Ellis and Mago are good start to fixing our forward issues, but if that is the end of our forward recruitment then it will not be enough.

To go into the season with Mago, Ellis, Byrne, Partington and Havard is a massive gamble. If either of the new recruits ends up injured for a length of time, we are basically back to the same pack as this season, a thought I cannot even think about.

I believe we need another prop recruited, a half back and a centre. If Thornley is coming in as a starting centre and he is the best of what's available, then not only have the club lowered expectations, it shows just how far SL has dropped and just how tiny the talent pool actually is.

As kids we had superstars to idol, flair players that excited you, what do kids have now, what memories of length of the field tries, mazy runs down the wing? I remember players, games and tries from the 80s & 90s as a kid, I'd watch games back on VHS. What are kids memories of games from the last few years?

Recruitment this year is vital, we are losing fans and not generating any interest in attracting any new ones, as the product on show is so dire.

Smithies, Partington and Byrne haven’t improved since 2019.

Pack last night ages were

22
21
20
31
20
20

Bench forwards

28
20
27
22

Literally men against boys.

I’m not convinced his game is that different tbh. He’s certainly not playing a Sean O’Loughlin style role for Saints. He’s a decent link man but Partington especially can play that role himself. Ultimately the number of carries, the metres made, the average gains are very similar between our two and Knowles pre this season. It’s not a slight on Knowles at all, he’s a class act but I’m just trying to highlight that we shouldn’t be writing our two lads off because they’re not barnstorming through teams just yet. You highlight Thompson and he’s another great example of how a player can suddenly kick on a few gears, especially under a top coach and with the right players around him. I certainly didn’t see the World Class forward he now is in those first few seasons. I always felt Richards was a pudding tbh but maybe he had big raps in academy rugby.

You have to factor in that Smith had to make 26 tackles to Dodds 12. I had radio Manchester on going home and they said the 2nd half penalty count was 9:1 in Saints favour. With such an imbalance in possession it's very hard for the halfbacks to play.

Saints
31
35
23
33
23
24

Bench Forwards
35
29
24
26

You're right although I'm concerned Lam will use this as rationale to bring back Tony Clubb.

And forget about Clarke

I get the feeling Clark not being played is a management call as much as anything. I think they need him out to get another overseas player in for next season and it seems like they’re doing their best to push his nose out. The lad isn’t perfect but he can punch a hole here and there and he shouhh oh d be getting games at the minute.

100% this.

Ah, thanks for explaining this, it makes perfect sense now. Wigan are actually beating everyone out of sight, they are playing scintillating rugby! Sculthorpe has no clue what he’s on about (the guy’s no idea….) nor has Baz!

Here’s to another couple of years of success under Lam, the coach of the year 2020….



No, wait??……

I went to the Dragons v Roosters game on Sunday. Ellis is a big boy, not much smaller then Wareah Hargreaves. From what I saw he won’t make huge metres with the ball but can’t be any worse than what we have. Does a lot more minutes than Clubb so that’s a good start.

Looking at his stats, he had the worst meters made & post contact meters for the St George pack. Having said that, it was the 1st game I've seen him start so he must be progressing.

With guys like this, you can only sit back and see how it plays out.

It's about 4 or 5 games worth for Tony Clubb