IT was a story of contrasting halves, but a sharing of the spoils was probably the correct verdict. So said Saints' boss Shaun McRae in assessing the game with London Broncos.
WHITTLE: Point lost or point gained - supporters are sharply divided on this issue. What are your views?
McRAE: I suppose the obvious retort is that one point is better than none, and certainly in the first 40 minutes it looked as though Saints would finish empty-handed after losing possession no fewer than seven times, as well as suffering bouts of indiscpline which cost us needless penalties. This meant Saints put themselves under unnecessary pressure, but it must be remembered that they were struggling with injuries to Paul Newlove and Apollo Perelini. In view of this Saints did well to bounce back to take the second period 12-6 in a game where both sides were affected by the fear-factor after being mauled by Bradford and Wigan a week earlier. Given that Friday saw London earn their first point against Saints it may seem crazy to suggest they are our bogey side, but we have struggled against the Broncos right from the moment I arrived and they will never have a better chance of beating us than here. From a Saints' angle I have no complaints regarding overall commitment, but there were nonetheless one or two be-low par individual performances. On a positive note I thought Ian Pickavance proved a point with a superb 80 minutes, Andy Haigh and Julian O'Neill also went well, while Dean Busby came off the bench to turn in a splendid second half. But I would be burying my head in the sand if I said everything in the garden is lovely because Saints need to get back in winning grove if they are to have a ghost of chance of keeping the Super League title.
WHITTLE: The current injury situation is not helping matters. What is the up-to-date report from the medical room?
McRAE: At the risk of being branded an excuse-maker injuries are the crux of the problem, and the casualty list at Knowsley Road appears to be more acute by the hour. However, all clubs experience this state of affairs from time to time, and in answer to your question the immediate bulletin and estimated return reads: Newlove (hamstring tear, 4 weeks). Perelini (dead leg, Wigan). Martyn (knee, operation last Tuesday). Hunte (hamstring, two weeks). Joynt (shoulder, Wigan). Morley (ankle, Wigan). Booth (knee, two weeks). Hayes (knee, three weeks). The good news is that Andy Leathem was due to play in the Alliance team last night and could come into contention at Salford tonight. WHITTLE: With such a catalogue of walking-wounded the grapevine has been buzzing with rumours of signings this week. Any substance in this speculation?
McRAE: If - and it is a big 'if' - any signings are made they will be of a long-term variety and while I have heard the names of Paul Atcheson, Mike Pechey and Toa Kohe-Love bandied around I can confirm that none of these players will be in the squad at the Willows tonight. The only newcomer at Knowsley Road is utility back James Briers, a cousin of Karle Hammond who is on loan from Widnes.
WHITTLE: Were you happy with the video-referee's rulings against the Broncos?
McRAE: No real complaints from me because all three try decisions were correct, although I know some Saints' fans thought Anthony Sullivan had scored. I can only think the camera showed that he did not exert downward pressure on the ball because the ruling was a 20-metre restart.
WHITTLE: Have there been any developments resulting from Andy Northey being placed on report last Friday?
McRAE: Unlike dismissal, appearance before the disciplinary committee is not mandatory in the case of being on report. I have heard nothing from referees' controller Greg McCallum, and in any case if Northey was suspended today he would still be available at Salford because the sentence is only effective from midnight. WHITTLE: The knee injury to Tommy Martyn in France seems a heavy price to pay after being selected in what is not seen by many people as a 'serious' international . What do you think?
McRAE: Let me say immediately that I fully support the right of a player to appear in representative matches and also understand the game needs to broaden its horizons. But this match was organised less than a month ago and slap-bang in the middle of a demanding Super League progromme - need I say more?
WHITTLE: With Martyn out of action who plays scrum-half if Bobbie Goulding is injured?
McRAE: I prefer to cross that bridge if and when I come to it. But if you are implying that Saints should have kept Lee Briers my reply to that would be that hindsight is a wonderful thing. Picture the scenario if Tommy and Bobbie remained unscathed for the next two years - would it have been fair to have young Briers kicking his heels while awaiting his first team chance?
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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