I agree that the half backs were not as effective as usual and the forwards were disappointing but we still scored 28 points and could have had more. The reason we lost was because of mistakes and some bad ref decisions. In summary, we could have won that game having played well below par. Worryingly we have now lost two semi finals in a row! To give credit where it is due, Leeds and Saints are still able to raise their game for the big one off games when it matters. It will be no different in the SL play-offs when Wigan's good form all year will count for nothing. Hopefully yesterday's painful display will be a good lesson for the play-offs to come.

On the half back situation, Matty Smith will soon establish himself there allowing Lockers to revert to 13.

The effects of playing Lockers at 6 are plain to see. The plays are just not as fast or fluid when he gets the ball and he has simply not got the legs to make a break as you would expect from a 6 on his own. What is more moving him for 13 to 6 removes one of his biggest contributions to the team which is his defence in that position.

All this was being said before the cup semi-final and has in fact been said for years whenever he does cover at 6. It has also been true for years that when he does, it isn't a success.

The same problems occurred in the semi-final - as they did a couple of weeks before v Bradford so I really do not think the positional changes can be dismissed and the result put down to mentality. Not when it is so obvious how this change affects the team.

My view is there was absolutely nothing wrong with the mental approach at all. It was a combination of factors that lost us the game, one of which was the positional changes due to injuries. The players wanted to win it as much as Leeds did but some were not fit (God knows why they were picked when unfit), Sam had a nightmare costing us two or three tries depending on your point of view and the team just made a load of mistakes gifting Leeds posession.

The team hasn't looked the same since the stupid exiles game. On fire before it and not looking pretty ordinary.

Pretty much agree with all of that.

One thing that baffled me was just how flat our forwards were standing to take the ball in.

This from a Shaun Wane coached team? I couldn't believe what I was watching.

Good for you, looking on the bright side

Enjoy you week off

Agree with Dave, but fortunately this shouldn't be a problem (barring injuries) for the rest of the season as Matty Smith will surely be 7 and Finch 6, allowing Lockers to be 13.

Then when Tommy returns, Smith can interchange with Micky Mac - get all those playing in the same 17 and the majority of the rest of the team fit and we'll come top of the SL and get to Old Trafford.