You should wish you were on Saints slide Not out of the top 2 in the league for the last 6 years, 10 consecutive CC semi finals, 5 consecutive Grand Finals, 4 League leaders shields and 3 Challenge cups (on the bounce), and all this whilst loosing Sculthorpe, Long, Now Cunningham, Newlove and Joynt.



Two years ago Saints were pilloried for having an ageing squad it appears that you have picked up the mantle.

...and a record 4 losses on the trot

And Leeds coach Brian McClennan worked with Eastwood with the kiwis, he gave him his international deyboo



didnt stop him from being a homesick rubbish fat lump

I dont recall Warrington being there????

So an international coach knows a player as well as a domestic coach? Who works with him most days of the year compared to 3 or 4 weeks when he's joined with 25 other randoms?



And for what its worth, whens Eastwoods played this year after injuries I think he's been quality. He was the sole reason why Leeds won at the DW in the playoffs.

Saints are on the slide - you cant argue against it. The trophies are simply not coming in and the loss of Cunningham is beyond words. I'm not knocking Saints, they have done everything right in rugby league for years but wigan will now dominate. Leeds's squad is not what it was (very fortunate to grab top 4) and I agree that when he was on his game that Eastwood was superb and therefore a loss. Sinfield and Mcguire can't carry the loiners for ever and Senior aint getting any younger.

Agree completely.

we can win it, and thats being realistic. we now have a goal kicker so theres no excuses

I think you're confusing a pathetic showing by Saints at the Grand Final with being on the slide. We had three other pathetic showings at the Grand Final, but still managed to win two Challenge Cups and two League Leaders Shields in that time - in consecutive years.



Although I'm a Saints fan and so I'm not going to be objective, I think we did very well to make it to the Grand Final at all given the degree and persistence of injuries we had all season. That achievement certainly went beyond any Saints' fan's hopes for 2010 even though it ended in the usual disappointment (although we did actually win one in 2006!). And to get there without our first choice halfbacks and indeed just one halfback in Matty Smith in the playoffs, I think says something other than we are on the slide, don't you? Yes, we have lost Cunningham, but we will get over it, just as we got over losing all our other elder statesmen. We will just play differently and other players will step up.



As for Warrington, I don't see why they can't be aiming for the top next year. You won't have Cunningham or Longy to haunt you at Saints so I would imagine the hoodoo will finally topple and then you won't have any psychological barriers to reaching the top.



And just because Wigan won the Grand Final doesn't mean to say they will dominate! They might, but it isn't by any means automatic.

Personally i don't think that you have got over losing some of the players from your glory era, Talua has never really been replaced, Gilmore`s pace and tries on the fringes havn't really been replaced, Sean Long hasn't really been replaced either. Don't say that Kyle Eastmond has replaced him lol, you don't have a general in the half backs to lead you round the pitch anymore.



Eastmond is a runner and a free spirit, he's certainly not a player that takes you round the pitch like Long did and neither is Pryce. Sculthorpe is another player thats not been replaced, Flannery is no Sculthorpe and not even close.



So i'm not really sure how you can say that you have got over losing all your elder statesmen as you put it, recent history and the lack of silverware says you havn't got over losing the quality players above.

Saints may not be what they were five or six years ago but they will top Wire in the League and the Cup next year.

Wire have 10 or 11 out of their first 17 over 30 and during the next three years will have to replace them all.

At some point next season one of those players, or more, will find out it's a season too far. Smith needs to get his recruitment on track.



1 Wigan,

2 Saints,

3 Hudds,

4 Wire/Leeds

........2 of the most promising youngsters signed up for big money, Myler & Atkins, youngsters coming through, Riley, Harrison, various others, Eastmond being signed when Briers retires....the future is a lot brighter than you believe....