I thought the past couple of months were bad, but Saturday was an all-time low.

It was no surprise to see Saints beaten by Betfred Super League’s form team Hull KR, but the manner of defeat – a 42-6 hammering – was simply unacceptable.

We’ve beaten the Robins in their last 10 visits to the Totally Wicked Stadium, but we were always going to be up against it on Saturday… and it didn’t take long for the tone to be set.

A knock-on straight from kick-off led to the home side barely touching the ball for the opening eight minutes of the game.

Unfortunately, within that timeframe we conceded a try and lost Waqa Blake to the sin bin. Not a huge loss, to be honest.

The injuries just aren’t easing up for head coach Paul Wellens, with 10 first-choice players sidelined.

As he gets Sione Mata’utia back from injury and skipper Jonny Lomax from suspension, he loses James Bell, Curtis Sironen and Alex Walmsley - the latter having only played two games following a four-month spell in the treatment room.

The young kids who have stood up during the last couple of months – namely Robertson, Vaughan, Burns, Stephens and George Whitby – are currently setting the standards.

They have given their all, but they need the senior players to guide which just isn’t happening.

There’s nobody taking control of things. Our attack looks completely rudderless and our kicking game was virtually non-existent.

I want to give a special mention to the aforementioned Whitby.

It was always going to be a tough ask on Saturday coming into an out-of-form team lacking in confidence, in such a key role at half-back, but he competed for everything and brought lots of energy to the field.

He got his just deserts with an opportunist try, following his own kick into the in-goal area, then looked cool as a cucumber slotting over the conversion. A star of the future, I’m sure.

I wrote a few weeks back about some players not being up to Saints’ high standards and, well, I’m even more convinced now.

Far too many players are failing to produce. Either show fight or don’t pull on the Red V at all.

Waqa Blake strolls around the field without a care in the world, but to watch him pat a ball dead and concede a drop out when it was probably easier to catch and win a 20m restart was the final straw.

On defence, the left edge were awful. I’ve no doubt about the effort, but there needs to be so much more cohesion and composure, especially against the best attacking side in the league.

Instead, we had players flying out of the line trying to solve problems themselves, unfortunately coming off second best every time.

To make matters even worse, Tommy Makinson was red-carded for… I still don’t actually know.

He was given his marching orders for direct head contact while jamming in on Rovers half-back Tyrone May – albeit even May himself looked baffled by the decision.

I struggled to see any foul. Tommy had full control and wrap of May and there was no after-effects on his part.

I understand why the new laws have been introduced and by the letter of these laws if Tommy did make contact with the head, it’s a red.

But is it as black and white as that? Is it just contact with the head, no matter what force? Because in a contact sport played at a hundred miles an hour, contact is bound to happen.

Fans might need to start getting used to seeing star players in the stand, where Tommy will be for the next three weeks.

I genuinely worry for the spectacle of our great game if this continues… Anyway, it’s Huddersfield away on Sunday which looks a real opportunity for Saints to bounce back.

The Giants suffered a 50-point drubbing to Salford last weekend and have nothing but pride to play for now.

Hopefully the returning Morgan Knowles will add some steel to the defensive line and fingers crossed Alex Walmsley gets over his hip flexor strain in time to feature.

I’ll go for a gusty away win by seven points or more – 20/21 at Betfred – and a happier bus ride home.