Page 3 of 7

Re: Not "all roses" down 't' road!

Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:35 pm
by cpwigan
Nothing unusual in RL and the players are on a loser if they think the Saints board would capitulate. I cannot believe some of the views re Graham BTW. An outstzanding talent and every SL coach would take him without hesitation. I once saw him lead GB v Aus over in Aus and he was amazing. Joel T played stand off in the same game.

Re: Not "all roses" down 't' road!

Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 3:31 am
by butt monkey
cpwigan wrote:Nothing unusual in RL and the players are on a loser if they think the Saints board would capitulate.
Money talks! In the same way that "player power" forced out John Dorahy - there should be no misconception that a club with as perilous a finances as St Helens, might be influenced by both what the players think/demand/expect after dominating for so long AND what the supporters perceive of the ongoing situation.

Re: Not "all roses" down 't' road!

Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:38 pm
by Kittwazzer
butt monkey wrote:Money talks! In the same way that "player power" forced out John Dorahy - there should be no misconception that a club with as perilous a finances as St Helens, might be influenced by both what the players think/demand/expect after dominating for so long AND what the supporters perceive of the ongoing situation.
What do we know about their financial situation BM?

Re: Not "all roses" down 't' road!

Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:25 pm
by cherrywarrior
Abit o/t but does anyone else think its odd that although this thread has only been replied to 26 times its been read over 1600 times... Now try and tell me that RL journos dont get most of their info from this site, I think one day I might start a fairly plausable transfer/signing rumour Terry Newtown styley and see how long it takes before it is mentioned in the press...

Re: Not "all roses" down 't' road!

Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:35 pm
by cpwigan
I like the way St Helens have recognised and deliberately pursued a long term strategy whilst they can. Make no mistake Saints have been punching above their weight since SL began and Wembley trips have kept them going financially. As a club it is very well led and Potter is part of their strategy. Remember Dorahay was 10 years down the line so to speak before that the club backed Lowe and Monie against huge player power.

Both Leeds and Saints have gone backwards in 2009 but are still above most SL clubs. To suggest Graham is not a quality player though is somewhat amazing.

Re: Not "all roses" down 't' road!

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:23 am
by right cross
hi, gem just thought i woukld make my annual post :lol:
potter is a good coach but you can see it on his face that he is not happy, best coach imo in sl is justin morgan ?

Re: Not "all roses" down 't' road!

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 10:00 am
by highland convert
cpwigan wrote:Nothing unusual in RL and the players are on a loser if they think the Saints board would capitulate. I cannot believe some of the views re Graham BTW. An outstzanding talent and every SL coach would take him without hesitation. I once saw him lead GB v Aus over in Aus and he was amazing. Joel T played stand off in the same game.
Well, CP, I watched Graham last night. The majority of plays he offloaded pre impact and every impact bar one he went down on collision. 2nd row or centre maybe but as a prop if it had been Fielden this site would be baying for blood. Rate him as a player but prop I would rather have Coley or Prescott. I think he will go the way of Fileden and end up as a used-to-be good.
Oh and you can't blame Noble

Jim :) :lol:

Re: Not "all roses" down 't' road!

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:26 am
by cpwigan
Jim you do not rate him yet every SL coach would have him in their XVII. Go figure.

How old is he but yet he is carrying Saints at the moment in the front row department. Statistically I think without checking his current season surpasses the best ever by Fielden. Graham and Burgess are top quality prop forwards.

Re: Not "all roses" down 't' road!

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:19 am
by highland convert
Point is CP he plays like Fielden on the back of the other props. Look at Fielden now. I am not saying he is not a good player but metres made are on the back of someone elses work. This was obvious last week when he offloaded far more than he ran. That is not a props job. He made some metres but they were not as Barry would put it "the hard yards". Like Burgess when he made his name he was making the yards. Now he strikes me as workshy. We can resume this in a couple of seasons when he will that bit older and may have to make the yards. Then I belive he will be Fielden Mark2.
Jim

Re: Not "all roses" down 't' road!

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:09 pm
by cpwigan
I think the fact he can pass puts him ahead of Fielden Jim. going to the line and passing to a supporting runner is a genuine skill and is what most teams aim for but rarely deliver. We had the best ball plasying / passing prop the game has ever seen, Brian McTigue.

I think under Anderson Graham player better but so did most if not all Saints players. It is no coincedence that Paramatta are now playing similar RL to that Saints did. Under Anderson, Graham had this greatt run where he ran at the left shoulder on a defender but curved very late to go at the right shoulder. This season he has and on this point I agree with you been finding the floor more often but that is a coaching ploy. I am not convinced it is a great one but the likes of Paul Cullen love it.