You also have to be very fit to use that tactic. The first man has to get back into the defensive line very quickly or they will get exposed. As I said before a really good ball playing forward and quick support player can cause havock against the gang tackle. I went back to the Pinner, McTigue eras, but the likes of Solomaona and Lauititi in todays game are pretty good at it. Shane Tronc may cause us similar problems on Monday.

It's not just the number, it's the technique, we are holding the player up, then moving him around and putting him to the floor then wrestling him over and then waiting for the ref to hold which is usually after 3 seconds. We are giving the defence about 9 seconds to get set.

We also have the best line speed in the league and we are putting in some hugh hits! Our whole backrow are just monsters in defence and they free up the rest of the team to do their own bit.

Wigan probably would of been confortable had we had a half decent kicking game. We were also missing half of our pack, Riddell, Coley and Hansen and yet our defence was still superb. I can't understand why some saints fans cannot accept our defence was superb and the tactics were spot on.

Is it not a compliment to saints that these were some of the tactics we used? Saints would rip us appart if we didn't slow them down.

I doubt it. It's just that you love to have a go when you get the chance!

Because your defence was not superb! Had we not bumbled them, we would have had two more tries than you (and the other two happened when you had 13 men on the pitch). Without the penalties which we graciously gave you, we would have nilled you in the second half! Most Saints supporters are frustrated that Saints bottled it on the day. They had you and they bloody bottled it. Grrr!!!!


Oh yes. Let me get on my knees and worship you now.

bitterness personified. You really should at least try and get over it!

Yeah, right.

Does your coach encourage your players hands to be in at the PTB often than not? I don't believe this is in the spirit of the game is it?

It would seem that yours does.

Well Wigan do it as much if not more than us to be honest. Just watch your old mans Video/dvd's and you will see what I mean. Wrestling a player etc like you do is not in the spirit of the game either but we have to put up with it for now.

That wasn't the question I asked. You got penalised for it a lot on Friday, something your coach must be working on in training.

The tactics ARE frustrating from a fans point of view, but I have no issue with any club doing them. It's the referee's who have to police them and if they let them go, then the players will continue to push it. Nearly every player looks round at the ref these days whilst lying on top of an attacking player, ready for the signal to get off. It's the refs judgement to make the call.

Because it wins us games, 8 from 9 in fact. Well, that and the best attack in the league, hth.

It's because you don't have the best attack in the league that he encourages it.

I think that's a somewhat pathetic development IMO.