Positives -

- the overall performance. Having looked at that Brisbane side and the other teams' performances, to get a draw after 80 was the best performance of the week end (and far better than Saints');
- Bateman, again. Just in time we have found Lockers' replacement;
- the centres. Didn't look like the weakness we are always being told. Did damage against world class opponents. Loved Gelling's charge down;
- Clubb and Tautai (too briefly);
- I think Logan looks more effective and aggressive this year (at long last), so we don't miss Mac quite as much as we did last year; and
- considering that this was a step up from SL, I thought Williams went pretty well. He could make it.

Negatives -
- last tackle options were dire, again;
- the props struggled. Even here, though, they will have learnt, Flower will be back one day, Clubb and Tautai did a good job, and they won't have to face a pack of top internationals till next year's World club Challenge;
- Bowen. Jim Bowen would be more use. Having desperately tried to see something there, in attack he kills move after move.

Overall, I was proud of the effort. I found it to be as intense and enthralling match as I have seen in ages. Our last try deserved to earn the draw.

The salary cap has brought teams closer together, no doubt, but it seems more by slowing improvement for those at top rather than speeding up those at the bottom. As part of a group of initiatives (meaningful internationals, bias toward home nation players, better TV rights and more), the cap could withstand a small increase (2 or 3%).

Admittedly not a leading player, but Mark Edmondson left Saints for a job that offered better return. This may have been immediately, more long term or simply because it was in America (I think). There will be many of you on here who earn as much as some first teamers now, but more importantly, by the time they are thirty and looking for a new career, they've missed out on ten years of potential ladder climbing.

From memory, these have gone to union in last decade or so:

Sam Burgess, Kyle Eastmond, Joel Tomkins, Chris Ashton, Lee Smith, Brian Carney, Andy Farrell, Anthony Sullivan, Chev Walker, one of the Mylers, the big Pryce and before that the very high profile Iestyn Harris and Jason Robinson. This doesn't include foreigners (Henry Paul, Champagne Hape, Freddie Tuilagi, Maurie F'asavalu) and no doubt there are many I've missed in all the above categories.

And there's no real way of knowing whom we never had to start with (Farrell?).

It may seem short term but salary is important and must be worth flogging out one's guts

Positives, we won-Mossop.
Negatives, still look clueless going forward

....and backward and sideways.
Bizarre feeling being [ireally[/i cross at a win.

They looked tired before half-time.
Handling was dire.
Bowen is static & seems to be scared of getting hit.
Play-the-ball was glacial

I'm glad they didn't rise to Hull trying to rile them early on
A few of the "seniors" stood up, but were let down by poor decision making & sloppy play from too many others.

Still, 2 points. An ugly win. Hopefully, lessons might be learned.

again