I was using Tony Smith's vernacular.

I agree, lets not forget that he has only agreed a contract which ends in 2011 though, 2 full seasons.

It's gonna be ace when we actually start playing well.

Although my memory is fading (quickly) and it's probably selective but I seem to recall relishing going to games when Johnno was in charge for the same reason.

Its not about playing well as we have done that in the past and gone on many a winning run only for us to slip back into our old ways, its about learning how to be winners and to me Tony Smith is slowly making us believe that we are winners and he has added a lot of steel to the team.

When we start to beat Saints and Leeds on a regular basis and the fans are turning up to games thinking we can actually beat Saints rather than just hoping we can beat them then this is when i will truely start to believe, its going well at the min but lets learn to walk before we can run.

We need to beat Saints as soon as possible and end the hoodoo they have over us if we are ever to win anything.

Teams above us and games left predictions

St. Helens
Wire- W Wakefield- W Quins- W Wigan- W KR- W Giants- W Leeds- L Cats- W
POINTSLeeds
FC- W Wakefield- W KR- W Wigan- L Wire- L Cas- W Celtic- W Saints- W Salford- W
POINTSHull KR
Catalan- L Bulls- W Leeds- L FC- W Cas- W Saints- L Salford- W Wire- L Wakefield- W
POINTSHuddersfield
Wakefield- L Quins- W Wire- L Catalans- L FC- W Bradford- L Saints- L Celtic- W Wigan- W
POINTSQuins
Wigan- L Giants- L Catalan- L Saints- L Bradford- W Bradford- L Salford- W FC- W Cas- W Wire- L
POINTSWakefield
Giants- W Leeds- L Saints- L Cas- W Salford- W Celtic- W Wire- L Cats- L KR- L
POINTS:-8 from 18

i think Wire will lose the Saints and Wigan games
POINTS:- 14 from 18

this would leave the league looking

Saints 44points
Leeds 40 points
Hull kr 33 points
Wire 32 points
Huddersfield 30 points
Quins 28 points
Wakefield 28 points

So im changing my mind and saying

WIRE 4TH

Nah, your missing my point.

I'm totally loving it at the minute, and I know we're not playing very well. Dress that up how you want, winning ugly, doing enough, proffesional, it doesn't really matter, you get to the same place, we're picking up 2 pts being pretty ordinary, often just playing well for 15-20 mins of games. That in itself is brilliant, we've never had this luxury under Cull, never. If we wanted to beat Castleford away, or Catalns away, or win at Hull, we had to be at it you felt, not anymore, we can be 7 out of 10 and win 80% of games, brilliant.

I just can't wait until we actually play well.

Forget your table, that'll take care of itself. Back to basics, ask myself, Am I enjoying my rugby, have I got the buzz back, do I look forward to going to games again ? 100 million percent yes, so that's good enough for me. I'm not going to sit here waiting for a reality check Rob, I don't want one, thing are good, enjoy them.

Fair enough. I win bet with Latchy and lose bet with Youanne. I see you have written Wigan off in your assessment though?

Wigan Games
Harlequins - Win
Cats - Win
Bradford - Win
Leeds or Saints - Win won, Lose won
Warrington - Win (as I think we will CC)
Cas - Win
Hull - Win
Hudds - Lose

14 points 18 possible.

no, just did the teams above us
i think we'll lose to the Pies in the league and murder them in the CC

We aren't showing championship form but maybe we are posting championship results.

They weren't even tested by Hull who couldn't build pressure or field position virtually throughout the full game.

That is a very good point to make, that being the distinction between the result and the actual game performance. However, good sides can play below par and come away with the bacon. We are doing that at the moment.

I'm very conscious we have our "peak" yet to come this season.

Cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth if Saints hammer us, then.

I think we need to be balanced in reviewing the Saints result. All that has happened in the past is out of TS's control. It's no shame to be beaten by St Helens in a one off in a few weeks time.

Going forward, even if we do hit our straps in the coming seasons and become a real force , it will still be a circa 50% win ratio against them as I cannot see them faltering soon.