[Winslade's Offload]

Re: St Helens : Mon Apr 15, 2024 3:48 pm  

Uncle Rico wrote:

Everything is rosy on the back of a big win and rightly so, let's enjoy our victory an excellent performance from 1-17 particularly bearing in mind that it probably wasn't everyone's first choice team. Let's not get too cocky and forget the start we made under Powell and what happened after it.

However, Burgess and his coaching team seem to have a very different approach to man management and the playing team look like they have bought right into it and are playing for each other. They really seem to be enjoying their rugby and with that comes trust that they are all pulling in the same direction and long may that continue.

Yes totally agree. It's good to see a Wire team put in a performance like that. Their faces clearly show they are enjoying every bit of success, and after all the work they get through, why not ?

But Saints were diabolical. Last tackle kicks going straight into touch, Lomax with his foot over the dead ball line, kick off's not going the 10 yards, Wood getting a great attacking pass ( - from a Saints player), Walmsley dropping the ball and having a paddy. It was all a bit 'wrong time of the month" from them. Nice to see though if you are the opposition.
I am not saying we were average. Williams, Ashton and Harrison had great games and deserve the plaudits. Add to that a low number of errors plus a lot of set completions and there is much to be pleased about. But I suspect we are currently over-achieving, particularly if you consider we have had key players injured or suspended since the start of the season. At some point we will inevitably get turned over, but until then we can justifiably sit back and wonder what sort of magic fairy dust Burgess has sprinkled over the squad.

Re: St Helens : Mon Apr 15, 2024 3:51 pm  

The thing is though with this team you’re always going to get 100% effort, you can see it a mile off. Take a good team and a good performance to see us off.

Re: St Helens : Mon Apr 15, 2024 4:13 pm  

Really happy with the win, but lots to work on. In the spell while it was 4-0/6-4 we were under a lot of pressure. Scrambled well, but still leaked a lot of meters. Thankfully Hurrell and Sironen blew chances to put the wingers into space, but it could have been a momentum shift. Instead we rode the wave and found a way to create our own momentum.

We desperately need Vaughan back. Stating the obvious, I know. But when Harrison went off we lost a lot of control. And Philbin too, to his credit.

Hayes did his best kicking from deep, and got us out of trouble a few times. Really like how he has just taken that responsibility on for himself, no hiding behind Williams. He, the club and the academy system should be really proud to see that he is earning his shirt over a time served halfback, who is also taking a quota spot. Still, come the back end of the season, he will have to do a little better to really put teams under pressure. But lots to like from him.

Lee Briers commented in the podcast on the BBC about learning when without players, finding a way to plug the gap and go without them, and then having the boost when they return to go up a gear. I think we need to build up to that, particularly with Currie, Musgrove and Vaughan. Those in the shirts need to (and so far, have) find a way for us to not notice they are missing and make the stars wrestle the shirt off their back. I’d love to see Vaughan sat on the bench at the weekend, reward the efforts of Crowther, Harrison and Philbin and get in his ear about earning his place back, think it would be a great signal to those in possession that they hold the cards if they want to start next week.

[Uncle Rico]

Re: St Helens : Mon Apr 15, 2024 4:55 pm  

Matt King's kitten wrote:

Anyone else notice Bell's 'contact' with Philbin (67 mins) in the build up to Harrison's try? I thought watching from behind the sticks that it looked nasty, but watching it later his fingers are well and truly in contact with Philbin's eyes.
Amazed the MRP have done nothing.

I thought so too but there didn't seem to be any histrionics from anyone in the P&B

Re: St Helens : Mon Apr 15, 2024 4:56 pm  

Smiffy27 wrote:

I thought Jiffy was over the top criticising Dufty for the Saints try. The kick was covered by Ashton on the left wing & then it got a wicked bounce. Dufty dropped a high ball in the first half but otherwise he was fine. I do love old Jiffy though & even went to see him & had a chat with him a few years back (he loved his time in Warrington) but I'd give him some stick over that one. The FB cannot be everywhere & has to share duties with his wingers.

I thought the criticism of Dufty was fair regarding their try and his fluffed high kick take.
I'm not sure of what happened the play before but Dufty was over the other side of the pitch and should have been at least in line with Lomax.
It was a great kick and I think Lomax played for that bounce. There was no other Wire player in the picture and the area Ashton had to cover was simply too much.
For Ashtons try, even when Makinson was beaten Matty still had a lot to do to get round Welsby. Welsby was in a far better position to support his winger.
Other than that though, Dufty was solid in defence and dangerous in attack. His pass to Williams when falling was sublime.

Re: St Helens : Mon Apr 15, 2024 5:21 pm  

Matt King's kitten wrote:

Anyone else notice Bell's 'contact' with Philbin (67 mins) in the build up to Harrison's try? I thought watching from behind the sticks that it looked nasty, but watching it later his fingers are well and truly in contact with Philbin's eyes.
Amazed the MRP have done nothing.

And what about the off the ball shoulder charge on Williams? Are shoulder charges alright again? Thought that might merit a look, given it was a double whammy!

Re: St Helens : Mon Apr 15, 2024 6:12 pm  

Red vee is hilarious

<opens another beer>

Re: St Helens : Mon Apr 15, 2024 6:20 pm  

They're not happy with Darryl 'Harry Kane' Clark.

Re: St Helens : Mon Apr 15, 2024 6:33 pm  

Barbed Wire wrote:

Really happy with the win, but lots to work on. In the spell while it was 4-0/6-4 we were under a lot of pressure. Scrambled well, but still leaked a lot of meters. Thankfully Hurrell and Sironen blew chances to put the wingers into space, but it could have been a momentum shift. Instead we rode the wave and found a way to create our own momentum.

We desperately need Vaughan back. Stating the obvious, I know. But when Harrison went off we lost a lot of control. And Philbin too, to his credit.

Hayes did his best kicking from deep, and got us out of trouble a few times. Really like how he has just taken that responsibility on for himself, no hiding behind Williams. He, the club and the academy system should be really proud to see that he is earning his shirt over a time served halfback, who is also taking a quota spot. Still, come the back end of the season, he will have to do a little better to really put teams under pressure. But lots to like from him.

Lee Briers commented in the podcast on the BBC about learning when without players, finding a way to plug the gap and go without them, and then having the boost when they return to go up a gear. I think we need to build up to that, particularly with Currie, Musgrove and Vaughan. Those in the shirts need to (and so far, have) find a way for us to not notice they are missing and make the stars wrestle the shirt off their back. I’d love to see Vaughan sat on the bench at the weekend, reward the efforts of Crowther, Harrison and Philbin and get in his ear about earning his place back, think it would be a great signal to those in possession that they hold the cards if they want to start next week.

Crowther is looking a bit weak offensively, crumples when he hits the defensive wall and seems content not making any further metres. Defensively sound most of the time.

Re: St Helens : Mon Apr 15, 2024 6:35 pm  

morleys_deckchair wrote:

Red vee is hilarious

<opens another beer>

I particularly loved the post about Warrington being better cheaters than St Helens, who just don't have it in them