Chris22

Saints' last game at Knowsley Road was against Huddersfield in 2010 in the play offs. I think this was reasonably unique as we chose our opponent under the 'club call' system. Part of me wishes we would have picked Wigan. Last game at Knowsley Road. All or nothing. Go out in the worst way possible by losing to Wigan in a play off semi final. Or the total opposite and leaving in the glory by ending Wigan's season and reaching Grand Final. I probably wasn't saying that in 2010 though - my nerves wouldn't have stood it!

If Catalans and Toulouse are regular in a 7pm on Friday slot, then I wonder what that will do for crowds. I think that will be difficult for lots of fans to get there after work.

Feel angry that this Katoa situation was allowed to develop. If he had a HIA and passed, the protocols are woefully inadequate. If he didnt, that is a major failing which has placed a player in great danger. This should be the subject of a thorough review to ensure something similar never happens again.

I don't think Lewis on the bench offers much. For me, he starts or doesn't play at all. Any test level team which contains Kallum Watkins as a starting second row worries me. He was a fine player in his day, still a decent Super League player but not test level. The pack as a whole worries me but that would have been the case whoever played as I think it is as weak of a pack as we have had for a very long time. Despite all that, I can't help but have a nagging feeling that today will be better than last week. Not saying we'll win, but think we'll run them close.

I agree that some of Wane's comments make me cringe. I know it was tongue in cheek but him saying that he wanted to see all test matches in Wigan was excruciating. I get why Wane wants to push the patriotism line. And there's nothing wrong with being proud of where you're from but doing it in a way that suggests you are superior doesn't look good. And then today's comments that we didn't play in front of "real rugby league fans" on Saturday isn't great. Maybe it is correct it wasn't a traditional crowd that we usually attract, but the implication that this is a negative does nothing to welcome new fans to the sport.

If you want an obscure one, Hadj Boudebza and Jean Boudebza!

I expect that we will lose, but that's in part due to me always expecting England to lose against Australia. The pack concerns me. I think Havard and Lees have the potential to get dominated and I don't think Bateman is anywhere near this level anymore. With Walmsley and McMeeken on the bench, I suspect the aim is to hold our own and then get some impact from two giants. The backs are decent. We have no choice but to leave out a very good half back (whichever way the choice went). I think our backline looks good. But England v Australia on the BBC, in an Ashes series at the national stadium is as good as it gets. It might be the only chance these players get to do this. You can't help but hope!

Two groups of five, with semi finals and finals would be absolutely sensational. Something like: Group 1: Australia, England, Tonga, Lebanon, Cook Islands Group 2: New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, France Or we could have 2x groups of 3 (1 qualify for semis) and 1x group of 4 (2 qualify for semis), which would be far worse in my view.

Very difficult to say with Saints because of a new coach and having plenty of half back options, all with many flaws. A complete guess would be: 1. Welsby 2. Feldt 3. Robertson 4. Percival 5. Murphy 6. Sailor 7. Whitby 8. Walmsley 9. Clark 10. Lees 11. Sironen 12. Host 13. Wright 14. Burns 15. Stephens 16. Delaney 17. Whitley I expect Welsby to be at full back. It is possible we move Harry Robertson to 6 (think he'll be here long term but not yet). Rowley will want a kicker, so I think Whitby is in. I reckon Lomax drops out of being a regular starter. Rowley has a call to make on the wings too, with Dagnall pushing for a starting jersey. We have Paasi, Wingfield, Cross, Cowen and Davies as the only other players who have played first team. This is caveated on the assumption that Paasi and Sironen stay. Both are off contract but not on our released list, so the assumption is they are staying but Saints haven't bothered communicating that. Rowley has his work cut out. The only player at the club that can competently kick a ball is hugely inexperienced and it is a massive ask to put him as starting 7. We signed Sailor as a 6, when he is not and never will be that. Clark can't do 80 minutes and I don't think Burns is up to it as a back up 9. Knowles is a huge loss and looks like Wright is his replacement. I don't think this side is able to compete with the top teams and is probably weaker overall than 12 months ago. A top 4 finish would be a success for me with the squad we have.

The build up to the second and third tests are going to be so boring since we can't seat count!

It's anecdotal but in my experience international crowds are very different to club crowds. At England v France at Bolton, I saw a few England RU shirts and some sat near me appeared to be students with southern accents, who were new to the game. The family near me at the World Cup Final travelled from Bournemouth. I heard some Welsh accents near me at the Wales match at Saints in the last World Cup. I've never been to an international in London but there being more locals there would tally with my experience.

I do get the apathy towards this fixture. But given that we haven't beaten Australia in 19 years and haven't beaten them in a series since the 1970's, if we take this attitude then we can't complain when Australia do the same to us.

GB v Australia at Wigan in 2003. Remembered for the Adrian Morley red card but the game itself was absolutely outstanding. As was the whole series!

Another point to remember is that whilst the score last year was 9-2 to Wigan, arguably, the gap was far greater. Wigan had a try disallowed for offside that would have been awarded this year with the new active / passive rule. They also bombed a try dropping the ball inexplicably whilst sliding to the line. They were both highly unusual incidents that on the majority of occasions would lead to a score of between 17-2 and 21-2 (probably nil as HKR wouldn't have kicked the penalty).

I worry for Hull KR in this. In previous finals, they haven't been great, including this year's Challenge Cup Final. More positively, they looked good for most of their semi final. Wigan have been looking more and more complete. I think something like Hull KR 4-18 Wigan but the type of game where the result is never really in doubt.