Good post The Reaper (I can't quote it for some reason)

I think Wello has served a much better apprenticeship than KC and has seemingly contributed to our success over the last few years. Last season there was mitigation too - an away WCC trip, a severe injury list and only just tipped off in two semi finals (we won ten on the spin between these two games to finish joint top). I think he made some good signings too and there was every reason to be optimistic this year IMO. Things are completely different now though and the longer Wellens has been coaching the worse we have been playing.

Tactically we are completely reliant on a full pack and he doesn't have the ability or the inclination to change things around when we don't have one. The playmakers are either out of form, playing injured and/or past it, but they must be collectively bored stiff by being stifled into repeatedly dropping off passes or kicking for defensive territory. They should be looking for more work but if it's against the tactics..?

Five blokes in the coaching box and not one positive idea or even slight deviation from the plan, even when we are behind late in the game. The decision to kick for two at 4-0 up on your opponents line with half an hour left was the most bizarre, negative and uninspiring decision I've seen in a long time. Simultaneously got the crown even more on the teams back whilst giving Cas the belief that we had fired our shot and didn't think we could score. Bearing in mind this is a team we put 60 on a month ago!

His use of interchanges is woeful and seemingly pre-programmed around these archaic tactics. This week Burns and Stephens came on and made a difference but they didn't get enough opportunity to turn the game our way despite looking capable of doing so (especially against this particular opposition). Last week he used 6/8 on the hottest day of the year, one of which was in the last minute and another one hurriedly made after the player he brought on was playing out of position and got smashed first carry.

Friday was a real turning point for me and these issues feed into the longer term plan of integrating this highly rated group of young lads and balancing the squad with signings and retentions. Can we trust Wellens to give these lads a fair shot at making it when they only get a brief opportunity out of necessity? And who externally would want to come into this rigid structure that bores the fans and players?

Whether he's signed again or not he needs to quickly make some positive changes or else the writing is on the wall and it's just a matter of when he gets his cards.

I was definitely on the fence with that one - whether its 3 or 4 players it demonstrates the tough spot the St Helens squad is in. 

Agree with you there, he is on the downward curve although to be fair was superb last night. He has been used as a battering ram for years and is most certainly injury prone. 

Also agree with our set up. We have very few 22-28 aged players, Welsby and Lees being the only ones of note. We either have ageing players past their best- Lomax, Walmsley, Paasi, Clark, Sironen, Percival etc or ones who are very young with potential- Whitby, Robertson, Dagnall, Stephens. 


It's the 22-28 age range we desperately need.

They're where we found ourselves under Lam, with guys like Smithies, Havard, Partington, Shorrocks, Byrne etc being asked to do a seasoned pros job, guys like Clubb and Lockers being pretty much done and a number of players who just weren't up to standard. We compounded the issue trying to sign somebody like George Burgess to sit in that in between age group as well. A few Saints fans liked to revel in telling us none of our players were good enough and just as then, there are players in this Saints side that can take them forward and things can turn quickly but they've some rebuild job on in this next year or two. 

7 straight defeats to Wire, 3 each to us and Rovers, 2 straight to Leigh. Saints this season are mostly winning the games that they should win but not the games that they need to win if they expect to be thereabouts for trophies. I don't like to dump on coaches but I don't see how Wellens stays beyond this season without an absolute miracle. But, as others have said, this isn't a situation a change of coach will easily fix. It needs a squad rebuild as well.

I almost feel guilty questioning his inclusion Stu, as I think he probably would be in that group were it not for his wholehearted playing style. Even last night he was still throwing himself at the defence harder than most of your forwards! He's still a talent when fit but, unfortunately for him and Saints, he's not at his best often enough.