The optimism I’d held for a grand total of one week is officially dead! Season is over next week. We’re just not good enough at the moment and our coach has no good ideas. After half time we were 12-0 down and needed to give it a real go and he played a conservative grind that slowly gained us some territory until we threw it all away after 10 mins with an error and a penalty. Stephens was great in his cameo, but will likely be dropped next week when Walmsley is back, instead of Paasi who should actually be dropped.

I’m one of those hopelessly optimistic fans for the most part and even when we were at our worst I never gave up complete hope because this team had earned a lot of faith with me. But I’ve officially given it all up now, our race is run.

Just hope the semis and final are good, close games. Still can’t see past you v HKR for the final, although it has to be said that KR are starting to look a bit shaky, might be the pressure getting to them so wouldn’t be entirely surprised if Warrington sneak in there instead

Can’t really see past you lot winning it, unfortunately

The club is being lauded following the signing of Feldt, Sailor and Murphy but personally I think they have got it wrong. That pack needs a major overall.

Walmsley and Paasi are contracted for next year so not much we can do there, as are Batchelor and Whitley but we definitely need a prop. A lot of the problem comes from the management of the pack more than it needing an overhaul I’d say. Sticking Matautia at centre when he’s not very good there but is great at 2nd row (and has even done well as a prop!), sticking with Batchelor and Whitley together despite neither playing particularly well. And the big one is continuing to start Lees and Delaney together despite both being fairly light and neither being a metre making kind of prop just has us starting on the back foot time and time again. That’s happened multiple times too so it’s just Wellens not learning his lesson

It’s hard to know how much of this is down to the players or whether it’s Wellens coaching them. Paasi and Batchelor are shadows of the players they were last year. Both have had big injury problems of course, so I guess we’ve got to hope they’ll come back better after a full pre season as neither really had one this year. Walmsley hasn’t been as good this year either, although he’s still shown plenty and had some really good games so I wouldn’t write him off yet.

Ultimately though I think the problem is Wellens. He seems incapable of changing a game plan mid-way through a game and his original gameplan never works against the big teams. if one or 2 players lose form then ok maybe it’s him, but the vast majority of our squad have gone backwards over the last 2 years and it’s not all down to age

Saints were comical at time. Like Zig said the pack needs an overhaul. Some of those saints players looked disinterested, Lomax being the main culprit. Build a good back line for next year however if one player gets injured the quality taking their place isn’t the best. Think the key would be getting rid of Wellens early his incompetence may likely cancel out Briers. I’d be in the market for a prop; Walmsley can’t stay off the treatment table, Passi looks like he’s been enjoying his food whilst injured, lees costs you a card/pen most games. The young lads are decent however can’t do it alone behind a beaten pack

Stephens looks like a real find, if he gets handled the right way over the next couple of years he could be an absolute monster for Saints