I defy you deny he would walk into our team. Plenty of dull boring players that can tackle, the game needs flair.

My post was specifically about Saturday’s performance. Tell me which bit was inaccurate. I pointed out he had been ineffective for the previous 8 weeks or so, care to point out where I was wrong about that?
I agree when at his best he has X factor, and if he performed at that level consistently I would want him in my team.

Your original quote did not mention 8 weeks.

"Yep, Barba woke up half way through the match, saw a team that were running on empty and decided to give a cameo performance, he IS the Messiah.
Ps did he use to bunk off tackling lessons?"

Anyway even his coach accepts his performance was below par form round 16 for 10 rounds and said so in the post match interview.

I think in the Warrington game he had more effect when the opposition tired. Not sure this is a cameo or not or whether he was holding himself back.

We can compare to Ratchford however who had no effect at anytime of the match (or was holding it back like Barba)

I’m not sure that you actually disagree with anything I said. I’m not aware that anyone said Ratchford played a blinder on Saturday, but given the disruption to our team perhaps not surprising.
Finally can the defensive role of a full back really be totally ignored in the modern game?

I think we do agree. But I think a lot of the judgements of Barba are coloured by jealousy/sour grapes by some.

Can the defensive ability be overlooked? Well Barba plays full back for Saints and they finished top of the tree in the league, favourites for GF and the second meanest defence in the league at 408 against in 29 games (14 points per game). So his defensive frailties seem to have had no detriment to them.

I think the Saints lack of points against says more about the lack of a cutting edge in the other teams. Look at the half back combinations in the top 4, us (nuff said) Wigan Powell and thingy, you know ther homegrown marquee, and Cas have been missing Gale.
I’m still not giving up on the semi final though!

Barba this afternoon found another Wire player Ratchford in his pocket must have been when he tackled and dumped him into touch.

Marquee turnstile in tackle shock!

I understand, but that Saints defence is also 130 points better than ours against the same teams.

Disagree.
You're playing the stat cards yet again.

This is bonkers. St Helens have obviously been better than us over the 29 games so far and have beaten us three times. But I wouldn't be surprised if we win next week.

When you accuse me of "playing the stat cards yet again" do you mean to say "using facts to back up my argument" ?