What a week!

WHITTLE: Dismissed just once and cited just once in five years. Surely the sentence on Bobbie was harsh, when it also remembered that his tackle on Neil Cowie, while high, was certainly not intentional?

McRAE: I am in total agreement with your sentiments and, attempting to keep the whole sad affair in perspective, it should be added that Goulding was also fined £500 and stands to lose a lot more in match bonuses. But talk that Bobbie could miss Wembley is premature because Saints have a long way to go yet, and if we do make it to the Twin Towers I think a study of the fixture confirms that Goulding would be clear to play. David Howes and I accompanied Bobbie to Leeds and the case we put before QC James Spencer, ex-referee Eric Lawrinson and former Wigan player Colin Clarke was that, while pleading guilty, we believed the tackle resulted from lack of timing and poor execution. Careless yes, deliberate no! Looking at comparative situations, such as Lee Penny's challenge on Alan Hunte last season and the one by Shaun Edwards on Bradley Clyde at Wembley, both culprits received far lighter sentences than Goulding. Where's the justice you may ask? Bobbie was distraught when he heard his fate and did not feel up to travelling on to the Boulevard with us for the Hull v. Huddersfield replay. Naturally all at Saints are keeping their fingers crossed for the skipper when his appeal is heard in Leeds today, because we believe Goulding has had a very raw deal.

WHITTLE: 79 minutes 45 seconds of utterly compelling viewing by a world-wide audience, plus 15 seconds of mayhem - result a massive fine imposed on both Saints and Wigan on a charge of bringing the game into disrepute. I ask you!

McRAE: Three good men and true, Messrs David Poulter, Harry Jepson and Ron Teeman decided the guilty verdict and , for good measure, added that there would be no right of appeal. Maybe there's a clue to the severity of the sentence in that the game was televised. However, as far as I am concerned no one in his right mind would condone foul play but Rugby League is the toughest physical contact sport in the world, and it is almost inevitable that incidents occur from time to time, and I feel that the brawl developed due to retaliatory action by a Wigan player who was not the aggrieved man.

WHITTLE: Will Tommy Martyn continue as scrum-half and goalkicker during the absence of Bobbie Goulding?

McRAE: Tommy is always ready to adapt as he did so well against Wigan, and I see no reason why he should not carry on in the same vein. Other place-kicking options are Lee Briers and Steve Prescott so we are not badly fixed in that respect.

WHITTLE: Anyone remotely suggesting changes after the magnificent display against Wigan would be regarded as a candidate for the psychiatrist's couch. No doubt you see things that way with Hull in mind on Sunday?

McRAE: I do, but there is a chance that either Paul Anderson, Dean Busby or Briers could be added to the squad that did duty against Wigan. As for the clash with Hull my message to the lads was 'you earned the accolades in the fourth round, now forget it and remember the exploits of underdogs Chesterfield and Wrexham in the FA Cup.' In other words there will be no room for complacency against a Humberside line-up now including five Aussies in Steve Holmes, Glenn Liddiard, Gary Lester, Peter Wheeler and David Boyd; ever-dangerous Tongan Tevita Vaikona needs no introduction to anyone, while a back-three of Andy Fisher, Matt Schultz and Gary Divorty deserves the highest respect. Of course Saints expect to win, there would be no point in going onto the field otherwise, but the 'one-off' nature of cup-ties has been well and truly hammered home.

WHITTLE: With Warrington having told Saints to keep their nose out regarding Iestyn Harris, what next?

McRAE: Absolutely no comment, because my views on the matter have already been well documented.

WHITTLE: Rumour has it that you are once again being head-hunted by the satellite television channel for summary duties in the Super League season. How do you find being on the 'box?

McRAE: No doubt some people find it an ordeal, but I believe the great secret is being able to relax and concentrate on topics that you know about in order not to get 'lost.' I learned some of these fundamentals when asked to appear on the Rugby League Week programmes on the Canberra network back in Australia. However, coaching Saints is my number one priority and, as last season, I will agree to only occasional appearances if the official approach should come.

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