At least a few more supporters are starting to see Ratchford for what he is. Poor decision maker, prone to errors and when returning the ball aimlessly jogs up and gets dominated in the tackle. Some supporters don't seem to understand the difference between a fullback getting a quick PTB to start a set, and one being put on his back giving the opposition all the time in the world to set their line, it sets the platform for the whole set. Go watch some games on Billy Slater, he rarely ever got put on his back, and fought constantly for quick ptb.

In the big games he is found wanting, and in a pivotal position like fullback it kills us.

Bu.. but he got picked for England! Shame for England that are only 2 decent fullbacks of the last 5 ten years, Tomkins (injuries) and Hardaker (drugs) have fallen off.

We didn't play well at Wembley (and still could have won) but that wasn't just Ratchford's fault which seems to be the gist of what some are saying. Barba has been exceptional this year but is off back down under, Tomkins has started to play better as the season has gone on but there aren't any other FBs that have played better than Ratch.

I'm ore worried about why so many of our players didn't play well rather than blaming individual players - that is a systemic problem not just individuals unless the reality is that all of our team just don't have the right experience/mentality...

My opinion is that we went into the Wembley game too relaxed.
I'd want them going out there hungrier and determined with a belly full of butterflies.
The instructions that Briers kept saying pre the tunnel of 'say calm, relax and enjoy the game'go against the game for me.
'Get out there and get at em' is the signals I'd be sending.

There is an upside to being constantly critical. When a player has an off day you “foresaw” it, when he has a good day you can ignore it or damn with faint praise.
Somewhere on this forum someone was applauded for saying they didn’t want to see the game played by robots, forgetting perhaps that humans have frailties.
For me one of the joys of sport is that you can never be sure what is going to happen.

22 years of SL show that it's very, very, likely that the SL title will be won by Saints, Wigan or Leeds. I see no reason for thinking it will be different this season.

I think Leeds can be safely discounted.
But even within that grouping, how many times did Leeds win when on form they shouldn’t have done.
Wigan should have won against Saints bar Hohaia sacrifing himself for the good of the team.
As for us, least said soonest mended...