NOW that’s the Saints we know!

It’s been a bit of a stop-start season for the current Betfred Super League champions since their historic World Club Challenge win in February, but the team certainly looked back to their best in Newcastle on Sunday.

It was a happy Magic Weekend for the Saints faithful…not only watching their side absolutely demolish Huddersfield by 48-6, but also see big rivals Wigan and Warrington drop points.

In regards to my tipstering skills…I’ve had better weeks! I managed to predict only half of the correct results, with some definite shocks thrown out.

I got the Hull KR-Salford game wrong way round, but to be fair both teams are in good form at the minute and could have always gone either way, but a big win for the Red Devils.

The two that did shock me and no doubt many other rugby league fans were Castleford defeating Leeds and Hull FC overcoming a halftime deficit to defeat Warrington.

Cas have only won three games out of the 14 played so far in the Betfred Super League - and two of them being against the Rhinos.

This just shows how inconsistent this current Leeds side is, and a team a million miles away from silverware.

Warrington let a 12-6 halftime lead slip, big time as they went down 30-18 and for the first time this season were knocked off top spot of the Betfred Super League table.

The team who now hold that position are the Catalans Dragons, after their 46-22 crushing of the Wigan Warriors…as I predicted may I add!

I have been far from impressed by Wigan this season, and with a number of long term injuries I never thought this was a game they would win.

Saying that, they did have both Jai Field and Cade Cust returning…but clearly wasn’t enough. The Warriors sit in third position just ahead of Borough rivals Leigh and also Salford on points difference.

Leigh are certainly a club on the up. With nine out of 15 wins in Super League, quarter finalists, and likely to be semi-finalists in the Betfred Challenge Cup there is a lot to smile about at the Sports Village.

No doubts they had the easiest of games at Magic against the winless Wakefield Trinity, who up until the 71st minute looked like they were set for their sixth nilling of the season. A Max Jowitt try stopped that, but very little consolation for the Trinity fans.

Finally on Magic, maybe it was something I said! ….but I believe there may yet be a U-turn on whether it goes. There is no doubt it is a unique concept our game is very proud of, and for once something the NRL copied us!

I just hope it is something we can build on with the new partnership with IMG and make sure commercially it stacks up, and clubs and fans buy in to going forward because the fans that do go love it.

So, Saints now climb into 6th place and play-off positions with a game in hand. More so, they go into a massive derby week full of confidence after a top performance on Sunday.

As we know though, previous results count for nothing in a Saints-Wigan clash…and there’s absolutely no doubt Matty Peet will have his players champing at the bit come 8pm on Friday.

Saints just need to meet fire with fire, but controlled, with discipline and show the superior skill they have when it comes to attacking rugby.

One player who has never dropped his standards throughout an up and down season is Tommy Makinson.

Tommy showed yet why he is considered one of the best wingers in the world.

Tommy scored four tries and kicked six goals...picking up a massive 28 points, a record haul by a player at Magic Weekend, previously held by my old teammate Sean Long with 27.

For me it’s everything else Tommy gives the team that is his biggest asset and no doubt a player every coach would want.

Talking of great players…it was great to see the news on the Marquee player ruling.

A decision by the RFL Board & RL Commercial Board to increase the marquee player spots from two to three, providing at least one of these is federation trained.

This certainly helps Super League retain some of our star youngsters, while also giving that bit more firepower to attract other big names to our competition.

Finally, title sponsors Betfred, again have Saints 2/1 favourites to retain the Super League trophy in October, with Wigan and Wire both at 7/2 while the current league leaders Catalans are the big movers and have been backed into 11/2.

This weekend's games could certainly shake up that league ladder with so many teams competing at the top it’s becoming an even more fascinating race for the title than usual.