Discipline was a major issue tonight. Bentham wasn't great, but we won't win games by conceding the amount of needless penalties we did. I also think our second phase needs looking at. Walsh did eveyrthing expected of him: directed the side well, controlled the game, and his kicking game was decent. When we found ourselves in decent positions though, we just didnt do enough. We looked a stand-off short IMO. Lomax is easy to defend out the back when your 6 isn't quite doing enough. We created opportunities, but then hit the wrong runner or made the wrong decision.



Positives. I thought Amor played well once again and worked hard. Great to see Robes score as well. Walsh, as I say, did everything expected of him and appeared to direct the team well. Hopefully there is nothing too serious with him. I would certainly give Wheeler a chance at 6 at some point. I think he is what we were missing tonight in the sense that he is a genuine stand-off who can take the line on and make decisions.



I think we can take a lot from it on the whole. A few positives but plenty to improve on IMO.

That's the problem. We came close to scoring.

We didn't look as though we had it in us to really open them up IMO, mainly due to the reasons in my post. I think that's what he is getting at.



I agree with you on the Percival/Swift incident though. Always difficult to tell from the opposite end but it looked like a great cut out ball from Walsh.

Not sure why that's a negative thing. We proved last year going all out in a friendly means diddly.



We created opportunities, we got close, hopefully in 2 weeks, well finish them off.

My initial reaction was that it looked like a pearler of a pass from Walsh too. Shame Percy panicked a little bit.



Speaking of him, I'm nervous about his defence if he continues to jump out of the line like he did tonight. OK it worked for the opening try when he forced an error but he was at fault for Wigan's 1st try of 2nd half and was lucky not to concede more.

So we came close but never looked like scoring? Make your mind up mate!

exactly

Apart from penalties and kicks we struggled to ever get out of our own half.

Brown about Walsh injury: Quote Nathan Brown="Nathan Brown" He is going to have x-rays on his jaw. The docs is a bit worried so we will see what comes of it. He got hit in the head, didn't he, without the ball which you know is going to happen against Wigan. It is standard with their front row, same happened to Gaz O'Brien last year. '" www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/sai ... 0980616._/?

Brown about Walsh injury: Quote Nathan Brown="Nathan Brown" He is going to have x-rays on his jaw. The docs is a bit worried so we will see what comes of it. He got hit in the head, didn't he, without the ball which you know is going to happen against Wigan. It is standard with their front row, same happened to Gaz O'Brien last year. '" www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/sai ... 0980616._/?

Never posted on here before but agree with the above post.



Like a strong saints team because I love derby's but thought your pack was awful tonight and if you don't get it together you will struggle this year!



Just being honest



Kingy

What was the lineup like? My brother went and he said we're no better than last season and that Wigan's kids made us look silly, comprehensively beating us.



There are a good few years to come before we're even in contention for trophies. If Walsh has broken his jaw/cheek as it appears he may have, we might as well not bother next season.

Sigh, not sure why I'm going to do this but hey. Team was pretty much everyone except tommy mak:



1. Jonny Lomax; 5. Adam Swift, 22. Mark Percival, 4. Josh Jones, 26. Matty Dawson; 3. Jordan Turner, 7. Luke Walsh; 16. Kyle Amor, 9. James Roby, 14. Anthony Laffranchi, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Willie Manu, 10. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook

Subs: 6. Lance Hohaia, 11. Sia Soliola, 15. Mark Flanagan, 17. Paul Wellens, 18. Alex Walmsley, 24. Gary Wheeler, 27. Greg Richards, 30. Carl Forster.



Wigan were a week ahead in their prep, we were sloppy at times, and have things to work on but didn't give much away. Sounds like we learnt from last year and didn't use all the moves we were planning for the following week.



If this had been the first game, it would of been worrying, otherwise take it with a pinch of salt.



Turner was pretty anonymous at 6, lance was poor and Percival looked great in attack but poor defensively. Wheeler looked threatening again.



Overall judgement: good blowout of the cobwebs, would if been nice to win, but I'd rather we beat Warrington on the first match. Worried about Walsh, but the saints match report said it was merely precautionary. Work on the intensity in the forwards and discipline and well be looking good.