122 replies to this topic

[no13benny]

Thoughts about the game here...if anyone knows how to sticky it, please do so!

[Dave T]

We are better positioned to win at KR than ever before, but that means ###### all!

We look like we have a fit squad, which is crucial at this stage of the season, and I am excited about having Bridge back, although I would have preferred him to have had more than 1 first team game going into the playoffs.

I hope we do go all out for this one, as with Saints' injuries a loss here could stitch them up and they could even struggle against the likes of Hudds or Hull.

Of course this is all wishful thinking and they will win an epic battle!

I'll leave the catchphrase to sam.

[1976PMJwires]

How big is that monkey???


It's now or never for the Wires, fully fit squad (grix back in training, not quite ready)

Saints 22 Wires 42


Wires need to be ahead in this game going into the last quarter, before finishing Saints off.

Can't see anything but a Wires win (please shoot me down after 10PM friday)

On reflection on the last 2 games, all square on tries scored, goal kicking the difference, this time it will not matter.

Warrington must win, giving Saints a difficult route to the GF.

Just hoping for a good and honest game from all concerned.

Best Wishes to Saints fans (Surely its our time now )

[bewareshadows]

The game at Warrington Saints had

Wellens,
Foster, Flannery,
Meli, Gardner,

Pryce, Moore,

Graham, Roby, Hargreaves,
Wilkin, Ashurst,
Magennis.

Replacements: Cunningham, Puletua, Clough, Emmitt

Playoff game is likely to be

Wellens,
Gardner, Gidley,
Foster, Meli

Lomax, Wilkin

Puletua , Cunningham, Graham,
Clough, Flannery,
Roby,

Replacements: Soliola, Hargreaves, Moore, Fasavalu

I'd say half back wise Wilkin is a better half back than Moore and Lomax or Smith if it comes to that is not too bad a replacement for Pryce. Forward wise we actually look alot stronger than we did against Warrington last time out, now we have with 6 big guys in the pack Graham, Puletua, Fasavalu, Clough, Hargreaves, Soliola.

I can't see us spreading the ball much with these guys, I think it wil be more a case of trying to get ontop of the Wire pack. Then short range tries as those where the tactics that almost worked against Leeds in the Semi final when we had no half backs. THis time at least we'll have smith or Lomax or possibley both. Not first choice but better than what we had against Leeds.

If wire could spread it wide they would probably be able to try and runit around the Saints, but luckily for us it's a home game.

This means narrower pitch reduces the advantage Wire have out wide, and a shorter pitch means it's easier to get over the half way line into an attacking posistion close to the line.

It's not ideal, but I think Saints will be far from easy beats, I actually think that Wire have had better oppertnities to beat the Saints.

[FullFat]

Winning at Saints? Wow that would be good but I agree with bewareshadows we have had better opportunities in the past, at least on paper. But I do think that the Wire side now has a different feel about it than even the games earlier in the season. The win at Wembley has boosted confidence and the squad bar one player is fully fit.

I'm going for a Wire win but it will be close and the last 10-15mins will seem like months! 24-12 to the Wire

[bewareshadows]

I'm going to go for Saints to open up a 12 - 4 lead by half time.

Then 2nd half back and forth with the tries, but Saints finishing with enough of a cushion to make any drop goal by Briers irrelevant.

[Wilderspoolmemories]

St. Helens 0,Warrington 80. Revenge will finally taste very sweet!

[no13benny]

St. Helens 0,Warrington 80. Revenge will finally taste very sweet!

No we're talking final score not knock ons.

[giwildgo]

I'm expecting Warrington to finally end the hoodoo, but then suffer a shock defeat in the eliminator in two weeks time against any opponent. Overconfidence and overhyping of expectations will be their downfall.

[Wendall]

This is the time to end the hoodoo!

But I would settle for a loss and then to play Saints again in two weeks and knock them out of the semi finals!

Wire aint gonna beat Saints twice in 2 weeks which is what I think they will end up having to do.

[Symo10]

Wire by 10, Saints should be putting teams like Cas away more comfortably. They normally control games much better.

[Simon Templar]

Saints very rarely lose big games such as this when they play at KR. Coupled with the psychological hold they appear to have over Warrington it all points to a Saints win.

Whatever happens I can't see us getting to Old Trafford without our first choice half back pairing.

[Allan Marsden]

You would normally opt for Saints given the Indian sign they hold over the Wire but I sense this is one match too much and the record will end with Wire the form team at the present team and too many playmakers probably missing for Saints.

[bewareshadows]

You would normally opt for Saints given the Indian sign they hold over the Wire but I sense this is one match too much and the record will end with Wire the form team at the present team and too many playmakers probably missing for Saints.

I can understand people thinking the Cas performance looks bad for Saints, but there was a whole lot more going on around that game that caused alot of distractions. In a way I'm very glad that's done as we have all said our goodbyes to the ground and to Kerion and now theplayers can just concentrate on the Rugby. We have stuck with Warrington all year dispite the injuries and ok we've lost our half back's but the pack is back to full strength pretty much and the rest of the backs are ok.

If we can get lomax on the field and bash the warrington pack that will be the important thing, don't forget a try is still only worth 4 points, whether a push over from 2 yards or a 60 meter effort with 5 offloads.

I think we have lost our style in the middle but we'll just have to grind it out.

[Allan Marsden]

Saints have a psychological hold over Wire and they rightly targetted Wire's weakness namely pitting their big guys v fast hand / footwotk around the POTB. Wire like to rush up in defence so if you break the first line then you are often clean through bar the fullback. Chip kicks work for a similar reason. I just thinmk Saints will have too many of the players they need missing. Roby will need to play a long period and possibly at 9 more than Cunningham. Player like Roby, Wilkin and Wellens will be important.

Still have to say Wire to win

[Old Frightful]

they could even struggle against the likes of Hudds or Hull.

What the bloody Hell's that supposed to mean?

Wire to win this by at least a dozen.

Oh, and following the final hooter, this forum to be a place to avoid for a while, certain Wire fans excepted.

[Black Country Wire]

Unfortunately, I'm expecting our traditionally Knowsley Road result.

[saintsbird]

Could go either way & even tho its a nothing game (in the sense that the result doesnt matter as the loser gets another chance next week) I dont want to lose. I feel the day Wire beat us will mean we dont beat them for ages. Similar to when we finally beat Wigan & since tham we have won more encounters with them than lost IIRC.

As Bewareshadows says now we have the sentimental game out of the way I feel it will be far different to last week. Our pack is good & at least if we have Lomax we are not down too much in the half backs.

We can do it but will take everything we have got. Come on boys. Lets hope the monkey is applying the superglue

[Kenilworth Tiger]

I honestly think this is Wires night and think they'll win quite comfortably.

[Dave T]

What the bloody Hell's that supposed to mean?

Wire to win this by at least a dozen.

Oh, and following the final hooter, this forum to be a place to avoid for a while, certain Wire fans excepted.

Sorry, but the way you Hull fans are so negative about your team I didn't think you'd mind me including you in as a 'lower' team

IF we do win, I'll probably stay away from this place myself as you just don't get any chance to enjoy the victory before the bickering starts!