Was that Howard's best game for us?

[Rubyjo]

Not to mention that goal saving lunge.

[magnifisaint]

I'm glad he played well.

[loris]

Very positive, never seen him so physical and prepared to take the game on.

[SaintPav]

Not to mention that goal saving lunge.

That was a great effort.

[The_Dud]

Not a Howard fan, but thought he did very well today and had some big moments

[CURLY]

Always plays a key role anyone that doubts his place in the side or ability has no idea.

[saynta]

Always plays a key role anyone that doubts his place in the side or ability has no idea.

A few on here fit that discription, unfortunately.

[skeptic]

I’ve said it for a while…
Howard can be his own worst enemy.
He was almost universally loved his first year or two but then fell into this habit of playing a little too far off his man and thinking he was God’s gift to trickpasses and eye of the needle ball use that has seen him earn the wrath of almost every single Saints fan I know.

Since he came back (last time), he seems a lot more focused on the pure fundamentals of his role and looks a heck of a lot better for it. He is a good player and an absolutely essential part of the back 6… maybe even more so now with Battle possibly on the way out. Hopefully the emergence of slick ball users down back sees him continue to focus on what he’s best at

[B.M]

No

He flogged Charlie Dixon in a game vs Port and was Best On

[SteeleSaints]

Not to mention that goal saving lunge.

I think so, he was marking everything and hitting targets. He did have a couple of mental lapses but if he played that well every week there would be no talk of trading him.

[saintsRrising]

Howard has really only had one bad game this season. All the rest have been serviceable to to good to very good.

PLUS when he plays Wilke and Battle are freed up to play their natural games. Did you notice how good Wilke was this game?

[SaintWiki]

Dougal was never as bad as some naysayers keep harping on about but when our back three are all in they are a great backline - all have their individual strengths.

[B.M]

How are key defenders freed up?

They played on Amarty, McLean and McDonald

Wilkie played well, he normally does, he’s an AA who finished runner up in the B&F twice.

[CarlD]

Great game from Dougs.

Bit hard to tell from the TV broadcast but it appeared as if he drew the umpire's attention to the fact that he was bleeding which gave the team some extra time to set up for those last few seconds as he wandered off.