Willie Isa's last ban was the most baffling recently. Possibly the best tackle I've seen since Leuluai on Fa'asavalu. The disciplinary notes said he released contact right at the end of the tackle. If that's the case...and I'm not convinced it was... the player was inches from the ground. I'm sure a grown man can survive a free fall of a couple of inches!

Reckon that's about right.

The circumstances of it are monumentally stupid from Knowles but it's not a bad one.

Reckon 3 would've been fair, 1 for the actual tackle from the RFL and 2 from Saints for going in at 100mph with less than a minute on the clock in a game that was all over.

Seems Wellens doesn't agree with the apologists: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... s-30057459

Seems Wellens doesn't agree with the apologists: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... s-30057459

After the Dodd drop goal you could see Wellens shouting “short kick off” is he really that dumb?

I can’t lie, tonight is the first time I’ve watched Saints and breathed reasonably easy for 4 or 5 years. Watching Wellens and Matty Smith in deep conversation gave me a feeling of safety for some reason. I still think they’ll have a major say this season but something has definitely walked away with Woolf.

Yes they're just not there atm. They could always burst into life at the right time and I think there's a good chance they will. But Walmsley and Sironen aside that was as poor a Saints performance as Iv seen since 2017. Leeds with no halfbacks,no subs and missed about 5 or 6 chances to win it.

Wellens just looks affected by everything. He looks too relieved when they win and too shaken when they lose. Warning his players to watch for the short kick off after the golden point drop goal is actually quite telling.

They’ll be in there fighting for every trophy but clearly that drive they had under Woolf has gone (for now). That was a drive to not only win games but to win every battle within a game. When it really matters they’ll find it IMO but they’re well below their level at the minute. Wellens looks nervy and unsure of things up in the stands and Matty Smith being alongside him doesn’t un-nerve you (as good a bloke as he is).

Calm down lads. Matty Smith coaches our women’s side and is currently standing in for Fraysinous who has been in hospital unwell.

Hope Fraysinous is okay

Firstly, hopefully nothing serious with Fraysinous.

In terms of calming down, in what regard? I’m not naive enough to think the players won’t be able to raise it when it really matters but watching how passive Saints look currently, in comparison to those last few seasons is night and day. The general demeanour of Wellens (and Smith or Fraysinous for that matter) looks one of tension and a bit of panic at times. When the big games come round, I think the players will find that extra effort and intensity and they’ll still be the team to beat but last night is the first time personally I’ve thought the way you’re playing is more than just a hangover from the WCC.

Oh absolutely mate we are nowhere near the levels of previous years and we can’t attribute that to the Australia trip, or injuries or (self inflicted) suspensions. Something isn’t quite right yet and we aren’t ourselves.

I don’t think anyone at Saints would be happy with where we are at currently but I don’t think many are panicking either. We’ve got the odd lunatic on social media and forums etc but that aside I think most fans are confident we will be there or thereabouts when it matters.

The “calm down” remark was aimed purely at taking anything from the fact Matty Smith was sat alongside Wellens. That’s completely irrelevant. I’m not sure any assistant coach in the league, especially a stand in one, is supposed to “unnerve” anyone to be fair.

Really enjoyed the game last night, not the best standard but a cracking watch for the neutral in terms of drama and a good game for people new to the game.

Leeds worry me I'll be honest, they have a great spirit about them and they'll be very difficult to beat in the play-offs. On Saints, they just look a frustrated, ageing side. They did well to win and it might kickstart their season, but they're so un-Saints like still. In past years when they had sides pinned in their own 10, the opposition would struggle to get out their own 20, this season that intensity in defence has gone and teams march them down the field.

It helps that Knowles is finally getting pulled for his reckless behaviour so they’ve no one to shoot out of the line and put people under pressure.

Fair do’s. I’ve still got you as favourites for everything bar the hubcap but it’s certainly going to need to be done a different way, i.e raising your game when it matters, rather than just steamrolling everyone.

The comment about Matty Smith applies to Fraysinous or Wellens himself. You’d see Woolf up in the stand and he had an aura about him, built up through the wins, how the side played. and how he carried himself. You see Wellens or whoever else now and that isn’t there anymore. He seems a top guy Wellens bit you just wonder if he has that edge to him that the top coaches have. We’ll see in time I guess.