Shaul
Faraimo
Griffin
Connor
Talanoa
Kelly
Sneyd
Taylor
Houghton
Bowden
Manu
Minichello
Westerman

Tuimevave
Hadley
Green
Matongo

That, in my opnion is our strongest team with the current squad. This is a match for all other SL teams with the exception of St Helens

Agreed about Ellis, he was a genuine warrior for us. But replacing someone like that is virtually impossible. Personally I think it the wrong decision to keep both Manu and Mini (+ some of the fringe players), when keeping one would then release cap space for a distructive runner like Pauli Pauli for Wakey.

IMO if Faraimo had not been red carded twice and had been available for more games then peoples opinion of him would be higher. With ball in hand he is a more aggressive runner than Fonua (my opinion).

Watts is big miss, especially when his replacement (through no fault of his own) in Westerman has missed a decent chuck of the season with injury.

I think Bureta has been a great signing. I don't think he's the same quality as Mahe, but probably the best we could get.

I think we are weaker than 2017, but more luck with injuries and we would have finished in the top 4.

We miss Ellis and Watts, shame Westy got injured and he improved us a lot.

Mahe was great in spells a true match winner, really impressed with Farimano though, probably more consistent than Mahe, just needs to stop getting sent off

Full strength we are as good as Wigan, Warrington and cas IMO

I think the problem is the extremes of points of view on a single victory/defeat.
It seems some can’t wait to jump all over a defeat and say I told you so.

Was the manner of defeat against Wakey unacceptable?. Absolutely
Has it been coming for a while?. Absolutely.
Are there mitigating circumstances for the season as a whole?. Absolutely
Will AP be happy?. Absolutely not.

I’m not a happy clapper.
I have my doubts over our style of play. I think it’s been found out to an extent, and we don’t have the personnel on the field to carry it out at the moment. We need to look at a plan B.
I also have doubts about some of the retention. I believe it could be a year too far for a couple of players we’ve kept on. I can imagine it’s a difficult task to replace like for like though, so do understand it somewhat. On the flip side, we’ve extended Kelly, Griffin and Connor which is huge.
I’m not going to judge the young players on the last few months. They’ve all been overplayed, and have needed taken out the firing line for weeks now. It’s okay bringing a few in at a time in a settled side, but we’ve had to play ours en masse. The experience will stand them in good stead though.

We also don’t seem to have caught up from the Australia trip. We brought injuries back with us, and have been playing catch up ever since. Again, it’s been a big learning curve for the club.
All in all it’s been a really frustrating campaign. What the club have earned over the last two seasons is patience from the fans. We need to kick on, but I’m sure AP is the most aware of that.

Everyone wants the same thing, it’s just that some people seem to take delight in being negative as soon as something goes wrong.

A win on Friday against the bin dippers will make us all a bit happier.

Are we likely to be missing any players from the Wakey game ie Shaul and Westerman? Didn’t they pick up injuries?

Yes but no news on the extent of the injuries. Squad will be interesting tomorrow it now Radford has form for changing it

Maybe maybe not but what you don’t seem to be taking into account is the improvement in other teams. Imho only Leeds have gone backwards. Even Salford have proved tricky opposition this year, even HKR and Widnes have been on occasions able to offer a game. It’s getting tighter out there imho,

I’m not yet convinced that Saints are the real deal.

10 points ahead of Wigan their nearest rival,Pace to burn across the team and very powerful forwards and you dont think they are the real deal this season?

I don't need to take other teams form into account. If that starting 13 id quoted had played together for most of the season, there would be natural improvement in form for them as well.


Saints???? They are streets ahead of the rest of the pack, not only in points, but in performances. They can afford to rest a lot of key players in the 8's knowing they will finish top. They can have all their big hitters rested and raring to go for the cruitial games come the end of september / start of october