New Catalans Saints thread with no ref comments

[Chrispmartha]

8 minutes ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

Sam rolling back the years. The beauty of a semi final is that, however it pans out, if it’s close the tension ratchets up and up. A moment of genius and the south of France is in raptures. 

I was reading the Guardian report, and they stated that Roby was Saints’ best ever player. He’s no Joe Egan, but each club has its own standards I suppose

Roby has been a fabulous player, over a long period of time, but I think Cunningham was better. He was a one man pack. There was nothing he couldn’t do and no game was truly lost while he was playing. 

Paul sculthorpe was a better player than either of them imo

[Damien]

9 minutes ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

Sam rolling back the years. The beauty of a semi final is that, however it pans out, if it’s close the tension ratchets up and up. A moment of genius and the south of France is in raptures. 

I was reading the Guardian report, and they stated that Roby was Saints’ best ever player. He’s no Joe Egan, but each club has its own standards I suppose

Roby has been a fabulous player, over a long period of time, but I think Cunningham was better. He was a one man pack. There was nothing he couldn’t do and no game was truly lost while he was playing. 

I'd have Roby over Cunningham any day of the week.

[Barley Mow]

44 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Different country .. different laws?

I think Leigh (and Hull KR) were fined by the RFL for fans being on the field after their Challenge Cup semi-finals. It certainly wasn't the courts.

If Super League's rules are the same as the ones for Challenge Cup then Catalans could be in a similar situation.

[Josef K]

Even the most blinkered and one eyed of Saints fans will have to admit we didn’t deserve the win. We are so predictable, with the five drives and hoof. 

1. Discipline - it’s shocking and has been like that throughout 2023. 
2. No pace - you can look through squads and everyone seems to have pace, whilst Saints have only got Welsby. 
3. Centre & Winger needed - we are crying out for either, we got Hurrell on the cheap but Tubby Scoffalot has fallen into his bad old ways. He got another year out of us somehow. 
4. Kicking game - woeful. 

Fair play to Tomkins he had an excellent game and scored a cracking try. Compare that to Roby & LMS i didn’t even know they was on. 

[John Drake]

2 hours ago, Ragingbull said:

North Korean censorship strikes again

Yeah, that's why you're still here spouting off, when I could quite easily have booted you off here, and there are at least three separate threads all discussing the same thing on here other than the one I locked. Very North Korean. FFS.

I'm just bored and fed up of wasting my time posting up match threads every week, and then having to sit and moderate all the ignorant ###### out of them while I'm trying to enjoy a game on TV in my own free time.

There has never been any insistence of here that people can't discuss refereeing decisions, or criticise a referee's performance. Where we drew the line was people accusing the officials of cheating or being corrupt, or just personally insulting them. Plus, we get a ton of reported posts from every televised match thread from other forum users who are fed up of having to read 'the ref this', 'the ref that' blah blah blah.

That's why this thread has been pinned to the top of the forum since July, long enough for everyone to have read it, but for a bunch of people to wilfully ignore it and misrepresent it, just so they can wang on about how this official or that official is deliberately out to disadvantage the club of their choice with dodgy decisions all night.

Well, from now on, you can all just crack on. Post your own match threads, self-moderate them, and let's see how that goes.

Probably a good job the end of the season is nearly upon us.

[Chris22]

A tight match with limited chances for both sides and a low scoring, pretty ugly contest at time, which was to be expected really.

Over the years, we have managed to keep our composure in difficult moments and Catalans have always struggled with that. The roles reversed tonight and that was ultimately the difference. We gave away three kickable penalties (two of which were taken) through avoidable acts of foul play and another penalty arising from an error. That indiscipline gave Catalans a chance to get back into the game, and their tactics to kick even when behind were very smart. Then, at the end, we made more errors than Catalans leading to the winner.

Very little between the two sides but there has to be a winner and loser, Catalans just that bit cleaner than us tonight. Few complaints about the team though, they gave everything they had and great runs come to an end! 

[WN83]

10 minutes ago, Chris22 said:

A tight match with limited chances for both sides and a low scoring, pretty ugly contest at time, which was to be expected really.

Over the years, we have managed to keep our composure in difficult moments and Catalans have always struggled with that. The roles reversed tonight and that was ultimately the difference. We gave away three kickable penalties (two of which were taken) through avoidable acts of foul play and another penalty arising from an error. That indiscipline gave Catalans a chance to get back into the game, and their tactics to kick even when behind were very smart. Then, at the end, we made more errors than Catalans leading to the winner.

Very little between the two sides but there has to be a winner and loser, Catalans just that bit cleaner than us tonight. Few complaints about the team though, they gave everything they had and great runs come to an end! 

I’ve been surprised both last week and again tonight with a lack of defensive intensity from Saints. Don’t get me wrong, Saints went up a couple of levels compared to the regular rounds and they’ve defended great all year but I never quite felt they put Wire or Catalans in the washing machine style spin they’ve done to teams in previous years.  It’s felt at times that teams just can’t breathe against Saints and before they’ve even taken a step forward, there are bodies flying at them and that forces a large amount of errors but it’s just not happened this time. 
 

I looked at Catalans after 50 mins and they looked spent but then Saints started to look equally as tired and that surprised me. All year a few Saints bodies have looked to be creaking. Guys like Makinson, Percival and Walmsley have put up super human efforts these last few years but it’s taken a toll looking at them this season. Great players but looking increasingly fragile. 

[JohnM]

1 hour ago, Barley Mow said:

I think Leigh (and Hull KR) were fined by the RFL for fans being on the field after their Challenge Cup semi-finals. It certainly wasn't the courts.

If Super League's rules are the same as the ones for Challenge Cup then Catalans could be in a similar situation.

Yes, lthat's right, just looked at report: Fined for Breach of Operational Rules. I haven't looked at the actual Operational Rules to see if they only apply in this respect to the UK where it is a criminal offence.

[Tex Evans Thigh]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

I'd have Roby over Cunningham any day of the week.

100%! Cunningham was good obviously, but Roby surpassed him a while ago. Performed at international level for a start. Just a better all round player. What a career.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

6 hours ago, 17 stone giant said:

I take your point that it wasn't GB vs Australia from 1990 brilliant, but I was still totally engrossed by it. I've watched enough sport to know that errors happen, even from the greatest players, so I can overlook them to a certain extent. I just thought it was an excellent, competitive game. I put the lack of opportunities down to the quality of defending from both teams. Plus there were chances - the Johnstone try that could perhaps have been given, a couple of excellent kicks from Catalans that St Helens were just able to get a touch on, and two good tries scores as well. Great atmosphere too.

The atmosphere was brilliant 

I love that smokey atmosphere at the start from the flares ....makes it feel like a battleground at the start 

I really hope as many thousands of those fans as possible can make the final 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

6 hours ago, headtackle said:

I know mate. Used to be called banter in the good old days when that was allowed

 

I think it's allowed here to an extent from the sensible posters 

There are a few very sensitive/pious people on here who love a moan

Their go to insult is to accuse people of 'trolling' after a bit of light hearted bants

 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

5 hours ago, Chris22 said:

A tight match with limited chances for both sides and a low scoring, pretty ugly contest at time, which was to be expected really.

Over the years, we have managed to keep our composure in difficult moments and Catalans have always struggled with that. The roles reversed tonight and that was ultimately the difference. We gave away three kickable penalties (two of which were taken) through avoidable acts of foul play and another penalty arising from an error. That indiscipline gave Catalans a chance to get back into the game, and their tactics to kick even when behind were very smart. Then, at the end, we made more errors than Catalans leading to the winner.

Very little between the two sides but there has to be a winner and loser, Catalans just that bit cleaner than us tonight. Few complaints about the team though, they gave everything they had and great runs come to an end! 

Once down to 12 in the last 10 it was always pretty much gone after a lung busting game like that 

What on earth was Lees thinking with that laying on? It was a 2 point game against a team with a gun kicker ....not saying he cost them the game but he cost them the chance of winning it 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

6 hours ago, Bradman Better said:

Can more people come to admit that Sam Tomkins is a champion player and that he has been an adornment to the game of rugby league?

 

That was some moment for him and a reminder of why he's a modern British great 

It's the decision making under pressure as much as the physical / stepping bit....deceptively strong too against 3 defenders 

We'll miss him as a player but hope he stays as a pundit.....I know he's been a t*rd in his younger days but I also like him on Sky now too 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

4 hours ago, JohnM said:

Yes, lthat's right, just looked at report: Fined for Breach of Operational Rules. I haven't looked at the actual Operational Rules to see if they only apply in this respect to the UK where it is a criminal offence.

If it's just for big games I like it .....exciting 

The BBC used the Leigh fan pitch invasion on its CC build up (some girl shouting 'come on' into the cameras)

As I say just for the big games...not saying encourage it but.....

[JohnM]

It does seem a bit churlish to deny fans that form of celebration in those circumstances. It's not like the invasions of old like at Naughton Park all those years ago. Perhaps its a legal thing, not to be seen to be turning a blind eye to that which is illegal.

[Exiled Wiganer]

1 hour ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

That was some moment for him and a reminder of why he's a modern British great 

It's the decision making under pressure as much as the physical / stepping bit....deceptively strong too against 3 defenders 

We'll miss him as a player but hope he stays as a pundit.....I know he's been a t*rd in his younger days but I also like him on Sky now too 

I didn’t think he had the zip to do what he did. I do object to the suggestion that he was horrible when he was younger. He was competitive and feisty, but he wasn’t a cheat, or a danger to other players. His flaws were exaggerated, in my humble opinion, because he played for us. 

[JohnM]

2 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

That was some moment for him and a reminder of why he's a modern British great 

It's the decision making under pressure as much as the physical / stepping bit....deceptively strong too against 3 defenders 

We'll miss him as a player but hope he stays as a pundit.....I know he's been a t*rd in his younger days but I also like him on Sky now too 

Hope there is a role for him rather than a place for him at the same retirement home as Farrell, Ford, Lydon, Sinfield etc...

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

7 minutes ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

 I do object to the suggestion that he was horrible when he was younger.

 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

6 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Hope there is a role for him rather than a place for him at the same retirement home as Farrell, Ford, Lydon, Sinfield etc...

He has union experience of course.....that Baa baas game ....think he scored!

[Lowdesert]

10 hours ago, Pulga said:

Don't get to watch much SL. The ruck was abysmal. Is it normally that bad?

Yes.  It’s become the norm. Difficult to know where to start really.

[Dunbar]

10 hours ago, Pulga said:

Don't get to watch much SL. The ruck was abysmal. Is it normally that bad?

 

13 minutes ago, Lowdesert said:

Yes.  It’s become the norm. Difficult to know where to start really.

Indeed, the whole thing is just a mess.

We absolutely need to reset the ruck and go back to having some discipline. 

But the problem is twofold as far as I can see.  One is that the whole UK game seems obsessed with speeding everything up, especially the ruck and so we will literally allow anything at the play the ball.

The second is that the players in Super League game the ruck far more than the NRL.  The players in the NRL want to win the game, the players in Super League want to win the penalty count.

[ivans82]

Good hard game  ,  but the number of players lying on spoilt it for me . Play the ball became slow so defence was almost on top of the receiver as he got the ball  (couldn`t tell whether they were onside or not as camera was too tight to the ruck) , Poor discipline from Saints cost them the game . 

[phiggins]

1 hour ago, Dunbar said:

 

The second is that the players in Super League game the ruck far more than the NRL.  The players in the NRL want to win the game, the players in Super League want to win the penalty count.

Exactly this. People say that they want a ref to let the game flow, but when they do the players take the ######.

Honestly think the game would be a lot better if all the laws, including the correct play the ball, were enforced. There’ll be some penalty fests, but it’s needed.

[Damien]

10 minutes ago, phiggins said:

Exactly this. People say that they want a ref to let the game flow, but when they do the players take the ######.

Honestly think the game would be a lot better if all the laws, including the correct play the ball, were enforced. There’ll be some penalty fests, but it’s needed.

Exactly, they will soon learn when they are giving away penalty after penalty. If teams cant adapt to rules being enforced then that is entirely their fault. 

[StandOffHalf]

Good on Sam for rolling back the years to win a turgid, slogging game!

It's been a super run for an exceptional Saints outfit, but I think it's good for the game to get a change in terms of Grand Finalists.

Great career, James Roby!