Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:02 pm  

ArthurClues wrote:

It seems like you're hankering for a Ian Watson coached team. Think you'll continue to remain dissapointed in that regard. This talk about not competing for 80mins is way off. We've competed hard throughout every minute of every game this season. What I think you mean is we haven’t been on top for 80 mins yet. Well, we all want that, but that's not how sport should be, is it? I think we'll be better next week with 4 proper props for the first time this season. A lot of simple things should fall into place off the back of that. Whether we get the win or not is a matter of conjecture. I actually think the two games (Cas & Wire) that follow will tell us a bit more about how we'll do this season. Win both of those and we'll definitely be making progress. Lose and the doubts will creep in.

Not sure why you draw that conclusion Arthur.
I don't rate Watson at all.
But I want to see progress.
And a team with an identity that is organised and structured.
Still some way to go on that front.
And by competing for 80 mins, I want us to be competitivie in both halves. Too many games where we are decent in one half and poor in the other.
But I do think we are better than last year - but it's a very low bar.

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:23 pm  

christopher wrote:

Croft and French would not work.

Croft is no slouch, he is the running halfback, you need an organising one alongside either Croft or French.

You ditched radio this year for Sky?

How about both having a bit of both, like McGuire Burrow…! …lol…
Frawley is way too slow, poor kicker, and not really that good at organising. Feels harsh to say as I wanted it to work, but that’s how I saw it.
On holiday in Loch Lomond, hotel has sky so getting a fix…
Also mate and I will watch sky and attend few games this year.
Will still be bit of radio thrown into mix too though…

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:30 pm  

Still happy for Frawley to shut me up though, and appreciate others see the subtleties in his game. Played NRL last year, so clearly has quality. I’ve decided it is harsh, and wrong for me to write him off this this early……

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:58 pm  

Simmo71 wrote:

Not sure why you draw that conclusion Arthur.
I don't rate Watson at all.
But I want to see progress.
And a team with an identity that is organised and structured.
Still some way to go on that front.
And by competing for 80 mins, I want us to be competitivie in both halves. Too many games where we are decent in one half and poor in the other.
But I do think we are better than last year - but it's a very low bar.

On the basis that you would seem to prefer a % based, mistake free, meat and potatoes down the middle gameplan, which is what Huddersfield do - badly. As spectator who regularly attends the games, that's the last thing I want to see. Smith's vision of the game, which was very well executed in the first 40mins against Saints, is far more appealing to me. I accept that because of it's ambition mistakes will inevitably occur. The crucial thing for Smith, is demonstrating that he can win games on a regular basis with this approach to coaching. Now that he largely has he players he wants I think it's fair to judge him over the first dozen games of the season. I'm really hoping he can pull it off.

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:26 pm  

Shabino wrote:

How about both having a bit of both, like McGuire Burrow…! …lol…
Frawley is way too slow, poor kicker, and not really that good at organising. Feels harsh to say as I wanted it to work, but that’s how I saw it.
On holiday in Loch Lomond, hotel has sky so getting a fix…
Also mate and I will watch sky and attend few games this year.
Will still be bit of radio thrown into mix too though…

Mcguire and Burrow worked because Sinfield was in the side, who often played in the halves anyway.

You’re being Harsh on Frawley IMO

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:30 pm  

ArthurClues wrote:

On the basis that you would seem to prefer a % based, mistake free, meat and potatoes down the middle gameplan, which is what Huddersfield do - badly. As spectator who regularly attends the games, that's the last thing I want to see. Smith's vision of the game, which was very well executed in the first 40mins against Saints, is far more appealing to me. I accept that because of it's ambition mistakes will inevitably occur. The crucial thing for Smith, is demonstrating that he can win games on a regular basis with this approach to coaching. Now that he largely has he players he wants I think it's fair to judge him over the first dozen games of the season. I'm really hoping he can pull it off.

Agreed, I go to the rugby to be entertained not bored to dearh with % style rugby, as it happens though we are actually completing sets percentage wise, even with our style.

I can start to see our identity now, and to be fair we have won all our games in different ways.

I don’t think we’ll be consistent enough to bothering top two league positions but I think we can best anybody on our day. We were like that at points during the golden generation years aswell

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:35 pm  

christopher wrote:

Mcguire and Burrow worked because Sinfield was in the side, who often played in the halves anyway.

You’re being Harsh on Frawley IMO

Sinfield was LF for a long time. We now have Cam Smith who wants to be in the halves too. What could go wrong?

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:38 pm  

Shabino wrote:

Sinfield was LF for a long time. We now have Cam Smith who wants to be in the halves too. What could go wrong?

Sinfield was our main organiser and kicker, you’re comparing apples with oranges.

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:47 pm  

Be very interesting to see how we approach next week. Lisone will add something and so should Mom if he’s fit - knock on effect of getting Martin back in the pack where he seems to play his best.

Our left edge didn’t look as sexy in attack without Mom partnering Handley.

Not sure who is fit or ill, Croft has looked a little off it for 2 weeks for me.

Miller
Roberts, Newman, Mom, Handley
Croft, Frawley
Oledski, Ackers, Sangare
Bentley, Martin
Smith

Holroyd, Lisone, McDonnell, Goudemand

Re: RD 5 | St Helens (H) : Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:56 pm  

ArthurClues wrote:

On the basis that you would seem to prefer a % based, mistake free, meat and potatoes down the middle gameplan, which is what Huddersfield do - badly. As spectator who regularly attends the games, that's the last thing I want to see. Smith's vision of the game, which was very well executed in the first 40mins against Saints, is far more appealing to me. I accept that because of it's ambition mistakes will inevitably occur. The crucial thing for Smith, is demonstrating that he can win games on a regular basis with this approach to coaching. Now that he largely has he players he wants I think it's fair to judge him over the first dozen games of the season. I'm really hoping he can pull it off.

"Meat and potatoes down the middle game plan"

Another wildly exaggerated conclusion from what I actually said.