Our defence was poor under Potter, that is why. However, your reference doesn't tell the whole story. Simmons has come to Saints with the express wish of the Chairman to see open, attacking rugby. Less of the barge that we seemed to yawningly roll out last season (although some of that was due to having no playmakers for the last third of the season). Still, barge was effective: we ended up with the best attack, albeit not the most attractive overall.

Defence does win games, and Saints certainly need to return to the steely defence of Daniel Anderson's day. But while Wigan were taking around 11 seconds in their three men roll off tackles, the rest of the league were taking about 6 seconds. Including Warrington, who I think had the second best defence last season? It is the length of time you spent tackling that was so freeking dull. It slowed everything down to snooze mode. That your defence was solid for most of a game was very effective and is what all teams should be aiming for. But three man 11 second tackles were superfluous and utterly dull.

And today's completely made-up stat of the day is.......................

I was so desperate to beat Leeds in that play off game it was untrue and it was soooooooo sweet to knock them off their perch.

Now reading things like these just makes it sweeter and sweeter!

Top stuff.

So we were allowed take twice as long to clear the ruck than any other team? Take a look at what you're saying. You're intimating there was one rule for Wigan and one for everyone else. This myth of the 11 second tackle turnaround is total rubbish as I recall Sky pointing out at some point, and even if it was it would equate to roughly one complete set of six per minute which tends to be the norm.

There's too much emphasis on quick play the balls these days anyway and it sticks out like a sore thumb when we play Australia when we have no way of breaking them down. Take look at some of the 80's and 90's Wigan videos proliferating Youtube at the moment and you'll see that slower play the balls and attacking/exciting rugby don't have too be mutually exclusive, but to pull it off you have to back yourself with deeper a much deeper attacking line, something which Wigan excelled at last season. You also need efficient playmakers - The sort of playmakers we need to once again compete on the international stage.

Some of rapidly expanding anti Wigan brigade will have both teams playing tick and pass at this rate. Personally I can't wait to see the end of 40-38 basketball like results and make teams have to work again to get over the line.

The sad thing is that Saints fan actually believes it's true. Perhaps it would be better if she "wandered" off back to the red vee site.

well i must say its only 12 months ago ,you lot dare'nt put your heads over the parapet

Really defensive aren't we, top try and points scorers.

We weren't Saints were, but that did include the uneven Edinburgh Magic weekend fixture.

100% bang on! It's amusing how cocksure the pies are when this time last year quite a few mouthing off dare not post and the others were bickering with each other about how crap their now most awesomest team ever were!

ok then, SECOND top try and points scorers is hardly a boring side is it?

Wigan played some great open and attractive rugby last year scoring tries all over the place.
They also prevented the opposition from doing the same.
All clubs tried to do what Wigan did, the Warriors were just better at it than the rest.

you'd bore barries glass'un sleep you pal

Jebus!

StainsFan and sgtwilko both coming on here to spout complete and utter crapola - I need a sit down and a brandy I'm that shocked.

What's not shocking is how one good season has totally gone to your pie filled heads.