Given our financial circumstances I think his appointment is a reasonable one. Until we get some major investment in the playing squad we are going to find it very tough to attract a proven top-drawer coach (or even an up and coming NRL assistant for that matter). With this in mind, I would rather we gave someone who has progressed through the ranks in London a chance to show us what he can do than bring in a journeyman from the North or Australia who doesn't share the same commitment to RL in the Capital.

He may lack wider experience but he should have a very good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of our squad and of the younger players who will be coming through in the next year or two. If, as has been stated in the press, he really does have the support of the senior players then he may well be capable of getting the team playing to its potential (however limited that may be given the lack of strength in depth).

I don't know much about his abilities on the training ground but his lack of top-level playing experience shouldn't be a barrier to being successful - Mourinho and Wenger didn't win many trophies in their playing careers but they've not done badly as coaches in the round-balll game.

Anyway, only time will tell. Good luck Rob (you'll need it given the amount of pessimism on here!)

I find it amusing you wasted your time typing all that out.

Nobody cares.

i do

I enjoyed typing it out, but thanks for your concern anyway. However, I wasn't asking you the question. If someone on your site finds my club's choice of coach strange, which they did do, then I might well ask why and provide possible reasons.


That's fine. I care about your choice of coach because I am not parochial but care about rugby league as a sport. I am interested in your club's choice of coach and will be looking forward to seeing what he can do with Quins next season. Apparently, in the annals of history, Saints did something similar in choosing a coach who had hardly played the sport and who no-one knew but turned out to be an exceptional coach who brought us silverware. So you never know; your untried newbie could be the making of Quins RL. But instead of interpreting my post as a genuine interest in the success of Quins you could try to insult me all over again if you like. But make a better effort at it next time, will you? Your last attempt was feeble.

I'll be interested to see how Saints go next year, as a big successful club in a transitional phase. I guess only history will tell how successful they will be in balancing the new stadium with providing the success the fans have come to expect. What are Saints fans' expectations?

Is that Ed Milliband?

Heh, I think it is.

I don't think Saints fans have any expectations for next season to be honest as Royce Simmons is an unknown quantity and we have lost most of our players from when we were at our peak. The fans have lots of hopes, though how realistic they are is yet to be seen!

At least you'll have one of the best kits in Super League in 2011.

That was a picture of him writing the last labour manifesto.