Serious question...how does the current team match up against Tony Smith's team of 2016 which topped the league and reached two major finals?

I'm not getting drawn but I think his point is, come GF time when the opponents don't have weaknesses to exploit we could end up struggling to score running the risk of going over an hour scoreless in 2 GFs. He could cite the following to back up his case.

2018 - GF 4 points, CC 14 points.
2016 - GF 6 points, CC 10 points.

Avg points per final - 8.5 - isn't going to win a lot.

Hard to tell. It's better than his 2017 team I know that, and we don't have the smug "I couldnt give a " gurning.

Far greater chance of winning a grand final IMO, than the 2016 team. The league was pretty poor that year, and Warrington (bar the first couple of months) weren’t clear leaders or anywhere near the best team for most of the year.

Smith’s teams 2011-2013 were the peak of his stewardship and if we were going to win the big prize under Smith, that was the period in which it would happen IMO. He had a great few years and we were a joy to watch, but the title didn’t come and that’s in the past.

Now we have Price, and although I can’t be sure we’ll win the elusive title with him in charge, it was definitely the right decision to replace Smith and I think we made the right choice from the coaches available. Price has changed the mentality of the team, and although we won’t be the flat track bullies we could be in our pomp under Smith, I think we have the toughness to win a GF when the chips are down on a cold night in October. I’m hoping we can keep Austin fresh if that opportunity arises - he’s lived up to all expectations and despite having to take responsibility for organising all the attack (since Brown is injured) he’s also top try scorer, high on assists, leading MOS contender, a joy to watch and even a top asset off the pitch.

Times are good IMO.

I’m still struggling to understand the point being made. Who is more likely to make a final (bearing in mind you have to “be in it to win it”). The team that scored 3 pretty tries ( when exploiting opponents injury weakness), or the team that put 50 past them?
We scored some delightful tries in 2011, and were a joy to watch, but didn’t win the GF.
There is an argument to be made that in tight games it is a kick or individual moment of brilliance that breaks the deadlock.
As for W71, it seems your “I’m not going to be drawn” is your new “time to move on”. None of my posts are specifically aimed at you (unless I reference you) but you do seem to struggle with the idea that someone else’s opinion may have some validity, or even that by grown up debate a clearer view may be achieved.

Agree that it’s important to capitalise on opponent’s mistakes and weaknesses. What happens though when our opponents don’t make mistakes and/or cut out defensive weaknesses as their side gels over the season?- we’re going to need something else.

On the training pitch, you’d hope/imagine we’d be practicing some slick moves and passing movements to take into games and to see evidence of this in our performances. Against Hudds, there didn’t seem too much of this- more the capitalising on errors to score tries. Great if we have both; but against well drilled defences we’re going to have to create our own opportunities.

Someone mentioned about the improvement in attitude amongst our players under Price. I’m still not entirely convinced that this has been sorted. Take our recent games: saints, salford and Huddersfield- there’s still plenty to work on where our commitment has fallen short of the full 80.

I’m not trying to be negative, but, come the play offs; we really need to address some of these points if we are to achieve any success.

No I meant I wasn't going to get "drawn into" criticizing a 50 point win. The would be churlish. I just wanted to discuss the subject without receiving caustic responses aimed at me. I enjoy reasoned debate and think the O/P makes an interesting point.

The scores against Hudds weren't all that well crafted I guess, but I think Price was asking for a back to basics after some average performances in the past few weeks. Lets not forget Lineham & Charnley are fairly high up the try scoring charts, most of those coming from opportunities created by good passing movements.

There is PLENTY to work on I'm sure Price is aware of this and reasonably happy about that. He's stated that he doesn't expect, nor want i suspect, us to be playing our best stuff right now and is looking for a slow-build. If it was play-off time next week then I'd be worried and Saints would waltz to the title.....but it isn't. We all know the main weak link in attack and if Price had other options I doubt he'd be playing. Brown is on his way back, this could help matters.

Phil Clarke made an interesting observation a few weeks back (it happens) that the last 4/5/6 (can't remember the number) winners of the GF have had a good kicking at some point in the season. I'm glad some of our weakenesses our showing up now and we've got time to work on them.....seems preferable to romping away with a season mostly untouched.

We could win a lot of our games with healthy scores against lower table sides ( or decent one's ravaged by injury ) and finish the season top 2. But you don't get anything for that, except perhaps the hubcap. After that it's a knockout competition, and if we have a period of 15-20 minutes where we are giving away penalties, offloading the ball in our 20m, or making mistakes, then we are very likely to end up with nothing at the end of the season.

That is the reason we do need to be concerned about Sundays performance, despite racking up 50 points.

I think the point about “switching off” is more of a concern than how we score tries, at present.
I’m also concerned about the seeming invitation for teams to run at us full pelt rather than moving up quickly. No doubt our coach sees all these things and is working on them, and we are in 2nd position while doing so which hopefully is a “good thing”!

Having watched the highlights back on last night's SL show I'm less concerned about how the points were scored in comparison to actually scoring them. Sure there were a lot of scruffy try's from close range well I say GREAT!! It takes all sorts and as someone said there's nowt extra for artistic impression.

It wasn't that long ago in simplistic terms that we'd cruise up the field but couldn't find a try from 10m and most stifled plays resulted in a hang the ball high and hope 5th play. Our problems were such that is seemed our tactic was to kick penalties 10 yards to start in the opposition 40/35 rather than apply line pressure

I think that we do have the players to play attractive free flowing rugby but in the first instance give me the win. This time round we got to 10/15m with a PTB and made it count (probably still with Price's half time chat ring in the player's ears) . If we can hurt teams from deep and close in then that's all to the good IMO