NO more than a 50-50 performance, but several lessons were hopefully learned for the 'action replay' at Wembley. These were the views of Saints' boss Shaun McRae (pictured) after his side's narrow win over Bradford Bulls.

WHITTLE: Plenty of food for thought - so said the fans on Sunday after Bulls were almost allowed to escape with a shock victory due to Saints' second-half fadeout. What say you?

McRAE: I could only agree with them because after being happy with the first 40 minutes, the next period left me distinctly unimpressed and, as far as I am concerned there are no excuses, only a plea of mitigation regarding poor conditions which did not suit Saints' style.

The blustery wind was also worth 12-points as we proved with our early lead, and then Bradford had advantage of it and won the second half by 12-2, while turning the ball over four times in the opening half and nine in the latter period meant Saints were failing to complete their sets of six.

Losing possession four times on the first tackle and five times on the fourth also tells its own story, in that it is an open invitation for the opposition to attack you, and I have never met a player yet who would rather tackle than run with the ball.

Two Saints players who shall remain nameless also missed five tackles, and this is simply not good enough at this level, and overall the second half display found us continually back-pedalling.

Looking at the Bulls' effort I thought three-try Matt Calland and ex-Saints Bernard Dwyer, Paul Loughlin and Sonny Nickle all played well, and I also think coach Brian Smith is to be complimented on the way he put his head on the block in making 17 changes in personnel to improve Bradford's fortunes.

WHITTLE: How do you see the Cup Final developing in the light of Sunday's game?

McRAE: First of all may I say I now have an even greater respect for the Bulls, who are a tall rangy side incorporating a powerful set of forwards, and I hope that I have done my homework correctly on them. But if I were a meteorologist I would be praying for good weather at Wembley, because Saints' speed would then be seen to greater advantage.

WHITTLE: With just nine days to go before you-know-what time is getting short for the return of winger Joey Hayes. Have you any comment on this bone of contention among the fans?

McRAE: Joey played in the Alliance side at Bradford and was on the bench on Sunday, but opportunity to bring him on did not present itself. Hayes will play in the reserve team tonight, but as things stand Danny Arnold is the man in possession as well as being the Super League's top scorer. WHITTLE: Still on Cup Final matters you must by now have mental picture of your likely line-up?

McRAE: I have but I am not telling you until next week! What I can say is that Dean Busby and Andy Haigh are ruled out through injury and Derek McVey is cup-tied, so with a first team squad of 25, that cuts my options down to a figure that can be arrived at without holding a Rhodes Scholarship in maths.

WHITTLE: But surely the possible suspension of Vila Matautia enters into that equation?

McRAE: Obviously it does, but I am taking the optimistic view that the disciplinary board will be lenient when Vila appears before them in Leeds today, when he will be accompanied by David Howes.

WHITTLE: Halifax at Thrum Hall! Hardly a welcoming prospect as the last throw of the dice before the 'big one' on Saturday week. Is the pressure mounting for Saints as they seek to defend an eight-match winning run?

McRAE: Obviously it is but, as I have said many times before, every match is a 'big one' as far as I concerned with the guiding principle being to prepare for each game as it arrives.

However, the trip to Thrum Hall may find unbeaten Saints vulnerable because of what lies around the corner, while an Halifax team still looking for their first win brings to mind the old adage that 'desperate men tend to do desperate things.'

So my advice to the Saints' squad is 'be prepared' - let's hope they will heed it!

WHITTLE: Before injury took its toll the form of second-rower Simon Booth had been a revelation. What is the progress report on his medial knee ligament damage?

McRAE: Simon has been given the all-clear by the specialist and will be back in the Alliance squad in a bid to stake his claim for a place in the Wembley squad.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.