Chris22

We started very well with some enterprising attacking play and Huddersfield's first half was dreadful. The English tackle was a nasty one and thankfully Percival lifted his leg before contact. I couldn't see the Greenwood incident apart from Thaler signalling an elbow was used. After that, the roles were reversed. We went into our shell and Huddersfield vastly improved. Naiqama's run for the third try was excellent. We did kick on to get the win, maybe with a slightly flattering scoreline. I think 26-18 would probably have been a fairer reflection. Not convincing but 3rd place with the joint best defence in the league. And it's that defence which gives us a chance of retaining the title. Questions remain whether we would be able to win three in a row in the play offs though, especially an away semi final followed by a Grand Final. I'd say a 2nd place finish is essential to our hopes this year.

3 to 5 years? How about 10 months?!

Batchelor being back, if indeed he is, would be a big boost for us. Our performances haven't been perfect in recent weeks but the level of commitment and desire to win is as strong as I've ever seen from us. Being at home, we should expect to win the match though with Huddersfield's improved form, I'm pretty certain we'll have another close run match. The biggest winning margin for matches involving us in the last 5 has been 4 points!

Very much looking forward to it. A rare final where I don't have any preference at all regarding who wins. Fancy Hull KR to win it but can't really explain why!

As close to an 'official' update as I imagine we'll get regarding ticket sales.

Not seen the match but whilst our performances and results haven't been as strong this year as previous years, our effort and determination is. I did wonder whether our team would have the same drive having won it all. They clearly do and that's credit to the players and Wellens. We have a good run of fixtures coming up and a chance to build form ahead of the play offs.

I thought he did alright with Hull FC in 2020. Improved them in the latter half of the season and they made a play off semi final.

The 2022 tournament was in parts a disaster. We've had a 16 team tournament twice and both occasions failed. I understand why we've gone to ten but agree a 5 teams x 2 groups is the way forward. We've had calendars before and it hasn't happened. I'm not holding my breath but the idea of England touring Australia in 2025 is very exciting!

It's all well and good saying we should play at Brentford, but let's look at the practicalities. Would the football club want to host a rugby league international, mid-football season? London Irish also play at the stadium and, I know they've had financial problems, but are they still playing on the same pitch this season? If so, would there be appetite for a third sport from the stadium's owners? How much would they charge? I have no doubt it would be a success in that there would be a decent crowd, with lots of locals. But it's not just an easy as saying "why don't we play a match at Brentford".

Our crowds for internationals in London are always the strongest, so ideally, we would have a test there. But it's not that simple. The cost of playing the matches in the North are far cheaper. We would probably need a smaller London venue for this series, likely a stadium we haven't used before. The RFL lost £1m last year. It cannot risk larger spending commitments in the hope of a return. You can argue whether that position arises due to our own mismanagement but that's the reality.

Looked to me like Dupree lifted the leg up just at the right moment, if his foot was planted on the floor, his leg would have been very vulnerable. I hope this isn't creeping into the game, I saw a similar effort by James Bell last night, difference being that Bell wasn't advancing forwards so the impact wasn't as heavy, nevertheless, still a tackle which risks injury. I wasn't sure if that technique was illegal. The RFL last week said it was but this style of tackle where there is no wrapping of the arms needs to be reviewed and I'd suggest sooner than the end of the season. The players that use that style also place their head in a very vulnerable position and place themselves at risk of injury.

We seemed to have a lot more spark in attack tonight. Dodd took the line on more, we had more runners and looked generally quicker compared to being a bit pedestrian in recent weeks. Looked like a tactical change to reflect that we wouldn't be able be bludgeon our way through. Quite a few errors from us gave Leeds decent field position and put ourselves under pressure. Thought Welsby was the difference and without his attacking skill, we probably lose that game. In the circumstances, a very pleasing win.

Do we? I didn't see any Saints fan defending Knowles' tackles on these threads? Morgan Knowles faces ban...you know the rest... - The General Rugby League Forum - Total Rugby League Fans Forum (totalrl.com) Morgan Knowles at the RFL Disciplinary... - The General Rugby League Forum - Total Rugby League Fans Forum (totalrl.com) This week's disciplinary. - The General Rugby League Forum - Total Rugby League Fans Forum (totalrl.com)

The most frustrating point of Saturday for me remains Mata'utai's needless late hit. Without that, Makinson's conversion would have been to win the match and the pressure is very different!

Is it really that outrageous anyway? Of course fans of a club will take a greater interest when a particular style of tackle results in four injuries to key players, including two long term injuries!

Think our players will be quite riled up for this one. That will either lead to us winning quite convincingly or getting a couple of players sent off and lose by a few scores. I'm not quite sure which one will happen though!

Four players suffering similar injuries (varying in severity) from tackles by the same player using the same technique in one match is quite remarkable. I do not know if the technique used by Asiata was a legal one. If it was, them the game should be assessing whether that continues to be legal. Paasi's injury is particularly concerning. The nature of it combined with him being 32 going on 33 when he is due to return makes you wonder whether he will play again.

I've always enjoyed Matt Newsum's commentary, think he's excellent. I used to like Noble but tries a bit hard to be funny and can come across a bit cringy at times and Robbie Paul stumbles over his words too often and can ramble. John Kear is an excellent analyst and, as was said earlier in this thread, Tony Rea is one of the best co-commentators going, shame he's barely used anymore.

I've seen a few suggest this and think it would be a total disaster and kill the weekend. Same if we change to a 9's competition. This is probably the only major event in our sport in the UK that isn't seeing attendances fall. Yet it's the one we call to get rid of or change more than any other?

Outstanding game of rugby league I thought. Probably a reflection of our season in 80 minutes. We were comfortably the better team in the first 40 minutes but only scored 6 points. We aren't as ruthless as we were and our attack lacks ideas at times. Combine that with a lack of a natural goalkicker (I don't blame Makinson for missing the two kicks, he should be nothing more than a stand-in kicker) and it makes games closer than they need to be. Equally, when Leigh got their chances in the second half and enjoyed a period of dominance, they posted more points than we did. Leigh stood firm in defence and showed enormous amounts of bottle when the pressure was really getting cranked up on their line. They have got every chance of going on and winning the competition if they play like that. The occasion was far better for a near full stadium too. Thank god we've got rid of those awful double headers in 1/2 empty stadiums. Only downside was the moron element of both sides fanbase letting their wider clubs down at times.

To carry on the rumour theme, Ben Davies is apparently on our bench and will be used as a second row. He hasn't played a first team game for months, so that's a bold call by Wellens, especially given he would be playing out of position (I doubt he'll be coming on at centre), I don't know if I'm reading too much into that but, if true, suggests to me that Matautai may play at centre replacing Percival and makes me question whether Makinson is playing too.

We are the favourites to win the game with the bookies. I'd agree with that too. Our fans have a habit of talking us down. But we are a side with an excellent record when it matters. We've lost two knockout games since Wembley 2019 and lost by 2 points each time. We are missing some players that would make us better if they were fit and the Lussick rumours are an unwelcome distraction. I don't see these as excuses though. With the quality of players we have available, we should win tomorrow. That being said, Leigh are in excellent form and have big game players of their own. I think the bookies judgement that the game will be very close is fair. It wouldn't be a shock if Leigh won, as all signs point to a very even clash. And in games like that, very small factors can decide it.

If you would have said we had been playing Leigh at the start of the season in a Challenge Cup semi final, I'd have been delighted and extremely confident. I'm still delighted we're in the semi final but this is game which is really tough to call. Wellens has played his cards close to his chest regarding the potential returns of Makinson, Ritson, Sironen and Batchelor. I also am not too keen on the rumour that Matty Lees has broken his hand! A few days out from the match and I have no idea what our line up will be aside that Roby and Percival won't be in it. If a winger returns, Hopoate will move to centre, if not Ben Davies or Sione Mata'utai will have to cover, that decision will depend on the fitness of Sironen or Batchelor. Lussick has done well recently but I do worry slightly about him doing the full 80 as Wellens has used his sparingly. Our defence is the best in the competition and will have to be on its game against Leigh. The forecasted rain may do us a favour and may make it a tighter game, which suits us. Our attack has been far weaker this year and we'll have to up our game. Probably too close to call but looking at the squad announcement with interest!

I admit I'm a sample of one Saints fan, but I very much want us to win on Saturday and then win the cup!

For what it's worth, Saints have reported sales of "over 5,000" for Saturday.