I said it all week and il say it again, longy and Kyle halfbacks and pryce in centre.



That way we have more options in attack.

I'm deeply concerned, mostly because i agree with you!

Eastmond at a massive 5'3" defended a wing with senior and hall (a full foot taller and 3st heavier) than himself. I'm not 100% convinced about him at 7, but on the wing or centre i think he could be devestating! He still could progress into a world class 7, but i've not seen enough yet

Is Eastmond 5ft 3? I think he's a bit taller than that!! His hair alone was taller than that on Friday night. (What's with his changing do's anyway? Is he trying to emulate Longy?)



I think the combo was good on Friday but where is Wheeler going to fit? He's another seriously bright spark we need on the pitch IMO. Nearing full fitness too, as is Lomax.

I think both sides showed enough to suggest they could win this year. The difference though is that Hull KR and Huddersfield are much closer to the top two this year than any other team in the past two to three years. Even with full strength sides out across the park each one of the four teams is capable of beating the other. In previous play-offs it's usually between the top two teams wtih no one else really getting a sniff.



IIRC only one team has won the Grand Final from outside the top two, however I don't believe we've really been in a play-off situation that's been as tight as this across the teams involved. In every other season it's been relatively easy to pick the Grand Final teams before the play-offs start. This year I am not so sure it's that easy and if I gambled on every team during each play-off I imagine that this year I'd spread my money across more teams than in any other season.

But Hudds freeze like rabbits in front of a Leeds team. They seem to have a real hang up. So I would imagine that if Hudds stay fourth, and so get Leeds in the playoffs, Leeds will have a bye there. We have no byes at all cos all of them have beaten us at least once this season.

If thats the best we can play then no.



I think most will believe that we kick on from this.



With the new playoff system there really isnt that much between finishing first or 2nd this year.



Both have home games to the final.



Leeds may also have the added pressure of picking their opponents in the qualifying semi.

I'd realistically say there are five teams that could win it this year - Saints, Leeds, Hull KR, Huddersfield and Wigan.

IMO it's between 3. Saints, Leeds and Wigan.



I've got a feeling we will meet Wigan in the semi final.

Have you already forgotten about the last two Grand Finals?

Huh? Er, no. I'm not talking about us. I'm talking about Hudds. Hudds freeze in front of Leeds regularly. We don't. Given that if things stay as they are now in the league Leeds will be playing Hudds, I can't see Hudds beating Leeds (although I know they have a second bite by playing the other losing team).

It was a much better all round game by the S.



Long I'm afraid has had his day unless this eye business sorts itself out.



Pryce is a marked man these days and his step inside rarely gets him through the line, and his offloads in the tackle have been ineffective because the one thing we did well (support the ball carrier) we no longer do. Whether this is tactics or just form who knows.



For me the jury is still out on Eastmond, I still see him as a similar player to Pryce rather than another Long and I think unless this changes we will see more inefectivness in our halves next season, This is why I am supprised smith is not coming back unless we are signing a scrum half from elsewhere.



Moore will come back but this is directly a replacement for KC who has all the heart in the world but you can now see the strain is telling.



Leeds made yards out wide because we were compressing our defence something in the days of anderson we rarely needed to do as our defence was solid without compressing too much.



We also lack any pace on the pitch although wellens getting back for that tackle was a suprise..

Eastmond looked very good and was a constant threat all night and to say he's so small his defence was very good against senior and hall.



Long was 50-50 some good moves but also dropped ball



Pryce? well he just seems to go missing in action every time you play us

Nothing between the teams for mine on friday, you made some good yards up the middle and we made more out wide, If it is a Leeds Saints final again I think it will be 50/50

Correct, was a top notch game, two teams toe to toe. Looked the best in teh comp as usual.

Answer me a question when Saints had the ball did we ever look threatening?

To me, yes.



I did not feel like we had it in the bag until the penalty went over.



I thought you were the better team 1st half, despite the scoreline.



Pryce shows more composure and you could have a try. Long doesn't kick out on the full. Small game changing moments.



We needed 3 consecutive sets for Ablett to get our 1st try.



However much people may huff and puff about Hudds and Kr I can't see beyond another Saints Leeds final and I can't wait for it.

Having the ball and looking threatening are two different things.

Just giving it from my perspective. I was worried until the last few minutes. For me, game could've gone either way.

You turned 2 down early on and Pryce bombed what I thought was a certain try, your looking to hard for negatives.

Interesting to see the Leeds perspective (without the bravado and trolling we often get). I thought it was one of those games that could have gone either way and totally agree about the game changing moments. I still think we are not firing in attack but if we can tweak that and maybe find something other than the Pryce pass into the second line of attack that every other team has now sussed we should be there or thereabouts come GF time. As will Leeds.

I don't think I am, considering I think it is the best performance from the saints in weeks/maybe months. I though our defence was far better but with ball in hand Leeds looked far more threatening.

I watched the game after I'd come back from the Wigan v Hull game. The two games were a million miles apart.



The Wigan v Hull game was played by two teams who it appeared had already decided their fates. It was the typical end of season game i.e cr@p



I then settled down with a large single malt and watched the Leeds v Saints game and loved it.

Two committed teams who gave their all in a game that could have gone either way. I do think Leeds were slightly the better side on the night, but if the game were replayed next week I couldn't pick a winner.



With such commitment there was bound to be a few incidents, but apart from the JJB one on Graham which was "naughty" the others were ones you see week in week out.



What shouldn't happen is to focus on the incidents rather than on what a great game it was.



I just wish it was the old top six system so I could watch another one, from the comfort of the Aussie bar in Kardamena, Kos.



I hope Wigan and the other teams can lift their intensity, because if they can it will be a great play off series.

the lack of fluidity in attack comes again from having a whole new halfback pairing for the 26th consecutive week. hopefully, Potter will stick with the Long/Eastmond combo he went with this week and they can have a good run out together on Friday.

I think he'll stick with Pryce, Long and Eastmond for the rest of the year. Long to be the main general with the other two offering support.

Was away at a wedding all weekend and only watched the game last night.



I thought we did ok, especially defensively. Attacking we were better but still a couple of gears off.



Weak link was that Longy still looks rusty but he will get better. We need some fine tuning but Eastmond/Pryce/Long are a very attacking combo and could be an exciting mix in the play-offs. We now have to hope Mauri can stay fit as we have more go forward. [Any news on JC?



Potter needs to think on though - it was obvious that TP and Jammer looked knackered after 20 yet he kept them on - at our cost as Ablett shrugged off a tired TP tackle to score. Then, a minute later they're off - need to think proactively MP!



We got done with a forward pass try and a lucky break for Hall's 2nd so I'm not actually mega worried about Leeds at this moment in time. I am looking forward to being the underdog as opposed to recent years - remember Bratfut GF in 1999? Still one of my favourite memories - come on the S!