They are a bit good

Gleeson come up trumps again, still one of the best centres about

Both their squads were a lot better than ours.



Saints have far superior cover.



Good effort Jake, must try harder though.

I've not tried to disguise anything, just dispelling a couple of myths the club has tried to build up in the last couple of years.

That why they lost No halfbacks ..Wigan rule the roost in that department

That why they lost No halfbacks ..Wigan rule the roost in that department

In regard to point 2, personally don't think the GF greatly supported your crusade against Agar.

OK Saints didn't capitulate, but it was actually a pretty one-sided game for a GF. The winners never seemed in much doubt and Saints looked limited in attack.

This isn't a million miles away from many of our performances, we didn't capitulate in most games either. Also we didn't even have the advantage of bringing in a first choice half back from another super league club when our first choices were out.

Having said that, I would love to see us show some of the structure and execution in attack that Wigan show under Mcguire.

saints finished 2nd and got to the grand final with one or both of their 1st choice halves missing for a chunk of the season was my point.

Indeed, however my point related to improving players, not turning them into grand finalists




moore and wilkin? I'm sure if rule made a pitch for either saints would be delighted











Not bad for a rovers fan eh?

The "missing our first choice halfbacks" excuse really annoys me, I can see why it's used but it really is simple, sign better halfbacks. Horne and Long at the moment is not a top 5 halfback combination, and I doubt with there fitness/age problems they ever will be, I know the club are trying to adress this now but many knew it needed sorting before the start of last season.

I agree with Jake that the 'no half back' excuse has been a cop out for us all season and it just shows how tactically inept Agar is. Even though we don't have the players fit to play a certain way, he still sticks with plan A, rather than altering the way the team plays.

The reason Saints did so well without their first choice halves was that their 9's (Cunningham and Roby) know how to control a game from the ruck and push the team around from there, meaning all the makeshift halves have to worry about is the kick. Whereas if we put Horney, Washy, Berro etc. in the halves we expect them to play the same game as Long, which we all know they can't.

I think many of us would have been rather underwhelmed had we signed Paul Deacon, but the way in which Maguire used him in the GF was superb!!

I think we have to admire the way Wigan brought in a new coach and he made one only one signing ( Deacon).

His first season and they not only make the grand final they win it in some style, I think there are lessons there for every club. Clearly he has had a massive impact as players that looked quite ordinary last term are now world beaters.

Saints did a good job getting to the final without there halfbacks, they lost because Wigan did not allow them to play there usual attacking game.