Touched on this before the season kicked off

Big question marks over Bowden
Big question marks over whether Masi and Fash can step up

We need a few bodys back as the depth past a certain point isnt good enough as we saw last season

isn't it the same for the majority of the clubs though - take 4 first choice forwards out and a half and 2 backs and where are they all at?

first 40 we were decent and it was a close game, though saints errors probably kept us in front

first 20 of the 2nd half a shambles - started off by connor kicking out on the full for the second time in the game

last 20 we were ok but chasing the game and saints never really troubled by us

I look at that saints defeat to Warrington, plenty of adversity before the game and during, but if I was a saints fan, I’d of been happy with how they performed, the effort and intensity put in to the game. We just don’t cope at all, our fringe, young players just don’t seem to step up, it’s like they’ve not trained with the first team and are just thrown in. Our strongest 17 week in, week out, can compete with anyone, but that’s very unlikely going to be very often, and it’s the same for all clubs, to early In the season to be flapping, but I do worry the frailties we’ve seen over several years now, are just going to continue but with different personnel

Brown has an ankle injury I think.

Lanes rib injury was made worse after a jab during the Rovers game. Was never intended that he played today. Was sent out of town yesterday to another specialist for a jab when it became apparent that Bowden was unlikely to make it through today's warm up.

I'm a Radford fan but I raised my eyebrows at this decision.

Whilst I would with regret agree about Fash, I don’t go along with the Masi analogy, he was brought on late, and has all the attributes needed to blossom, he has size, power, and youth in this most testing of positions, he has bags of potential and will develop.

The second half was unreal, we never seemed to have the ball, Lomax showed us what a quality half back can do, Gaz and Ligi outstanding, I thought they were there for the taking, but they proved again what a smart organised team they are.

Having read a bit more and chatted to 2 mates in Hull I deduce the follwoing;

1. 6-2 up at half time and 7 interchanges available
2. half time talk and re focus
3. saints score 30 points in the 2nd half inc 4 tries in 10 mins
4. gallant loss

Now I’ve seen the tries
2 were dodgy
All tries we’re moving to their left to Mahe’s wing
They clearly wanted to target our right edge all the 2nd half for the points

Not sure who else could have played in the forwards without losing an interchange. Mind you that might have been the better option. Is it Bowden's knee again?