You'd have thought I was chairman of the Jimmy Saville Appreciation Society when I recently called Saints, in reference to Barba, a one-trick pony.
Since then, heavily depleted (and heavily penalised in one case) Hull and Leeds teams have pushed them very close, with the common factor being they have done a job on Benny boy.
I maintain that if you shut Barba down, most of Saints attack is nullified. Yes Roby is still one of the best, Richardson looks good but they aren't gamechangers.
If Moon had nailed Percival when he was going sideways faster than a crab on a conveyor belt, Leeds would have won. If Ferres had scored nearer the sticks like he should have, Leeds would have won. If Hull had been allowed to keep 13 players on the pitch, Saints would be out of the cup.
I salute Saints tenacity and luck has nothing to do with it but their season hangs on one man, and it ain't Jon Wilkin.