Sat 17th Sept: SL: St Helens v Salford Red Devils KO 13:00 (Sky & Channel 4)

[Barley Mow]

Discuss St Helens v Salford Red Devils here.

[DG70]

All on the day, Salford are long due at win at Saints, aren't they? 

[Pete Grady]

And they'll get one.

Salford by 3 scores

[FearTheVee]

If the players missing for saints stops at Hopoate/Grace/Dodd/Walmsley I think we have a really good chance.  If one of Percy or Sione don’t return I think we may be too exposed in the backs.  There are some rumours about Lees who would be a massive loss given Walmsley out.

This is a special Saints team though in terms of attitude and intensity and I wouldn’t put anything pas them.

This team is good enough to go and win the GF and would be the strongest team we’ve named in a long time if we get it out there:

Bennison, Makinson, Hurrell, Matautia, Percival

Welsby, Lomax

Lees, Roby, Knowles

Batchelor, Sironen, Bell

Paasi, Wingfield, LMS, Lussick

 

Edited September 14, 2022 by FearTheVee

[Harry Stottle]

Who's the biggest loss to their team Croft or Walmsley and will this be the telling factor in this game?

If Salford keep the ball alive as they did in the demolition of a strong Saints team 6 weeks ago they will win, they had far to much pace for Saints who simply could not live with them. Salford have kept this momentum going very well since.

Salford by at least 12

 

 

[FearTheVee]

24 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Who's the biggest loss to their team Croft or Walmsley and will this be the telling factor in this game?

If Salford keep the ball alive as they did in the demolition of a strong Saints team 6 weeks ago they will win, they had far to much pace for Saints who simply could not live with them. Salford have kept this momentum going very well since.

Salford by at least 12

 

 

I suspect the answer to that question is comfortably Brodie Croft and that is why I am confident we can get the job done.

[Harry Stottle]

Just to get everyone in the mood from 6 weeks ago, well Salford fans at least.

 

[Gerrumonside ref]

Lose to Salford in a meaningful game?

Don't take the Vee everyone!

Can see this being an emotional rollercoaster, but Saints will win to set-up a final with Leeds (yes, another one of those finals).

 

[Chris22]

I think we are being hugely underestimated by our own fans. Probably because we're trying to reconcile ourselves to the fact that our streak can't last forever.

Walmsley is a blow, but so is Croft for Salford. I think this will be our toughest play off semi final since 2018.

I'm not worried about our forwards at all, we will dominate in that respect. Outside backs is where Salford will have the edge. Whether Hopoate plays for us is key, I'd feel a lot more confident if he did.

A little frustrating that we have gained no advantage at all by finishing top, but that's how this play off system works.

My biggest concern is Salford's defence. Gets nowhere near as much attention as their attack, but has been very impressive lately.

I'll go Saints by 10.

[Harry Stottle]

4 minutes ago, Chris22 said:

A little frustrating that we have gained no advantage at all by finishing top, but that's how this play off system works.

You have had a week off, home advantage in the semis and playing the lowest ranked team left in the play-offs, other than put you straight through to the final what else do you think you should have, perhaps 20 points start on the scoreboard?

[bobbruce]

1 minute ago, Harry Stottle said:

You have had a week off, home advantage in the semis and playing the lowest ranked team left in the play-offs, other than put you straight through to the final what else do you think you should have, perhaps 20 points start on the scoreboard?

We should play on the Friday and have a days extra rest before any potential final. 

[Harry Stottle]

2 minutes ago, bobbruce said:

We should play on the Friday and have a days extra rest before any potential final. 

Why, Is a week not long enough?

Saints may just get a lot longer than a weeks rest though Bob!

[SalfordSlim]

Saints are 3/8 on with the bookies so that tells you everything you need to know. They're rarely wrong and will have accounted for missing players. 

I'm never confident going to Saints but now is as good a time as ever to end that horrendous away record we've got. The only thing I'm predicting is we won't go down without a fight and Saints will know they've been in a game.

[Gerrumonside ref]

Just now, SalfordSlim said:

Saints are 3/8 on with the bookies so that tells you everything you need to know. They're rarely wrong and will have accounted for missing players. 

I'm never confident going to Saints but now is as good a time as ever to end that horrendous away record we've got. The only thing I'm predicting is we won't go down without a fight and Saints will know they've been in a game.

Should be a great game and atmosphere 

[Chris22]

10 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

You have had a week off, home advantage in the semis and playing the lowest ranked team left in the play-offs, other than put you straight through to the final what else do you think you should have, perhaps 20 points start on the scoreboard?

I should rephrase... no advantage over second place.

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

Saints by 12.

[sweaty craiq]

Salford by 14, pity the loss of the halve but Saints are very average

[FearTheVee]

6 minutes ago, sweaty craiq said:

Salford by 14, pity the loss of the halve but Saints are very average

Very average reigning three-peat winners and league leaders.  Fair enough.

Should be a great game - genuinely think it's a bit of a coin toss and neither side will win by more than 6-8 points I reckon, but I'm confident Saints edge it with what is likely to be the strongest side we've put out for a fair while.

Bring it on!!!

Edited September 14, 2022 by FearTheVee

[muckymunksy]

Saints hopefully

Salford fans to cocky these days. 

[bobbruce]

3 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Why, Is a week not long enough?

Saints may just get a lot longer than a weeks rest though Bob!

That’s why I said potential final. They have always been the rules of the playoffs the team finishing top plays first. 

[Saint Toppy]

4 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Who's the biggest loss to their team Croft or Walmsley and will this be the telling factor in this game?

 

People seem to forget that saints have been without their first choice half since Easter and Lomax has played most of the season with a serious bicep injury. Also without their top try scorer from 2021 in Grace and leading metre making forward in Walmsley.

Salford are without Croft, but In terms of key players missing Saints arguably have suffered more this year.

[Red Willow]

I am surprised at the number of people tipping Salford over Saints. As league leaders they have to be fav surely?

[SalfordSlim]

1 hour ago, Saint Toppy said:

People seem to forget that saints have been without their first choice half since Easter and Lomax has played most of the season with a serious bicep injury. Also without their top try scorer from 2021 in Grace and leading metre making forward in Walmsley.

Salford are without Croft, but In terms of key players missing Saints arguably have suffered more this year.

Have Saints been missing their 1st choice half? Blimey, that's the first time I've seen it mentioned on any online forums!

And yes you've had a lot of injuries. Our pack has been decimated for the majority of the season and we had barely 17/18 to choose from for a number of weeks but we just got on with it.

Big clubs have big squads so don't suffer anywhere near as us also-rans so you won't get too much sympathy from us fella.

 

[Harry Stottle]

3 hours ago, Saint Toppy said:

People seem to forget that saints have been without their first choice half since Easter and Lomax has played most of the season with a serious bicep injury. Also without their top try scorer from 2021 in Grace and leading metre making forward in Walmsley.

Salford are without Croft, but In terms of key players missing Saints arguably have suffered more this year.

But what has gone before is history, the game on Saturday is all that matters now, but Saints have coped well enough this season despite missing those players you quote and Lomax's bicep injury albeit describing it as 'serious' is somewhat speculative, could he or anybody for that matter perform with a 'serious' injury and is it advisable to make himself available for England with a 'serious' injury.

Edited September 14, 2022 by Harry Stottle

[Harry Stottle]

2 hours ago, bobbruce said:

That’s why I said potential final. They have always been the rules of the playoffs the team finishing top plays first. 

I don't understand that Bob do you mean in the semi's, if so why is Wigan v Leeds the day before?

Edited September 14, 2022 by Harry Stottle