Quote: morrisseyisawire "Can't see Saints breaking the two two until they sign a replacement stand-off and at least another prop and a winger/centre.
... and I was only being slightly flippant about Nathan Brown - not only did Huddersfield fall away AGAIN mid-season (questioning his off-season prep, team rotation and motivational abilities) but they turned up for their biggest game of the season (CC Semi) in turmoil with players refusing to adopt his gameplan/tactics.
If Saints make 3rd they'll have done very, very well.'"
I've said similar every year since Daniel Anderson left us. The problem with Saints not finishing top 3 isn't Saints, it's the lack of quality in the other sides. Saints were absolutely horrific last season, simply awful, and yet managed to finish 3rd, with only Catalans putting a challenge in for that spot. They could find it harder than Saints with Robinson being replaced by an unproven French coach. Catalans could finish near the bottom if that doesn't go to plan. Wigan with the drop in quality they have so far will do well to finish above Saints as well, although I'd be amazed if they don't have more signings to announce. It would take a big turnaround for the likes of Hull, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield etc to finish above Saints, so it looks to me like we'll be okay.
Saints' halfback woes could also be over if Brown has the guts to stand up to McManus. He said on the BBC coverage of our cup game against Widnes that he doesn't see Hohaia as a halfback and if he brought Gaskell in for him and put Hohaia to fullback or utility on the bench we'd instantly be far stronger. If we replaced Wellens with Hohaia and put Gaskell in the halves we'd be up there again.
