However the errors were costly with the Saints having four more scoring shots,three more inside 50s and five more marks inside 50 than their opponents but still lost with Cats’ coach Chris Scott admitting they felt as though they escaped with the win.

Ratten also bemoaned the lack of holding the ball free kicks paid to the Saints with the umpires clearly unwilling to reward the tackler in the first half. His frustration was evident when he questioned the value of tackling.

“I don’t know if it is worth tackling,” Ratten said.

The Saints will also be sweating on scans of ruckman Rowan Marshall’s foot after the 25-year-old limped from the ground with what looked like a recurrence of the injury that has plagued him this season.

“We think it’s plantar fascia but it might be something else,” Ratten said.

“The game changed when he went off.”

Brad Crouch copped a knock to the face and will need scans to check whether any bones were broken while Jack Lonie pulled up sore after copping a knock to the head,but he will be available next week.

Ratten said he thought the Saints had improved significantly on their early season form but the loss remained disappointing.

“There were a lot of things right,except for the last part,kicking through the sticks,” Ratten said.

Scott acknowledged that but was happy to take the win which entrenches the Cats in the top four.

“I think we were a bit lucky to be honest,” Scott said.