I said that in the first half Dave, I think I counted 2 carries by Satae in the first half so be curious to know why we employed the tactic of overworking the backs to continually carry the ball as it just drained the tank. Had we used the forwards and had them up in to double figures in carries Wigan even with Field would have struggled to contain our go forward and would have sucked their energy, instead we just did it to ourselves. When Fash and Brown came on they helped get us momentum with their carries and work rate. Thought Sao and Mau were the two for me that really ran it in with intent everytime.

The pack is our biggest strength and against Wigan we should really have used that to our advantage, but we seemingly chose to hamper ourselves and the bench selection another area were we did ourselves no favours and then only playing 16.

I may not watch as much NRL as you, but one of the features I like about it is the speed of the game, and the two referees contribute to this by 'policing' the offside at the PTB. This results, as far as I can see, in teams hardly ever being pinned in their own half for more than a couple of sets.

Agree with all that.

Christ that's really worrying. Great stat though. Did you research it yourself?

Yes. We beat Wigan in the Cup last year and Warrington in the 2020 play offs, of course, but in the weekly rounds since that excellent 50-10 win away at Catalans in June 2019 we have gone:

2019 Saints (H) L, Wigan (H) L, Saints (H) L
2020 Saints (H) L, Wigan (A) L, Catalans (H) L, Warrington (H) L [Radford sacked], Warrington (at Leeds) L
2021 Warrigton (H) D, Wigan (A) L, Catalans (H) L, Saints (A) L, Saints (H) L, Catalans (A) L, Wigan (H) L
2022 Saints (H) L, Wigan (A) L

Excellent consistency

Impressed. Your research. Not the statistic!

A chance to rectify this over the next few weeks with Warrington and Catalans at home this month then a chance for revenge over Wigan with them visiting the MKM in May.

Think for me that why last night was more disappointing in that we didn't take the opportunity. Though that being said as long as we take lessons from last night we will be better for it as we weren't at our best but were in the game for the full 80 and but for some dumb play and lacking composure at times the game was there for us.

Disappointed but not downhearted.

The NRL 2 referee system changed in 2020 when the season recommenced in May after a Covid19 break.Matches thereafter were officiated by a single referee and this system continues on today.