it will be the first time this season the pack have raised their game in the first 20. In most of our recent games we have gone behind early on, Cas did but couldnt pull away from us.

Hull KR, Leeds, Warrington, Huddersfield all have gone 16+ points ahead of us in the first 20mins in recent weeks, and it will be the same tonight.

If we capitulate against this Wigan side, Brown has to go. Wigan aren't good enough without Tomkins to be anything more than solid. If we can't cope with that I'll be very disappointed.

Seeing Wigan grind out a win by 6-12 points I could live with, they are good defensively and well organised in attack and will no doubt be more committed than we are. But there is no way they should be able to put any sort of score on us.

we have no go forward or aggression in the team that has been suggested will play. Laffranchi and Puletua are powder-puff and wont make any decent yards, Manu cant be relied on to keep hold of the ball.

I cant see anything other than a 20 point defeat, with Wigan taking the pressure off in the last 20 and we will score a couple of late tries.

I actually think well win tonight. I haven't had an accident or banged my head either.

I have to agree. I'd be very disappointed if we even lose

When you look at our pack, it no longer makes you think a pack with aggression and strength.

Too many players for me filling the 4th/5th prop. The good ones are the impact props

11. Tony Puletua =#FF0000[i(can show glimpses but best years behind)[/i
36. Stuart Howarth =#FF0000[i(very slow distribution, not a starter for mine)[/i
14. Anthony Laffranchi =#FF0000[i(long discussed, but a 2nd rower really or a 4th /5th prop)[/i
19. Josh Jones =#FF0000[i(the fact he is not in the backs, shows we are short)[/i
13. Willie Manu =#FF0000[i(very good, but can spill early ball in a game and it's over before it starts)[/i
10. LMS =#FF0000[i(Better at loose, but can be a penalty machine, another 4th prop)[/i


16. Paul Clough =#FF0000[i(good enough for a 4th or 5th prop)[/i
24. Joe Greenwood =#FF0000[i(his debut year, has held his own but another 4th or 5th choice)[/i
25. Alex Walmsley =#FF0000[i(our best prop going forwards)[/i


When I look at that I would seriously only start with Puletua, under normal circumstances. The rest would be from the bench, if that.

I fancy us tonight, probably my foolish optimism, but I'm not dreading it like I usually do with Saints/Wigan games.

All I can say is that it's a shame that this match will be a shadow of what it could've been. Between 2 rounds of the Challenge Cup (really, what were the odds neither team would make it that far?) and with the best 2-3 players absent from each team.

TBH I can understand your disapointment but sadly it's not that bad for us as our team is a Shadow of what it could be this season

I'm expecting a Saints win tonight, mainly because they need it more than Wigan just to make the playoffs .....

Childs is in charge tonight - That means at least one player will get seriously hurt before he intervenes on high tackles.... To him, anything 'eyebrows and down' is legitimate - but woe betide any player evil enough to hold up play at a ruck for an extra 1/4 second ..... immediate penalty offence, that is.

If the Saints can't get up for this game then they may as well jack it in . With the emergence of Leeds and Wire in recent times , this is probably not the biggest game in town anymore , but it sure as hell should mean plenty to anyone pulling a shirt on for the clubs tonight .

I'm expecting a full-on game if there is any pride left at Saints , for this reason Saints by 4 points .

And for that comment alone , my friend, you should be immediately sectioned and placed in a padded cell for your own protection.

I don't know, I think you guys could probably do with the top players around more than we need our because of that exact reason.

Chin up guys, you could pull a blinder later this season and convince all the Leeds fans that winning the SL isn't that much of a big deal vs having to win a league format.

I hope with all my heart that you don't though. All I ever want from a Saints team is a team to worry about before every match, and to laugh at after every match. I want you guys to be the NSW to our QLD.

Ahem ... Sectioned ? Padded Cell ?



I have more faith in your Saints than you do pal .

I'm very very happy to say I was wrong

the effort was superb but it also annoys me a bit that they haven't been that committed all year when they clearly have it in them. Long way to go still and we need to put that kind of performance in against the likes of London!

Howarth took your hookers out the game tonight



He didnt just take MM out the game but your other hooker as well. He got the better of two in one game! He should play for England



Brown only picked howarth to take MM out the game. Watch it back on tape







On the pies way of judging players, that makes howarth better than MM.

I don't suppose everyone who blasted wilkin for this article will now be apologising? Maybe putting some public pressure on the forwards to front up was a good thing?

I bet you wish you hadn’t said it now! Sometimes it’s better to wait and see. Well done Saints…..till the next time!

Scarily accurate ..... even put himself in a position where he had to yellow card someone for being 1 yd offside after bottling it when he should've done something about a flopped knee drop and an off the ball shoulder charge flattening of a little bloke by a big bloke.

I agree , that one off match [iproves[/i without any shadow of a doubt that Howarth is better than McIlorum and Tomkins. McIlorum should consider retiring after that.

Hahahah!!

Poor gate and poor decision not to send Taylor off

Saints 22 Wigan 16. Gives a 6 point margin

I over egged it an went for Saints by 8

We aim to please. I just wish they would aim to please there own fans a bit more often.