Fans have tinted glasses for their team when watching games. Saints early try, definitely forward. However, last week when the video ref looked at Ratchford for a knock on, it highlighted there were 2 forward passes in that move. As far as referee's go both sets of fans find fault with nearly every decision, so whose right? Last night was a big improvement on the last 4 weeks. For me the big question is, what was going on in the last 4 weeks. Selection has a lot of bearing on that. Many on here seem to be able to see things that Powell and the coaching team can't.

Seems unable to get the nonsense out of his game. Poor signing.

I said exactly the same ... nowhere near a GF appearance on recent form.

Pen count was 7-3 in your favour

What I found interesting with Powell's post match comments were that he also highlighted improved effort as a big difference from recent weeks.

I agree that effort should be a given, and not something we should praise but everyone with eyes in their heads could see players haven't been applying themselves of late.

Powell's comments to me sound like he knows he was losing a grip of the dressing room and hopes any clear the air bonding in the week has enabled a hard reset and we are turning the corner.

Here's hoping because if not, there's no way back for him, or us.

The increased effort was good to see. Though the fact its been lacking for the last 6 weeks or so does not bode well for our culture.

Anyway let's hope we have turned a corner with a plucky defeat.

Next week is absolutely massive. Win and get revenge for the cup and we could go on a decent run and finish in a good position. Lose and I don’t think we’ll make the top 6 which should see the end of Powell.

Why not, it's an absolute lottery this season?

I mean, who'd say Wigan are a GF side after losing at Wakefield and some of their other ropey displays this year, yet they are as good a bet to make OT as anyone else.

Also who'd have picked Leeds as a Grand Finalist for most of last year, yet they made it?

Now, I'm not suggesting we will make it, but throw in our missing players from last night, combined with a bit more confidence and we have as good a chance as anyone else to be playing Saints at OT in October.

Exactly.
Too many times in my 40odd years of watching, I've seen a "heroic defeat" (still a defeat), being followed up by absolute tripe. Next week is crucial to our season. Wigan are no great shakes, as are the rest of SL. Lose that, and last night's effort might as well've been a 20odd point thrashing.

The players have shown some gumption, which has been missing since April. We expect nothing less than 100% effort each week. Wether we get it, is another matter.

I didn’t notice in the ground, but Ashton comes from his wing to give him a mouthful after that, never seen him do that before. Patience must be wearing thin with him.

Not a chance. Its obvious the board are backing the coach, whatever happens from here on in. Powell will be in charge come next February.

I’ve asked this previously, but I’ll ask again. Does he get a contract renewal? Remembering that Powell was appointed in April leading into his takeover season, to give him time to retain those in the squad that he wanted. Will we be taking about another “6 games to prove himself” in year three of a three year project? And if so, is that a sustainable strategy?

Yes also saw that and rightly so.

Personally, I'd hope the board would hold their nerve and hold back on any contract renewal for as late as possible.

If next season was anything like this, then there would be no reason to be handing out contract extensions and I think Powell himself would even accept that and, if he had any respect for the board, would appreciate it, considering the support the backing he has had over the last season and a half, when, at various points, he could easily have been disposed of.

Well if next season is anything like this (and this season continues as is), bear in mind he was appointed on 6 April 2021, we would be 6 games into an 8 game winning run in all competitions. Using the boards own logic to appoint before the May deadline to tie down players at the club, he would get an extension days before the wheels fall off.

I just don’t see it. Unless there is a remarkable turnaround both in form and in quality. I can’t fathom giving an extension. So it will be another lame duck season like Price’s and Smith’s last ones. It’s almost as if the board/CEO are scared of having a difficult conversation and actually pulling the trigger.

If, as you seem to suggest, players down tools when they know the coach isn't going to be around the following season, then how did Saints win the SL last season, when everyone knew Woolf was leaving from very early on in the season?

To be fair, that’s not necessarily a direct comparison. Saints recruited from within. Is there any possibility that Ryan Sheridan or Richard Marshall will succeed Powell? Honestly?

But, I’dl take that as a fair response. If the players only waited until the coach resigned before downing tools/performance dropping. We’ve had around 13 weeks of decent standard across 18 months.

The cold facts are, after winning 8 competitive games in a row, I think it’s now 4 in the next 12. With a hand selected squad, no apples or tshirt salesmen to be spoken of. No excuses. If this is to turn around, if needs to happen fast. Missing the playoffs isn’t acceptable.

This our problem. If Wellens doesn't make the GF you can bet he will be out on his ear.

This is because the entire Saints club has extremely high sporting ambitions and standards. It's engrained in every player that wears the jersey. We are miles off that.

A good point was made on Sky - if you ask the Warrington players individually if they believe they can win the GF how many "yes" will you get? Ask the same of the St Helens players...

If it was my choice deciding on an extension I would set a minimum of a top 4 finish the 2023 season and a deep run into the play offs.

A win ratio of 70%

Team playing fluent attacking rugby.

Players demonstrably improving and progression from academy.

So you would give him a contract extension on reaching those goals as a minimum THIS season?

Personally, unless we reached the GF this season, I wouldn't even be considering an extension - if he completed your goals, I'd give him next season, but absolutely no further until at least midway through next season.

I was both pleased and annoyed with last nights performance. Pleased, because we looked like a rugby team with desire and a good work ethic against most peoples competition favourites. Annoyed, because of the run of awful performances in the last couple of months (or more), why did they choose to turn up last night. Bullock was excellent, but Dudson is a liability. I just don't get why he's pressing an opponents head into the turf with his knee, and should cop a ban for that.

Hope I see another Warrington try this season that's as good as the one scored by Dufty last night, that was a superbly crafted score.

I think we need to look at the bigger picture here. We’re actively recruiting right now, it’s likely that whoever we bring in their contract will outrun the coaching staffs. The same for the end of season turnover.

If I was a top class player being hunted by a number of clubs, am I going to join one where the coaching staff aren’t confirmed. Where there’s a rolling “6 weeks to prove yourself” mentality. Realistically, the only people joining on those scenarios are those with an affiliation to the club itself, or if we are the highest bidder. So it’s stacked against us to get good value for money and secure the best players out there, we’ll end up with journeymen and pre-retirement tourists, particularly without the safety net of a long term contract during which you can blood the youth and battle harden them, at the short term expense of results (missed that boat last year!)

We either need to make a call and lock in the coaching staff, publicly back them. Or go the other way, start linking up with the next coach and recruit and retain who they see being a part of the club long term.

That game highlighted the importance of front foot play in defence. The last few weeks the team have stood back in defence & allowed opponents to mount attacks at will whereas last night we strangled many at birth. Walmsley was kept very quiet last night & if we'd had a few more tricks up our attacking sleeve it could have been a different result. We hear about sliding defences & i'm sure a sliding attack would work very well for us. A couple of time when trying to get off our own try line, the Saints fullback was right up with play & perhaps a Briers type kick could have released Ashton to score at the other end.

I thought we did OK for the most part on walmsley last night, but someone else on here reckons he and paasi tore us apart