It's face-saving time for some Saints fans. They confidently expected to do a lot better than they did yesterday, even if they didn't think they would necessarily win. I expected them to as well. But they were the worst of the three participating British clubs by some distance.

Of course, they were playing in a 'real' fixture, but let's be fair - neither of the other two were contested as friendlies. They were also playing against the better of the three Aussie teams - but how much better remains to be seen, as the Aussie season has barely started.

I think it's fair to say they were more 'up against it' than we were, but not perhaps by as much as they're now telling themselves.

I reckon Saints will be a force this season, but I wonder if they're reading too much into massacring the ever-useless Salford and just managing to beat Catalan at home.

Simms would have been perfect. Big strong intimidating. Clark would have also been a great signing. I think we undervalue the 9 shirt at Wigan. McM offers a lot, but for me isn't a great '9'. The interchange is usually left to Logan (who's really not good enough), or a makeshift 9 in Powell or another.

The pack would look better with a rudder to guide them around from 9.

Patrick for me is going to be the new 'style of 13' runs the ball like a prop but can handle big minutes. Gallen seems to have revolutionised the position.

I'm not MM's biggest fan either. I know he's popular with fans, but he has no great pace or footwork. Logan T has improved, and we'll see what he can offer as the season unfolds.

Mind you, I reckon Roby is more than a little over-rated too, although up against Issac Luke (far and away the world's best 9 in my book) it's not surprising he didn't shine.

I think you're undervaluing how good McIlorum is.

He's not a scooting Hooker like Roby or Clarke, but the system we play doesn't call for him to do that.

He's an absolute monster in defence (he visibly hurts people) and his distribution, which was once average, is now very good. I genuinely wouldn't swap him for any other Hooker in SL.

I don't rate Logan at all though - the team loses a lot when we make that interchange.

Roby didn't have much to play on the back of and maybe he never has but for all the race reviews he gets in superleague I haven't seen him produce a great deal at international level.

The same could be said for many top superleague players over the years though with only the odd few really excelling.

That's because most of Roby's play is made by scooting from dummy half.

When the opposition controls the ruck (which the Australians do so well) they negate his best attribute.

I tend to agree, though I do like Daryl Clark, he'd be the only one I'd possibly choose as a swap.

I'm not undervaluing McIlorum, I rate him as a player and recognise full what he does on the pitch. However I also recognise what's lacking from a 9 at Wigan. I think McM's strengths could be equally utilised if he played 13. He's not an out and out 9 and doesn't run the game from dummy half.

This is definitely drifting off topic but I agree that there is something of a slight weakness at 9. I think McIlorum is fantastic there, he brings real aggression in defense and, for me, the pack seems more organised when he is on the field leading them about near the ruck. Despite this I think it's foolish to think a hooker can be fully effective if they have to consistently play 80 minute stints. The drop in intensity when either Williams, Logan or Powell fill in is very noticeable and often is the catalyst for a momentum switch favouring the opposition.
A top quality hooker would be 2nd top of any wish list I had for the squad (only just behind a new fullback/centre to cover Sarginson if he dropped back there). Ideally I would have chosen Clarke; the lad is lightening around the play the ball and would provide a spark the like of which we haven't had since Sam Tomkins (although arguably Green brought us this in big games). Godinet looked handy there over the summer, he could prove a useful rotation hooker until a youngster of sufficient quality emerges. A couple more alternatives off the top of my head could be Lunt or that young lad at the Rabbitohs who came through last season when Isaac Luke was injured (can't remember his name but he played like Luke jnr., the lads going to be top quality).

Apisai Koroisau

And I agree; what a talent he looked! The Bunnies sold him on to the Panthers, though. Would have loved to have seen him here. Same goes for James Segeyaro.

I'm not sure we can afford Smith at 7 and McIlorum at 9 unless Williams develops a lot quicker than expected to be honest. Every other top SL team has at least one playmaker who is capable of something special to make a break ball in hand. That means the defence have to pay him extra attention, which in turn creates room for the support runners. With our 6, 7 and 9 you don't need to worry about what they will do too much, only who they will pass to.

Williams is still developing, and McIlorum makes up for it with his aggressive defence. Smith is a weak defender and tends to go missing in big games, I'm not sure whether he has enough about him to justify his spot long term. Maybe Powell will eventually take over, he seems to have more to his game. If I was IL I'd at least have a look at what is on the market for next season though. We simply aren't dangerous enough in attack for me currently.

And Smith is the best kicker we've had since Trent Barrett. He does his job just fine. If there are inadequacies at 6 and 9 you can't blame Smith.

I'll keep the current England scrum half, twice running Dream Team scrum half and double winning scrum half thank you.

Deacon?

I think in some ways you have hit the nail on the head, McIlorum for all his defensive qualities does not offer a strong attacking game in the traditional sense of the hooking role (very few breaks/assists or even tries) and Smith is an organiser type HB, although I think his defence has improved and is not weak and normally does have a good kicking game. Williams might be the player to add that something different but it is a lot to ask for young player just getting his first chance as a starting half, time will tell if he can but I think fans will need to be patient. This season will tell us a lot about who, if anyone, can step into the more attacking HB role which Green did last year. I do think it is right to at least give one of the younger players a chance to make a claim on the spot before looking at brining anyone in.

IIRC Deacon was carrying an injury the whole time he played. It affected his overall kicking, and for example, I don't think he kicked one single conversion even when Pat was injured. Certainly a better kicker than Smith in his Bulls days though.

As an aside to this Smith has improved his own goal kicking this season. He kicked two from way out wide at Widnes that secured a point and his kick in the last minute on Saturday showed a lot of bottle.