Quote ="Stu M"Comments like this really wind me up and are just a way of dismissing our achievement. They were practically at full strength and you only have to see the footage of their players at the end to realise how seriously they took it. I suggest you read Ivan Cleary's comments here. https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/10/03/c ... r-in-2024/ Just in case you don't bother, I've cut and pasted below “It would be awesome to get another crack at it,” Cleary told AAP. “We were pretty bummed about that one. “We absolutely gave it our best, it was the first game of the year and St Helens were too good for us that night. “It would be nice to get another shot at it.”'" I agree, it was a cracking game, both teams were giving it their all and it was a great achievement by Saints. Rather than implying they didn't take it seriously last time I would just say that this time around - assuming there even is a WCC, which is never a given - they will be even more fired up, because they will be motivated to put it right.

Quote ="Stu M"Comments like this really wind me up and are just a way of dismissing our achievement. They were practically at full strength and you only have to see the footage of their players at the end to realise how seriously they took it. I suggest you read Ivan Cleary's comments here. https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/10/03/c ... r-in-2024/ Just in case you don't bother, I've cut and pasted below “It would be awesome to get another crack at it,” Cleary told AAP. “We were pretty bummed about that one. “We absolutely gave it our best, it was the first game of the year and St Helens were too good for us that night. “It would be nice to get another shot at it.”'" I agree, it was a cracking game, both teams were giving it their all and it was a great achievement by Saints. Rather than implying they didn't take it seriously last time I would just say that this time around - assuming there even is a WCC, which is never a given - they will be even more fired up, because they will be motivated to put it right.

I concur with you there. The long shifts they put in also allows the coaching team to rotate the players more effectively which will mean that we should have a big advantage later in the game when the opposition forwards are tiring. Those two, and Cooper, when fit will be in the 17.

I loved Havard coming off the bench, his footwork against the slightly tired defence caused loads of problems.

Before his return game I might watch Warrington at home in the cup from last year. The best prop forward performance in years.


I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again

How we’ve gone from.

2020

GBurgess (injured)
Clubb on his last legs
Flower on his last legs
Bullock
Singleton
Mitch Clark
Partington/Byrne/Havard all being teenagers.

To 2024

Thompson
Dupree
Byrne
Havard
Ellis
Mago
Cooper
Hill
Eseh/Walters/Chan

Some transformation.

A hell of a turnaround from the dark days of 2019-2020 I agree. Still have nightmares from going into a playoff game against Saints with a front row of Clubb and a teenage Partington.

The only caveat with Havard is he has to be more consistent for me. The cup game against Warrington was awesome but then followed a drop off and its something that has been quite common for him at Wigan.

If all can be fit at the same time what the rotation? Harvard and Thompson start with Byrne, Dupree and Mago to come on? Rotate every week maybe as Cooper and hill wouldn’t deserve to miss out

Consistency is the only thing missing from Havards game. He's never poor but he goes from absolutely top class to just being reasonably good too often. His worst games are better than some players best games but he then shows you a glimpse of what he can achieve and you just want it more often. He's still young for a prop however and he has been impacted with injuries since that Warrington cup game last year. I think he will find that consistency at some point and you then have a regular international prop forward on your hands.