i've been having this argument with some saints fans on facebook,started off with a former work colleague who was kicking off that Knowles had been banned and that everyone else was having a go

my simple question, and given he uses all the or similar terms to what you have commented above was - if that was McIllorum, Smithies or Partington would you be all over FB claiming that they were **insert here** and should be banned for x number of games, but he was actually trying to condone what Knowles has done as being acceptable, so i just said you have gone right down in my estimation.

The other posters arguing with me wouldnt accept that Wigan or any other team in the league had injuries - only Saints, to the point that it is the only reason they lost any games and the challenge cup semi final cos Wigan were at full strength and they werent as they would have beat us easily - so i just gave up p*ssing into a strong headwind as it was like talking to dumb and dumber and dumberer

I can easily use stats to flip your argument on its head.

Nearly half of your 7 titles in a row were won easily (7 pts, 8 pts, 8 pts)

And for all your CC wins the opponents only had to win a small amount of games to get there so there will naturally be lots more different opponents. Quite why you compared CC back then to now I have no idea. The concept hasn't changed, you still only need to win 3 games to get to the Final

They're potentially correct - new coach depending.

Like it or not, but their 1-17 is the best in the league. They currently do most things better than most sides and are the benchmark. There has been some luck to it, but if they win tomorrow then there's no doubting that 4 GF wins in a row is a superb achievement.

The reason why everyone is calling them out on the injuries (well certainly why I am) is because at the start of the season they claimed that they had the best squad and that nobody could touch their squad. Nobody gets in their side from any other club. The second they got a few injuries the injuries card came flying out the wallet faster than Field and French.

The facts are - they have a better 1-17 than most and a better squad than most which is why they've finished top and why they will probably win the GF.

Their seemingly strange obsession with everyone congratulating them and bowing down to them and re-writing history is a tad strange though. Has a little bit of "Liverpool" about it. They've built tomorrow up that a win makes them the greatest side ever because of all of the injuries, but a defeat was tough on them because they had injuries and should be the greatest side ever.

In the main this is a very good post.

However there is a difference between wanting people to bow down to us (in your words) and actually being respectful and recognising the achivements. When Wigan fans throw COVID as excuses whilst we won or any other excuses that they use then naturally that becomes very annoying and a reason why we (well I certainly do) become very defensive.

Because despite this new amazing level playing field since nasty Wigan were stopped from winning everything, it has still brought the same number of different sides to the final than it did before. What exactly has been "levelled up"

It is still dependant on who has the most money and the best academies etc etc just as it did in 1988, 1992 and 1995.

Er

A Salary Cap
Every team being full-time
Improved S & C at each club
All of the traditional big teams having Academies/Reserves
Sport science and access to technology to prevent injuries and fatigue
Better pitches
Better training facilities

All just off the top of my head

When was the last time a club paid a big transfer fee?

Appreciate that, and when people throw full time, most money, bought the league etc at us rather than acknowledge how good we were....we get defensive.

I said something a few weeks ago.........swap Wigan for St Helens the last 3 seasons (or at least 2) and we have the COVID card and playing less games than everyone else thrown at us by everyone involved in the game.......including Sky commentators. It literally happens every time we mention our history.