Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:10 pm  

ArthurClues wrote:

Thought it was a very high standard game. Credit to Saints for hanging tough when we were stretching them all over the place in the first half. I'm not normally one to bag the coach but I thought his selection of Edgell on the bench was big factor in the loss. As the game went on we needed a bit more impact off the bench and we were never going to get that with a teenage full back. Very odd. Let's see what we can learn from this next week.

Agree with all that. Plus points: Miller was great although his kick off out on the full killed us. Oledski looks the best prop in SL. Holroyd is getting back to match fitness and Sangare was solid especially in first stint.

Very frustrating we did so well to get into control of the game and then three it away with errors; but there’s next week.

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:13 pm  

ArthurClues wrote:

Thought it was a very high standard game. Credit to Saints for hanging tough when we were stretching them all over the place in the first half. I'm not normally one to bag the coach but I thought his selection of Edgell on the bench was big factor in the loss. As the game went on we needed a bit more impact off the bench and we were never going to get that with a teenage full back. Very odd. Let's see what we can learn from this next week.

Dont agree it was a big factor for the loss but it did seem a strange decision to have Edgell as sub.

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:13 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Agree with all that. Plus points: Miller was great although his kick off out on the full killed us. Oledski looks the best prop in SL. Holroyd is getting back to match fitness and Sangare was solid especially in first stint.

Very frustrating we did so well to get into control of the game and then three it away with errors; but there’s next week.

We look 100% better side with Mik on the field

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:16 pm  

Look hot for the first half an hour, the rest was crap.

I really don’t get the love for Oledzki, just a big pudding. That game was crying out for an enforcer, and unfortunately only Bentley tries to be one.

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:18 pm  

christopher wrote:

Edgell was meant to be 18th man, Ruan was ill, so Donno was meant to be 17th. Croft wasn’t 100% (think there's been illness through the group) so we needed cover in the backs.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. With any luck we'll actually have four true props in the 17 next week. Will do wonders for us.

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:24 pm  

The 1st half was as good as we have played under Smith. Players running on the ball at pace, winning the ruck and excellent line speed in defence leading to us dominating field position. Everything we have been crying out for
and what has been lacking in most other games this season and last. The ball was in play with few stoppages and we looked great. Credit to Saints, we could have been well in front by half time against most sides.
Unfortunately the 2nd half was more of what we have served up too often recently. Errors, followed by conceding territory too easily. We stopped doing all the things that were working in the 1st half.
That said there was a lot to like and I actually thought it was probably our best performance of the season, despite losing.

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:30 pm  

ArthurClues wrote:

Ah, thanks for the clarification. With any luck we'll actually have four true props in the 17 next week. Will do wonders for us.

That’s what i was told, Smith says different in his presser so who knows

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:31 pm  

Swoggy Loiner wrote:

Look hot for the first half an hour, the rest was crap.

I really don’t get the love for Oledzki, just a big pudding. That game was crying out for an enforcer, and unfortunately only Bentley tries to be one.

Im not sure what game you were watching, Oledski dominated every collision in attack and defence and we dropped when he went off.

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:34 pm  

The Magic Rat wrote:

The 1st half was as good as we have played under Smith. Players running on the ball at pace, winning the ruck and excellent line speed in defence leading to us dominating field position. Everything we have been crying out for
and what has been lacking in most other games this season and last. The ball was in play with few stoppages and we looked great. Credit to Saints, we could have been well in front by half time against most sides.
Unfortunately the 2nd half was more of what we have served up too often recently. Errors, followed by conceding territory too easily. We stopped doing all the things that were working in the 1st half.
That said there was a lot to like and I actually thought it was probably our best performance of the season, despite losing.

Agreed but I would Credit Saints who basically came out and outplayed us.

There was some costly errors though.

As you said, I haven’t seen a rhinos team play like that first half for a long time, i do think we are going to give some teams a hiding, hopefully Cas at Easter. We’ve played all teams that were above us last year bar Wigan, not too concerned with
3 out of 5

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:36 pm  

Its going to take time to be able to play full games like the first half. Until it becomes second nature and just the way we play we will continue to lapse into bad habits.

Couple of things for me. We will make mistakes, all teams do, and cutting out utterly stupid ones will obviously help. But we need to react better when we make them. Secondly we really look too light up front due to the forward rotation we have. There are times when simple size and strength makes life easier for everyone. Coming out of defensive positions is one thing, but our lack of genuine threat from big forwards near the line makes it hard for us to break defences because they know they don't need to throw multiple defenders into the middle. They can keep well spread, which makes it difficult for the backs when facing a defensive line with all 13 players in it. Contrast with how teams have to defend against Walmsley and co