ELBOWSEYE

The games were mostly brilliant, I have been round long enough to see MW terrible decisions (Ganson Leeds/Bradford at Cardiff) one other strange decision was the collision with the referee (French try) when I last played if the ball hit the officials it was a scrum to the attacking side. Just wondering why it wasn't even looked at.

Early for a match thread.

It was a magic weekend with 3 matches each day so you will compare what happens in games, I certainly don't back saints but even I could see how ridiculous the decision was, but following opinions on here doesn't surprise me how certain fans come to view incidents.

What pleased me was the performance of both Thewlis brothers and Lindop, young players coming through the ranks showing plenty of promise and progress.

Guess being the operative word.

An accident it may have been but ask Saints player Murphy if that mitigation works.

Thanks, I could see but even Dupree thought he was in the bin.

So you're guessing for the second, as for my username only people who know me would understand why I use it, so again you are guessing.

So what where the two mitigation factors then.

Never bias, but players have been binned for less on a regular basis,

Need a visit to specsavers

Maybe we rename it the Lewis Dudd thread.

Sorry but as a wire it's stick's in my throat, I FEEL SORRY for Saints absolutely ridiculous.

All accidents including freindly fire from sam Powell

He struggled to get in a poor performing saints side last season,some players are unlucky like Ryan Hall at the Roosters and Tomkins at the Warriors, but some are simply not good enough for the NRL.its up to Dodd to decide which category he is in.

Maybe we will just have to accept Bennett never signed him (Dodd) and he doesn't rate him. He's not the first coach to do this, and although Bennett has made mistakes in his career he is still recognized as one of the top coaches by most people in the game. Dodd has a choice, work harder to convince Bennett, sit there taking the money, or move.

Somehow don't think you will need them

You do try and slow down the PTB by any means so it's not surprising you lose the penalty count regularly.

Never mind Harry, don't choke at least we have slightly lowered our points conceded average probably down from 22 to 21.9

Just checking saints attack which you state as among the top, but doesn't tell the full story if you take the win against SRD academy side out of their total it plummets.

I know you would have Smith and Lewis but in reality Wane will go with what I wrote if all are fit

The bench won't have two half/hookers on it, if Williams and Lewis are fit Lewis will be on the bench the other three slots will be out and out forwards.

We do need some perspective on Dodd, in his last season at Saints he struggled to get in the first team, he is young and can develop but the SL and championship is littered with young promising halves who don't progress (Patton, Richardson,Mellor, etc.) all young talent doesn't guarantee success,some will not develop.

The Aussies have a smaller base to choose from with the Pacific Island heritage players opting for these nations a lot of forwards who would have been first or second choice are not available, in the players to time you quote this was not the case.

I hope your overconfidence leaks over to the players a semifinal is a completely different game and nothing before will matter and both clubs will have to take care with injuries leading up to the game. I am not overly concerned by yesterday's loss with regards to the semi but more concerned over our league form. But as Leigh proved last season it's the finish that matters not the start.