1. Carmont
2. Richards
3. Phelps
Carmont - seems to be building a real understanding with Sam Tomkins, there was some fantastic interplay between the two. After a shaky start to the season he has rediscovered his dream team form in recent matches and this has played a big part in our resurgence as a team.
Richards - this season he's looked far more dangerous in attack, creating tries, particularly in the second halves of matches. When the opposition are tiring big Pat's pace and power are a real threat. To think that someone (can't remember who) said on a thread a year or two ago that Pat was one of the best backs in the competition and was howled down by Saints fans. At the time it did seem a bold statement. Not now. Pat is one of the form players in SL. I think at the time the argument was whether you'd swap Pat for the Slug. I think the answer to that question is now clear - the mollusc would be staying at KR.
Phelps - how wrong was I about this guy?
I had him pegged as a journeyman squad player at best at the start of the season and called for him to be exited from club.
In fact he's developed this season into a really classy FB. On his current form I don't think I'd swap him for any FB in the comp.
Overall I thought our forwards played really well as a unit. No one was really outstanding as an individual (if I had to pick anyone out, it would probably be Coley) but they totally dominated Leeds in that second half.
I have said (a bit more accurately than my "Phelps out" call
) that the SL is a mediocre league. Last night's match, thrilling though it was, I think backs that up. We probably only have 3 or 4 players who could have got in the 17 if they were competing against the squad we had for the first few years of SL and yet we beat Leeds last night with some key players
missing, including Lockers, who for me has been the outstanding player for us this season.