Saints probably gets me more worked up if I'm honest, despite the double last season that losing streak hasn't yet been rectified as far as I'm concerned, and (for me) it won't be until we snatch a few games from them right at the death that they'd looked almost certain to win.

That doesn't mean to say I don't care whether we lose to Wigan or not, mind you

That's just how I see things.

If we do the double over Saints this season then I will be able to talk about 'closure'.

[sizeThats how damaged all those defeats left me.[/size

Um, that is just one year longer than our previous Superleague dry spell so I don't think you'll be finding me despairing! The beauty about winning as much silverware as we did over a ten year period is that it is easy to live off the warm glow produced for a few sp years while watching our new crop of talent getting settled in.

Interesting perspective.

Foster won or drew half a dozen games for us last season with his kicking alone. As for Makinson, who do you think it was that scored our first try in the Grand Final, the one that turned the game around for us before the injuries hit?

You could have mentioned roby, as opposed to defending foster. I'm glad you mentioned his kicking (it's alll he has)

Any way, that makinson try, while starting a fire in a boring game, was a defending mistake and not attacking brilliance. Makinson went invisible after that, as did much of the team. Especially when leeds woke up again.

JD please change your sig that Dancing yankie fecktard is getting on my nerves more than a briganty

never write saints off while there's playing time left.
don't write the pies leeds or the catalan team, shuddersfield at a push!

allthe above including ourselves will be at the top end of the table playing for play off places.

if i was a religious man i'd be praying that saints do self implode and only win a handfull of matches, i'd get on my knees and pray that the same happens to the pies and leeds as well. but the truth is it's gonna be a tough season all round.

may the best team win (in a promrose and blue stylee!)

sorry. I obviously never see it

I wouldnt write Saints off just yet! Everybody was writing Leeds off last year and looked what happened!! We made both finals! Saints have a team of quality players not playing to there best at the moment, we know how well lomax, gaskell, roby and wellens can play on there day. Also Hohia and Laffaranchi will turn out to be good acquisitions!!

If they are playing like this in late August then maybe you could start to write them off.

I disagree, winning is addictive. The more you win, the more you want it, becomes more painful when you lose. So in a nutshell, all the above is utter rubbish.

Friday could be the toughest fixture for us this season (apart from Wigan away) but more so due to the missing players and the lack of a dry track.

I would say stronger definitely as a squad because the younger players all now look more capable.

It is about time all us old cynical Wire fans (including me) started to have more confidence in the way this team is being coached and prepared, they are genuine winners led by a superb coach.

Do St H ever concede a legit try which has no forward passes, knock on's, obstructions, etc according to Paul Wellens? Every try he runs to one of the officials with both arms out stretched.

if i were simmons id be having a word with him over that, its getting farcical now seeing wellens stretching his arms out further than his ears.

I agree winning is addictive, and can breed confidence. However it can make you over confident and then that is when you leave yourself open to the feeling of complete catastrophe when you don't win a few finals or a few regular season games that you normally would have won.

I am proud to support St Helens through thick and thin and whilst we don't look like world beaters at the moment, there will be a time where Saints and success will go hand in hand again...

I have seen us win everything and have seen us capitulate in games where we looked home and dry (Hull KR and Catalans most recently), but the belief that we will win trophies again is still there and will never waiver.

haven't won in 4.

More open comp or decline of Saints?