The starting 13, from 1996 to 2010 www.outofmemory.co.uk/saints.png Which do you think were the best 13, and what do you think of 2010 in comparison?

The starting 13, from 1996 to 2010 www.outofmemory.co.uk/saints.png Which do you think were the best 13, and what do you think of 2010 in comparison?

Note to self: I should have made it 17 really, as the bench is so important these days.

2001 -2003 look pretty good to me

I'd argue you've got 2006 wrong, as Fozz was hardly getting a look in, and Cayless (Has anybody seen JC?) was starting.

I'd also argue 2006 is potentially the best Saints side I have witnessed.

Fair point, it was done in a bit of a rush, so haven't always got the best 13, or taken into account major injuries.

2005-2006 those two years were fantastic for me, losing Albert for 2006 was a disappointment but we coped magnificently in respect.

Looking at it like that puts into even more perspective both how long Cunningham and Long have been the backbone of our squad, but more worrying for me how little we've had the same line-up week-in-week-out this season.

We have had it tough with Right centres haven't we



I think Tony Stewart was our starting winger for a couple of seasons before Gardner.

Wasn't Stewart our starting winger before Albert? Perhaps were I have put Hoppe.

Quote rlcoach="rlcoach"Wasn't Stewart our starting winger before Albert? Perhaps were I have put Hoppe.'" www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/ ... page_id=10 1997 till 2003 hmmm, looks like your right. I guess that Hoppe did shift around the team a bit. There was definately a period when Stewart was our first choice winger. As you said earlier maybe it needs to be 17 rather than 13. Good work it is very interesting.

Quote rlcoach="rlcoach"Wasn't Stewart our starting winger before Albert? Perhaps were I have put Hoppe.'" www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/ ... page_id=10 1997 till 2003 hmmm, looks like your right. I guess that Hoppe did shift around the team a bit. There was definately a period when Stewart was our first choice winger. As you said earlier maybe it needs to be 17 rather than 13. Good work it is very interesting.

Just goes to show how important the spine of the team really is. Easily the most consistent set of players at 1, 6, 7, 9 & 13 throughout SL, the only other side coming close is Leeds over the last few years and look how they are doing now.

2006 was the strongest despite Cayless missing from the list. Hard to pick a weak team out of the 13.

Nice piece of work that table, brings back a lot of memories. Would love to have seen Britt and Fairleigh propping down together.

The 2001 backs takes some beating

A young Wello at fb

On the right we had NZ's top try scorer of all time with and one of the Kiwis best ever players

On the left we had Newy scoring and creating tries for Sully from anywhere on the pitch (wish we had sully outisde of gidley now)

With Tommy and Long pulling the strings

Imagine that year's 4,5,6 (and arguably 8 & 11) in the 2005 team and that is some line-up.