Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sun Aug 06, 2023 5:59 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

What's your take on the referee Stu?
Paul Rowley has had a real moan, called him a disgrace. I've seen the tries after the Leeds v Leigh game and the Lees one looks very very debatable>

We were right at the front as my 12 year old lad was with me and my mates 5 year old came with us so we got in really early to stand at the front.

The Lees one was fine, clearly comes off the Salford player first. I thought he was inconsistent both ways, at one point after a Salford try Makinson says to the touch judge “Sir every tackle they are doing is a shoulder charge” you could hear him from where we were. Delaney (who was superb) was targeted a few times and high shots were let go and they slowed the ruck down too.

With any ref, supporters from both sides will find fault.

Was good to see Partington engaging in some banter with the Saints fans.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sun Aug 06, 2023 6:04 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

One thing I admire about the Saints players, is that when a couple of injuries occur, lads who have been off their best step up. We saw it with Lees at the back end of last season, when Walmsley was out and after Walmsley and Passi were ruled out a couple of weeks back and things looked tricky, Welsby seems to have woke up big time. He’s needed to, because it’s been a couple of scrappy wins and without him, they’d have been 2 defeats but it shows a really strong mentality throughout the squad.

We’ve not got the squad depth to cope to be honest, we are particularly light in the backs. You are right about Welsby though, if he gets injured our season is done.

If we can get everyone back obviously bar Paasi and Walmsley then we may possibly sneak another GF win but any more injuries and we haven’t got the quality in the squad.

If Norman had the aggression of a Lees or a Delaney he would be amongst the best in the league as he’s a ridiculously big unit but just doesn’t run his weight.

Delaney is going to be a sensational player. At 19 to step up like he is doing is superb and when he adds more size he’s going to be exceptional.

The future is bright for English rugby when you have him and Hill coming through at such young ages.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sun Aug 06, 2023 6:18 pm  

Stu M wrote:

We’ve not got the squad depth to cope to be honest, we are particularly light in the backs. You are right about Welsby though, if he gets injured our season is done.

If we can get everyone back obviously bar Paasi and Walmsley then we may possibly sneak another GF win but any more injuries and we haven’t got the quality in the squad.

If Norman had the aggression of a Lees or a Delaney he would be amongst the best in the league as he’s a ridiculously big unit but just doesn’t run his weight.

Delaney is going to be a sensational player. At 19 to step up like he is doing is superb and when he adds more size he’s going to be exceptional.


The future is bright for English rugby when you have him and Hill coming through at such young ages.

It looked like a knock on on tv but I only saw it once.

Saints have another young prop Noah Stephens in the academy who looks very good.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sun Aug 06, 2023 6:25 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

It looked like a knock on on tv but I only saw it once.

Saints have another young prop Noah Stephens in the academy who looks very good.

Yeah he’s played a few for the Reserves now but I think he’s a couple of years away at least before being first team ready.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sun Aug 06, 2023 9:47 pm  

It does come off the Salford player but how does it end up hitting him?

Knowles has it and appears to try and pass it, but it hits the shoulder of a Salford player stood between him and the tryline.

I'm guessing the ref has given a pass rather than a lost ball, but if that's the case then it surely comes out of the hands forward?

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sun Aug 06, 2023 9:53 pm  

Just watched it again. Definitely a pass, just depends which angle you view as to which way it's going I think, but seeing as the Salford player is ahead of him.........

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Sun Aug 06, 2023 9:53 pm  

Stu M wrote:

We’ve not got the squad depth to cope to be honest, we are particularly light in the backs. You are right about Welsby though, if he gets injured our season is done.

If we can get everyone back obviously bar Paasi and Walmsley then we may possibly sneak another GF win but any more injuries and we haven’t got the quality in the squad.

If Norman had the aggression of a Lees or a Delaney he would be amongst the best in the league as he’s a ridiculously big unit but just doesn’t run his weight.

Delaney is going to be a sensational player. At 19 to step up like he is doing is superb and when he adds more size he’s going to be exceptional.

The future is bright for English rugby when you have him and Hill coming through at such young ages.

We need far more than two young props for England to be successful, Australia are producing them by the bucket load. We have got to encourage more juniors into the game and cut back on the non-federation numbers.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Mon Aug 07, 2023 7:39 am  

For me Saints are still the team to beat until they are beat, bookies still have them favourites for a reason.

I think Wigan and Saints will finish 2nd and 3rd in either order.

I was disheartened after our loss at Saints away a month or so ago, however with Paasi and Walmsley out and the size and athleticism of KPP, Dupree and Havard back into our team it levels it up.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Mon Aug 07, 2023 8:51 am  

NSW wrote:

For me Saints are still the team to beat until they are beat, bookies still have them favourites for a reason.

I think Wigan and Saints will finish 2nd and 3rd in either order.

I was disheartened after our loss at Saints away a month or so ago, however with Paasi and Walmsley out and the size and athleticism of KPP, Dupree and Havard back into our team it levels it up.

One thing is for sure, Saints aren’t going to roll over. Top two is very important - home advantage and a week off. I am just hoping that the Wakefield loss doesn’t come back to haunt us.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Mon Aug 07, 2023 9:41 am  

Plenty will come down to further injuries between now and the end of the season. If Saints got another in the front row, that would be big trouble for them. I think it was precautionary but Sironen went off again yesterday and Hopoate looks to be injured. We're obviously without some real experience in the form of Cooper and Isa and that hurts us, especially in the big games. We had Cust go off on Friday and while that isn't a huge blow in truth, we'll have to see how we go elsewhere, because there are one or two players we could really do with being available at the back end.

As things stand, Catalans are just flying along nicely, without too many issues and with them looking guaranteed a home semi, you can't see past them making the Grand Final. The only other side you could see making a real run at Old Trafford would be Leigh. It'll depend what happens at the weekend and how they pull up from it but they're not in that top 4 by chance. They have possibly the best 7,9 and 13 in the league and also the best prop in Tom Amone (and Mulhern is not a million miles behind on form).