Chris22

With us playing the reserves, anything but a loss would be a shock. I think we'll lose by 3 scores, but don't see a hiding on the cards. Think Woolf has got this right. We're the only team asked to play 3 times in 7 days and have played 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the league in 9 days, including a tough cup tie in France and a Good Friday derby (and the other match against a side unbeaten at home before we played them). With a semi final in 2 weeks, this gives us a better chance of winning it. Woolf has shown he has little regard for the Minor Premiership, probably because the league structure gives no material reward for coming first over second. Looking forward to seeing how out young players get on.

The plan for 2020 was one game over Easter before covid hit. I imagine it would have happened this year but we need to finish the season early for the World Cup (we have another double weekend over the August Bank Holiday). I reckon this will be the last we see of the Easter double header.

The better comparison would be to 2018, when Hull KR and St Helens were last at home at Easter. In 2018, 59,137 attended the round of fixtures. That compares to 62,529 this in 2022 and does not account for the fact that Hull KR's capacity is now reduced by almost 2,000.

Excellent. The more games in France ahead of 2025, the better.

I may be naive to the situation, but I cannot see any advantage to Salford moving to Moor Lane. It seems like a disaster. Downsizing probably won't mean that Salford sell out every week, but that their support base simply shrinks and they have a worse stadium.

Looking good for a big crowd at Saints on Friday, almost certainly due to be the biggest crowd of the Super League season so far.

Over 10,00 at Cas today (with 2,500 from Hull) and 5,700 at Huddersfield.

Hull FC sales seem to be doing quite well. Hopefully a 13,000 + crowd for that one.

May be a bit higher at Saints as Home Bargains are giving away a lot of East Stand tickets to staff as part of their sponsorship deal. I'd hope for a 10,000+ crowd.

Based on 1 - 17 squad numbers, without injuries, Salford would line up: Brierley, Sio, Lafai, Watkins, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Akauola, Ackers, Burke, Wright, Greenwood Taylor (Subs: Addy, Vuniyayawa, Lannon, Livett) They would then have Atkin, Ormondroyd, Wells, Williams, Johnson, Sarginson, Costello, Escare, Luckley, Borough and Cross in reserve. Salford have very good depth in their backline, you could even make one from back-up players (Atkin, Escare, Cross / Costello, Sarginson, Williams) that isn't terrible. If Salford get some injuries in the pack, the depth isn't quite there. I don't see a play off challenge, but nor do I see a relegation battle. That squad is far better than Toulouse.

RL clubs have got very poor at publishing attendances of late. It used to be easy to find them, but it's like a secret now. League Express is the only regular place that publishes, as far as I know.

Traditionally, a team's first home match of a season attracts a better than average crowd. With Leeds playing Warrington, it being the first match, Leeds having made some great signings and a big following from Warrington, I anticipate that that match will be close to a sell out. The second match, again, Hull FC will get a larger than average home crowd for this one. With a weekend game for Saints and discounted travel, I would hope for our biggest following to Hull for many years (which have been poor for a while now, but expected with matches on Monday's and Friday's generally). Both games look good prospects too. The Warrington v Wakefield and Wigan v Salford matches after that are probably going to be the tougher sell.

All live on Premier Sports and think they are all on Free Sports too (so those without a subscription can watch too).

A bit snobbish to be looking down on shops like Home Bargains. A discount store, yes, but offer good cheaper than many competitors, often to people who may not be able to afford to shop at pricier stores. They a successful, family run and local business, the largest employer in Merseyside and by all accounts a decent employer (and pays it fair share of tax unlike others). It supports a hell of a lot of families, especially in Merseyside and as a Saints fan, I have no sense of embarrassment in having them as our main sponsor.

Saw the point made on Twitter before but it is worth repeating. Salford moved stadiums in order to comply with the RFL's minimum standards. Other clubs made no such efforts. And here we are, with Salford potentially about to become homeless. Victims of complying with the regulations at the time.

NZRL signed a participation agreement and went back on it. Sanctions must follow.

You reap what you sow.

Feeling very despondent about the state of the sport now. We have been the victim of an act of sabotage by the NRL. They have shown a willingness to cause potentially irreparable damage so they can play a couple of pre season friendlies. I don't see where we go from here when there is such inequity of arms. I might change my view once the raw emotion dies down but at present I do not see myself watching the NRL in any capacity or attending a game involving the Australian or New Zealand national teams in the future.

Big worry if these reports are true. I trust the team did all they can to go ahead. Huge concerns that 1 nation can successfully run roughshod over a whole sport. I don't know how or if we can recover from that. I have tickets to one Aus game in the World Cup. At present, I have little intention of attending.

Agreed Dutton came across well. Certainly seems determined to proceed if in any way possible. I have no worries about the tournament being a success without them, all hinges on whether NRL players can secure releases to play.

Several pages ago, there was an interesting discussion about England v France etc. Whilst predictions of 35K crowds for England v France in London are wildly optimistic (even though the city consistently gets the highest international crowds), I'd wager non-heartland venues could attract more than 5K - 7K that Leigh has drawn for the same fixture, previously.

To be fair to Gould, at least he has the guts to be honest for the reasons he supports the withdrawal. His reasoning is stupid but he doesn't hide behind covid. Unlike V'Landys et al who are to cowardly to be honest about their motives.