by pure fortune that we have had 2 poorer sides inbetween these games to keep us going.
Eastmond may or may not be trying, but it's common consensus that he is being ineffective. I certainly would not put him out to pasture unless they can pay him off and get a replacement. But 3 or 4 weeks training and slow reintroduction may do the player, team and fans the world of good.

I can't believe Gaskell is getting hammered by some fans already. He is a prospect, but just that at the moment, with his senior partner being ineffectual for what ever reason, it seams some fans are expecting 30year old sean Long performances from a player who probably expected anothe year of maybe 1 or 2, 10 min appearances.

When Long joined the team, he had Goulding, hammond, and Martyn before him and he was allowed to make mistakes without being the crucial element in the team. He would come on and run wild without the responsibility to organise the team and kick. And when Long joined he was no junior.

The Foster experiement has failed and it's time for Simmons to move on and return to 3 forwards and a replacement hooker on the bench. Foster to wing , meli to centre where he can run effectively but not have to make defesive choices that he's not been able to do for 5 years.

The forwards are not offloading or spinning in the tackle, this is for the training ground, also support players, where are the runners off roby's shoulder when he does get his head through??? Usually 10 - 15meters behind him.

Wilkin at loose has been a good coaching choice in my opinion, but when he was injured the coach should have not put or major impact prop at loose. He is not a kicker. Should have been moore, or lomax or even megenis.

Given the injuries I was expecting a close game, and possibly a quins win, but I was not expecting another 40mins of ineefectual play from Saints.

Good first post, agree with all of that.

Wilkin's injury is a bigger blow than people realise.