That's four for four on the old predictions list by my count - I may be stretching the definition of a 'big win' in Hull's case though.

Seeing the cricket scores Wigan and Hudds posted just reaffirms the point that 14 teams is just too much - teams aren't even in the same class. One-offs like Friday are nice from a media and journalistic point of view. The RFL and Sky can sit back and toot the horn that this is the best and closest SL to date, but it's just not the case sadly.

Particularly so since our chairman blathered on in 2011 about giving yoof a chance (which was fine in 2011 when we were building a new stadium and needed to recruit on the cheap but in fact he's turned out to be a politician).

Jamie Ainscough as well. Counts as 0.99 of an Overseas player if you include Gleeson's tooth.

Did that retire Ainscough, or am I remembering wrong? Didn't he get a bad blood infection?

Saints have 7, do they? Soliola, Manu, Perry, Laffranchi, Hohaia, Meli and Tony Puletua.

Mmm. TP, Perry, Meli and Laffranchi are all OOC at he end of the year. If rumours are to be believed, Perry's latest injury is a career ender. Puletua is also strongly rumoured to be leaving. For the salary I imagine Boof's getting, I wouldn't worry about keeping him on. Meli will get another year, i reckon.

I don't think you'd get anybody arguing with that in principle. Unfortunately where it gets a bit undermined is when we consider that, unlike say football, the likelihood of their replacements being able to grasp the mettle is lower. I'm not using that as an excuse for mismanagement in Super League just fleshing out the picture around it. That's a Super League issue first and foremost and is unlikely to change without a significant cash injection into the RFL i.e. the clubs have the money and therefore the power currently. They are able, rightly or wrongly, to dictate the way that part of our game goes.

Yet we've played about 23 different Brits this season . . . . .

Do you seriously not think Saints are giving youth a chance this season?