Success? Lost in both competitions that are of any real note.

I don't care about the Dream Team, it doesn't mean much... I go off watching the players and their impact compared to how much of the cap their taking up, he doesn't justify it.

I'm with you I prefer it when we finish 7th and bow out of the cup early.

No you prefer that the club invests more than any other in staff and facilities, but never wins the big cup.

Successful season though, always our year.

I expect the club to look to improve every season, this year that has happened, in all honesty my pre season expectation has been smashed no matter how disappointed I am with losing both finals.

I never expected us to be in the hunt for silverware this season, it's hugely disappointing to lose the big ones but I'm very happy with the shield and the forward strides we have taken. I'm optimistic about next year, it's not our divine right to make finals so it would be nice to just be in then hunt again next season.

The biggest plus for this season for me is that in Toby King and Declan Patton I think we have a couple of future stars. Onwards and upwards.

Let's have a little game. We'll take it in turns to list all the 'world-class' half-backs in SuperLeague.

I'll go first.


....


Your turn.

I suppose a forum is a place for all views regardless of how much you agree or disagree with them.

I rate Gidley and Sandow. At the start of the year they were almost unplayable. Injuries have played their part but that's part and parcel of the game.
I'm happy they're with us next year, and with Patton and Ratch we have quite a few choices.
I can easily see why Gidley is rated by most - his influence on and off the pitch appears to impress most including his team mates.
Yes he's made mistakes and has been found wanting more than once this season with his one on one tackling - including at the GF - but does that make him an 'ordinary' player? I think not.

I know, which is why I posted

So, you agree with me.

Saddened, I can see from your posts on Redvee that you are totally disillusioned with the winning culture and entertaining rugby at Saints, if you want to become a Wire I'm sure you'll be accepted we're a very broad church.

gidleys to old.and we are prepared to go again with him next season.disaster awaits..we have a gem in young declan but where does that leave arnold sorry sandow.for me its last chance saloon for this guy as it is for tony smith...2 non english half backs in games that matter was never ever going to work..

I'd prefer to see him as full back.

I saw him.at the Wigan game before the super 8s n his shoulder was strapped then as it was still in the gf.

He can see more and his ability to read the game will allow hi to compensate for lack of pace.

Again I'm sure gidley and sandow presence has aided Patton progression so to have them playing and coaching Patton makes them a little better value than just as players.

I hope there are more signings to come that may not even be announced until after the 4 nations. Until we know the full ins and outs it's hard to gauge what to expect but either way gidley staying is a positive for me I just hope we can rotate him more next season for some games to keep him fresh for when he does play

When I heard we had added Gidley to the squad I thought of the dynamics between him and Sandow I expected classy play, control of the game through kicking, game management plus the odd shows of sheer brilliance from NRL stars. Yes early doors before Sandows hamstring went they looked good together, after the injury not so. We are paying a lot of cash for these guys to steer the boys around the pitch and it doesn't happen. Then we let DP have a go and hey presto a half back that can do just that! Give DP a half back slot and let one of the others go for me. I am not sure which one, but Sandow does seem to have a more troubled time where ever he is?

We all know that Gidley is a little suspect with one on one tackling which bewilders me as to why we would put him at full back when Russell is condemned for the same fault.

My issue with Gidley isn't his tackling, it's his decision making with the ball, in the semi vs saints there was at least 3 times where he made the wrong call, again in the GF he should of threw it wide at the very end and went himself.

I feel like his 'experience' is massively overhyped, yeah he's been around a long time but he spent all his career at one of the worst teams in the nrl, only 'big game experience' is state of origin and even then he was mostly a utility player off the bench.

For me, he's the dictionary definition of the Emporer's New Clothes.
The RL equivalent of
Ben and Jerry's
Coldplay
The new "must see" TV series from America.

We're led to believe that he guides us round the pitch, when, since our great start to the season, he's done anything but, as all we do is drives or dummy half scoots. You don't need to be a genius to work out our current style of play, so , in my book, he's a luxury (at a reported £200k) we can easily do without.

Just for balance, I think he's had a very good season.

As has the club.

i think he had a very good first half of the season.. But i do think, with no major trophy, that the Sandow and Gidley experiment may have to be classed as a failed one, especially when you consider that they are both probably the highest paid players at the club.

I would like to see Patton start in the halves next season every week..... i wouldn't be overly concerned if we lost one of the 2 big name aussie halves.