Luke Walsh

Quote: Aboveusonlypie "No problem. Wouldn't really disagree with any of your points. I do think that Bateman and Clubb offer more than Hansen. But I know that quite a few Wigan fans disagree with me on that point. I thought that Smith was our best player on Friday and kicked well. Don't forget that when Pat Richards came he wasn't a regular place kicker. Whilst Matty doesn't have Pat's range he can be accurate, with practice. By the way, I'll bet that you hardly recognise Smith as the same player who played for Saints? i know the reasons for letting him go, which were sound at the time, and who knew that Eastmond was going to go? But Smith has emerged as a genuine talent, and also shows the value of good coaching. I also believe that players like Taylor, Crosby, Farrell, McIlorum, Charnely, Smith and Green have plenty of improvement in them and are far from the finished article.

How much we miss Sam will be the key issue. But in a way, by the time of the playoffs we had become far less reliant on him (he only scored one try in the last 3 months of the season - though he still made plenty).

As for Saints everyone agrees that they will have a better season, with many picking them for the LLS or better. My big question is - do you have the right coach? I think to draw a comaprison with Wane. When do you hear him complain about foul play? Never, because it sends the wrong messages to the team. It is just excuses. Wigan didn't win on Friday because of a late hit on Walsh. They won a tight game because in the end they were that bit better (IMO of course)'"

Agree with all of that.

I think the jury is still out when it comes to Brown, and that's probably the case for most Saints fans. I did have some sympathy for him last season because the injury list at times was ridiculous. I remember London away and Widnes at home in particular, I am sure we were in double figures for players missing. However he did also seem to tinker unnecessarily a few times as well. He is very impatient in terms of giving combinations time to develop, he chops and changes too hastily at times.

With regards to Smith, obviously with the benefit of hindsight it was a mistake letting him go. He is no world beater but he does exactly what is required of him. Good kicking game, good hands and can also spot a gap for himself now and then. I don't think he is what we need now we have Walsh, but over the last couple of years he would have been ideal. Obviously at the time we had Eastmond and he was looking like the best thing since sliced bread at one point. At the time nobody batted an eyelid at Smith leaving as we had Eastmond, so it'd be unfair to criticise the club too much on that decision.