Fri 30th Oct SL : St Helens v Wigan Warriors KO 19:45 SKY

[Old Frightful]

Discuss the SL game between St Helens and Wigan Warriors here.

[Hela Wigmen]

We clinch the League Leaders Shield with a win here, I reckon, be it on a points percentage or the two points for a win method. There’s no point playing games beyond this weekend and after the Salford postponement today, we’ll almost certainly see the end of the regular season after these games, so this makes it a must win though we must do that without the standout player in the competition this season, Alex Walmsley. 

Though, we don’t actually know what we’re playing for and we’re sending players out to play, not knowing what they’re actually doing it for. A four team play-off and this game might not matter anyway, especially if we don’t get proper home advantage, beyond the picking up the hub cap. A five team play-off and this game has an added importance due to getting a second bite at the cherry. We’re heading into a Saints - Wigan Derby, one of our big events in the calendar, not knowing what these two are actually playing for, so how do journalists hype that up? How does Sky and their pundits talk about the game and it’s consequences? I appreciate that things change quickly but this all seems a bit poorly thought out.

[Eddie]

Saints by 20. 

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

Saints by 18.

[Saint Toppy]

The fact Saints rested virtually their entire first choice team against Salford shows how much emphasis they are placing against this Wigan game. Win this and they're virtually guaranteed the hubcap, and more importantly from the clubs perspective the £100K cheque that goes with it. A big boost to the clubs finances in such difficult Covid times.

Sadly the weather looks like being awful for Friday night, meaning a likely error strewn slug fest up the middle. Even without Walmsley I still reckon Saints will have too much for the pies and will come away with a win. 

[Bod]

The loss against Salford could hand the shield to Wigan. If Saints had played anything like a full team and got the win there would be no pressure on them tomorrow.

[Hela Wigmen]

12 minutes ago, Bod said:

The loss against Salford could hand the shield to Wigan. If Saints had played anything like a full team and got the win there would be no pressure on them tomorrow.

If your aunt had balls, she’d be your uncle. Two games in three days and for all but two and a bit minutes, we were winning that game. We didn’t know either before Salford that we’d be likely ending the season after the Wigan game either. 

We actually haven’t got a clue whether we’re playing for anything against Wigan more than the usual bragging rights or whether this is “do or die” and we must win to secure the hubcap, which is, frankly, ridiculous. 

[Rupert Prince]

3 hours ago, Saint Toppy said:

The fact Saints rested virtually their entire first choice team against Salford shows how much emphasis they are placing against this Wigan game. Win this and they're virtually guaranteed the hubcap, and more importantly from the clubs perspective the £100K cheque that goes with it. A big boost to the clubs finances in such difficult Covid times.

Sadly the weather looks like being awful for Friday night, meaning a likely error strewn slug fest up the middle. Even without Walmsley I still reckon Saints will have too much for the pies and will come away with a win. 

Fair point, but what is the prize money for lower places?  Or is it just evenly distributed?

SL were going to give 250k to the cancelled Championship autumn competition.  What has happened to this?

[Saint Toppy]

Didn't think there was any prize money for the lower places. The £100K LLS prize only came in a few years ago because clubs argued that having a GF with prize money and nothing for the league leaders devalued a teams efforts over the course of the whole year.

[Exiled Wiganer]

Lam has failed to win any of the 5 games he has played against Saints, and is yet to have his contract renewed for next year. A big night in store for him. Incidentally, by this stage we may have played more often at Saints’ ground than our own this year - are we the only club that has played no games at home after the lockdown? If so, it’s some effort to be in second. 

[Saint Toppy]

18 hours ago, Bod said:

The loss against Salford could hand the shield to Wigan. If Saints had played anything like a full team and got the win there would be no pressure on them tomorrow.

Even if wigan win, Saints will still be top after Friday as their points difference is massively better.

[Eagle Warrior]

If the percentage system is used the 2 teams will be level on points won but Wigan will have played one game less therefore will have a higher percentage. 

[andyscoot]

3 hours ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

Lam has failed to win any of the 5 games he has played against Saints, and is yet to have his contract renewed for next year. A big night in store for him. Incidentally, by this stage we may have played more often at Saints’ ground than our own this year - are we the only club that has played no games at home after the lockdown? If so, it’s some effort to be in second. 

I thought the only stadiums used were Wire, Salford, St Helens, Catalans and Leeds

[Hela Wigmen]

Good warm up for the play-offs. It’s likely to be a straight shoot out for the hubcap this evening and we’ve got to treat it as such. 

 

[Exiled Wiganer]

35 minutes ago, andyscoot said:

I thought the only stadiums used were Wire, Salford, St Helens, Catalans and Leeds

I thought Cas and Hull at least had also played at home? 

[Hela Wigmen]

Just now, Exiled Wiganer said:

I thought Cas and Hull at least had also played at home? 

Pretty sure they have, too. 

[Eddie]

5 hours ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

Lam has failed to win any of the 5 games he has played against Saints, and is yet to have his contract renewed for next year. A big night in store for him. Incidentally, by this stage we may have played more often at Saints’ ground than our own this year - are we the only club that has played no games at home after the lockdown? If so, it’s some effort to be in second. 

I can’t remember Wakefield or Hull KR playing at home, though doesn’t mean they haven’t of course. 

[MADREDNIGE]

5 hours ago, Hela Wigmen said:

Pretty sure they have, too. 

They have. 

[Padge]

Don't forget some games have been played without a TV presence, those games can be played anywhere.

[Padge]

Why is Longy playing pocket billiards on live TV.

[Moove]

2 minutes ago, Padge said:

Why is Longy playing pocket billiards on live TV.

Haha I'm glad someone else noticed that

[Manx RL]

Good to see Wigan in Referee replica kits

[Gerrumonside ref]

What a disgusting Wigan away kit!

[Manx RL]

0-0 

1 minute gone. 
 

 

tense.

[Manx RL]

Anyones game