The one plus out of this I suppose is Hicks won't get anymore death threats from their scummy fans. As far as I'm concerned just like Murrayfield we were losers from the start.
The one plus out of this I suppose is Hicks won't get anymore death threats from their scummy fans. As far as I'm concerned just like Murrayfield we were losers from the start.
On the Back foot looking for the front one.
Coote was dresdful today, but imo he shouldn't have played today. He clearly wasn't fit and an unfit player will be found out on that pitch. I actually felt for the lad, he's been outstanding all season and i lay no blame on him whatsoever. I've had this though all week that it was a big risk playing 4 players that have missed a few weeks. The risk didn't pay off and this time Holbrook got it wrong.
I can take losing to a better team. I cannot take that performance, however.
For me, that’s Holbrook done. Sack him now. Not won a big game and he’s blagged a job in the NRL, he’ll be washing cars for a living in a year.
St Helens Rugby League Football Club
Said this on the We Go Again thread, the conversion was a pointer, not that one was needed though his out of hand kicking was on the money. Robes pass timing was dreadful, we get used to him being able to come straight back into a side as his usual self, 40 plus tackles, 100m made, runs from dummy half and accurate quick passing today showed he is human.
My exact thoughts! When coote plays he’s massive for us in attack so when you throw him lacking fitness and definitely not match sharp in the biggest game of the season! Certainly not going to slate Holbrook or ever turn on him but he’s lost 2 semis and 1 final with another semi/final left hope he goes out with something to his name.
Where do you start on this?
For one, let's not lie. The better side won. Fair and square. We got turfed and nobody can complain.
It's alright saying this with the benefit of hindsight, but I fancied this would happen and I was right.
For one, underestimating a good Warrington side was always silly, but I suspect this was more a fan thing than a player thing.
However, there were a few issues, and again, I don't especially blame the coach, because I would have done the same, but with the benefit of hindsight you should never pick anybody who isn't 100% at Wembley. Despite the number of utter dickfers who have given Coote our man of the match on the main site, he stank the building out, which is such a shame, because he's been briliant all year. The reality is that Wembley finds out those who are not match fit, and it certainly did today.
Another issue that I have always had, and been slagged for it, is that I don't believe our half backs have that bit of Ingredient X to open up a structured defence in a tight game. Lomax looks great at times, and Theo works his tripe off for that team, but come the last play of the six, neither has that something special to open up the opposition.
I know people will laugh at me, or slag me off for this, but I will be proved right. Unless we find a defence unlocking half back, who's got intelligence, ingenuity and differentiation late in the tackle count, we will continue to fall short.
We are a a magnificent flat track bully side, but the truth is that this team cannot hold a candle to many of the Saints teams of the past.
The likes of Scully, Dunders, Longy, Martyn et al were winners. This current crop doesn't know how to win when it matters. Ingredient X is missing. They have ability, but the reality is that they are losers. They don't seem to have the mentality to finish the job when the chips are down.
This set of players, as things currently stand, are bottleless losers.
I challenge them to prove me wrong.
THIS YEAR LENDING SUPPORT TO:- St. Helens RLFC, Manchester City, Celtic, Alemannia Aachen, Steps 1 to 6 Non-League Football
If you were there today. You would have seen how many times they were offside. It was genuinely ridiculous. They were stood 2-5 metres in front of child's and he still didn't give us •••• all. Never have I seen any team so far offside every set and get away with it. It would have been Hilarious if it wasn't saints
Warrington won with Patton and Currie in the halves.
The game was lost due to the amounts of errors we made, too many knock ons, end of, nothing to do with not having ‘defence unlocking halfbacks’ which we do. Warrington defended well and made hardly any errors, that’s what wins big games.
roy litherland it's happened i told you it would
I agree.
I need a bit of time to get my full thoughts on yesterday but finals are ultimately about completing your sets, kicking well and defending well. The intensity of the game doesn't usually allow for an open game and therefore you need to handle the pressure, play with composure and take your chances when they come.
We never gave ourselves a chance yesterday despite starting well. Every single try we practically gifted to Warrington. Philbin's a simple charge to the line (after we made an error), BMM's a simple short ball near the line punishing a poor defensive read (again following an error) and Clarke's a dummy half run close to our line (again I think we made an error before this?). You cannot do that in finals. Warrington didn't do anything special at all, they simply tackled very well, completed their sets and kicked very well. We didn't do any of that - we made a ridiculous amount of errors and when under pressure our defence crumbled.
Until we learn to the handle the ocassion of a final and do the simple things well, we won't win a final.
I should say though, we weren't helped at all by the referee. A couple of really key decisions went against us in that 1st half especially and that did have a bearing on the momentum of that 1st half.
Originally Posted by Despondent Dave
Warrington played like we did in the 2014 final. Patient, no frills, defended well. We looked the far more dangerous team in the opening 15 minutes but putting nothing on the scoreboard Warringtons confidence seemed to grow. They got into that zone where defending becomes easy and enjoyable. We could still be playing now and not score any more trys.
screaming in the family corner, scaring the kiddies
Warrington won the game like saints used to win tight finals by defending their hearts out and taking their opportunities, they wanted it more simple as.
However things werent helped by Hicks, the knowles no try decision in a big game was a disgrace, if thats given our confidence goes up and wires drops. A team defending hard for that long and not conceding booms with confidence.
The first try coming from a clear knock wire knock on shows it wasnt going to be our day, and coote missing the goal kick was shocking.
We have no plan b again this season, we didnt learn from last year, we cant grind teams down, if our attack doesnt blow a team away in the first 20 minutes we go to pieces.
Also can someone explain to Percy how to pass a ball, he is far too greedy compared to saints skillfull center's of old.
Oh and can anyone explain how clarke got MOM when clearly Philbin should have, he destroyed us yesterday and changed their attack.
Saints until i Die!!!!