Agree with this mate. The problem lies in the inconsistencies. I've just watched the Paul Wellens post match presser and his views on the Makinson tackle are almost identical to the ones I've expressed here: don't particularly like it but it's the way the game is and we have to deal with it. However it's too inconsistent.

I think there's very much a 'trying to discourage serial offenders' element to this. It's a bit of a cack-handed approach that they're taking but it's working to some degree. They're not accepting the 'I can't do anything about it' defence which is fair enough. As I said, Mata'utia and Sironen have managed to adjust their style adequately for example.

I'm willing to bet that any one of us could go through every team and quite easily pick out the players most likely to put in a headshot. There's a reason Harvard rarely, if ever hits high, but, say, Ellis or Byrne regularly do. Same with Wardle as opposed to Keighran in the backs. I don't think Wardle or Harvard play a lesser version of the game as is being made out regarding all these cards and bans. Tommy wouldn't be playing a lesser version of the game by not staying bolt upright and jumping into the tackle.

I don't think the new rules need to be the death knell for the sport. We just need players who are seemingly unable to get the message to adapt and for the game to police it properly. That's surely not too much to ask, is it?

Highly doubt the “insurance companies” have insisted on a disciplinary panel at all, you’ve just made that up.

They will have just said that we need to change the rules and cut down on head contacts, how that’s done is up to the RFL

Nah, they would just increase the premiums proportionally to cover the risk and probably increase the excess too.

I found the "Only Bans" page, Saints are currently joint 3rd with Catalans on 15 accumulated matches but they will be clear 3rd if Makinson loses his appeal, Wigan and Hull are joint top on 20.
HKR were joint bottom with Leigh on 3 and will remain there but it goes up to 4 for both clubs after last weekends fixtures.
Wire are in 8th spot with 6 matches

I can't make something up that I never even said.

A big difference. Either Wigan, Saints and Hull are being refereed differently and being judged more harshly by the MRP, or the likes of HKR and Leigh are squeaky clean.

I don't disagree that both groups are going to have to get their act together. Though as fans, I think we've got some painful months, if not years, ahead.

Like for like in my view.

I think we are getting a slight upgrade. His try scoring record this season is superb and there's not one NQ fan happy to see him leave. Judging by their comments on our social media they are gutted.

Not just saying this because he's leaving but Makinson has been less effective this season, not as good in backfield and on exit sets.

You've regularly said that pace is your main issue Stu. Given that was the case this year with Makinson and Feldt is equally slow, if not slower, how does this signing help solve those issues? Surely it compounds them in that Makinson's place was available for a speedy back and now no longer is.

You need a mixture of pace, strength and finishing ability. Feldt isn't slow, he's just not rapid and has two of the three attributes not to mention how he will help the young lads develop

I don't think our recruitment is finished with yet and Murphy is a real option. Sailor and Welsby will provide enough zip and pace in the backline and that's without any more signings.

Sailor isn't particularly fast and definitely not as quick as Ritson (although Ritson isn't good enough so that's irrelevant). What I'm saying is that, future signings aside for now as we don't know what they are or if there are any, your backline is exactly as lacking in pace next year as it was this. If it was a problem this year, don't you agree it will still be a problem next year?

I'm not looking to dampen your enthusiasm over your new signing(s) but I genuinely can't see what has supposedly changed?

Feldt will be getting slower

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By that logic so will every other single player over a certain age.

Sailor is quick. Not sure how much you've seen of him, he's not explosive off the mark quick but no slouch for sure and is much quicker than Dodd who he is replacing. And like I've said I will reserve judgement until after the last signing, I do believe there will be at least one more back.

I meant same type of player, I suppose only time will tell if he is an upgrade. I expect Feldt and Sailor will replace Hurrell and Matautia on the non-federation trained list. The biggest problem we have all got is finding British players to replace those departing hence the reliance on academy players.

He’s not great under the high ball. I think you need to invest in a prop. Lees and Delaney are too light to dent the defensive line, Walmsley is injured regularly and Paasi doesn’t seem fit. Stevens, who we have debated in the past needs to develop.

I haven't seen anything that suggests he's particularly quick. Off what I've seen he's around average for a back and no more but I'll take your word for it if you say he's quick. Feldt looks slow for a back. I've just been trawling around the internet and can't find anything that suggests otherwise. All his tries come from close range, albeit he's a good finisher from that range. Are you talking about Lewis Murphy the former Wakefield player? If so, isn't his injury record worse than Percival's and Walmsley's combined? I haven't seen anything of him for a couple of years. Does he have pace?

Fair enough regarding waiting to see what else comes in. It just doesn't seem, so far at least, that the lack of pace is being addressed.

Two non-fed marquee players for Saints.

Makinson ban reduced from 3 to 2.

At least we can get to see him in one last home game

Whilst we aren't going to have as quick a backline as yourselves and some others, I think we are definitely making improvements on it. Having Welsby, Robertson and Sailor knocking around is much pacier than Welsby, Hurrell and Dodd as a unit. Murphy is fast (if that rumour is true) and whilst not as fast as Ritson, Ritson has been cabbage and barely used his pace at all and doesn't seem capable of using it effectively in a game, so still a big upgrade. I'm not too bothered about having the fastest backline, there's so many other things to be considered. It just becomes a problem if your backline is actively slow af, which it has been this year and last. You'd like to think we'd be going for another centre as well which will then have Robertson filling in all around the backline rather than being first choice in any position. As long as we don't retain Blake, I think it will be a pretty big improvement on the back line we currently have which I'm fairly happy with

Now, how these quicker lads will fare being told to run straight into forwards that are twice their side every tackle, I don't know!

Good. There’s a reason he got a two game ban and Asiata one, both will miss matches against Warrington

I still think you should have signed two props.

I think there's probably an element of letting him play the last game at home too. 14 years is a long time to have your last goodbye taken away.

Seems like a sentimental decision the Makinson one. A second red for a similar incident must put him at the top of the range surely.

The game has changed unfortunately and everyone has to get used to this new reality. Players, refs and disciplinary are all struggling with it at the moment, as are us fans. There are almost certainly more adjustments to be made over the next couple of years too. I've got a bit of sympathy with everyone as it's undoubtedly a more difficult game to play, some of these head contacts are impossible to avoid and yet are being punished the same as deliberate contact. I'd have the Smith incident a much higher grading than any ban that comes from players falling into tackles but we aren't there yet.