RUGBY League legend Alex Murphy has spoken of his hurt and dismay at watching Saints players' heads drop in the 70-0 Headingley horror show, writes NEIL BARKER.

An angry Murphy is demanding his hometown team goes back to the basics, licks their wounds and immediately regroup.

He told M.E.N. Sport: "Far too many played without passion against Leeds. I wouldn't stand for this and I was concerned with what I saw.

"I can accept defeat and so can the Saints fans but they don't associate their team with such an abysmal performance.

"The record of coach Ian Millward is second to none - he's enjoyed wonderful success but for the first time in his life as a coach he has big problems.

"Don't forget Saints came mighty close to also being nilled by Hull the previous week.

"I'm sure they will still be there or thereabouts at the end of the season but they must stop dragging out the old chestnut of not having Long, Gleeson and now Sculthorpe. Other clubs have been in the same boat as Saints with injury problems - Wigan and Warrington are perfect examples of this.

"But in saying that, take the Saints line-up against Leeds and many other Super League clubs would gladly settle for such a team even without the big guns. Saints at their best can beat anyone but it looks as if the plans cave in once the big hitters are unavailable."

Murphy also believes it may be in the best long-term interest for Saints to review their pay structure. They don't have the biggest of squads but this problem could be solved if contract money was distributed more evenly.

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