Sat 3rd May: SLMW: St Helens v Leeds Rhinos KO 19:30 (Sky)

[League Express]

Discuss the game here.

Sat 3rd May: SLMW: St Helens v Leeds Rhinos KO 19:30 (Sky)
at St James' Park, Newcastle

[muckymunksy]

Leeds finally have a half decent winger in the Cas reject Wallis but still wont be enough to beat the saints

16-10 

[Chrispmartha]

12 minutes ago, muckymunksy said:

Leeds finally have a half decent winger in the Cas reject Wallis but still wont be enough to beat the saints

16-10 

He sure won’t make a difference , he’s playing in the reserves.

Saints were utter garbage last week, we might have a chance in this game.

[WN83]

If there is no reaction from Saints to that display last week, then I do fear for Wellens because it was really poor. I do think we'll see one though and they may just grab the game. 

Saints by 4

[Loiner]

Saints by a few maybe 8+. I wouldn't let the Rhinos take my dog for a walk lately.

[JDR]

Saints have to be favourites based on recent form.

[Luke HKR]

Leeds by 8. 

[Chrispmartha]

50 minutes ago, JDR said:

Saints have to be favourites based on recent form.

Saints have lost their last two and were atrocious last time out, their form is rubbish.

Leeds however just lost put to the league leaders and won their previous 2 games just lost to Warrington (who battered saints) and beat Wigan.

[Trinity1873]

Well Leeds played quite well last week, should be a good game.  I'm going for Saints though, by 12 points

[Harry Stottle]

4 hours ago, Chrispmartha said:

He sure won’t make a difference , he’s playing in the reserves.

Saints were utter garbage last week, we might have a chance in this game.

I think that is being a tad complimentary Chris, they were far worse than that.

[Harry Stottle]

2 hours ago, WN83 said:

If there is no reaction from Saints to that display last week, then I do fear for Wellens because it was really poor. I do think we'll see one though and they may just grab the game. 

Saints by 4

That reaction will only come if Wellens puts Wellsby at fullback, Lomax and Whitby in the halves and Sailor as 19th man.

[Chrispmartha]

47 minutes ago, Trinity1873 said:

Well Leeds played quite well last week, should be a good game.  I'm going for Saints though, by 12 points

Bar Catalans and Wakefield we have played well all season, just lacking that extra 5% to get over the line

[JDR]

1 hour ago, Chrispmartha said:

Saints have lost their last two and were atrocious last time out, their form is rubbish.

Leeds however just lost put to the league leaders and won their previous 2 games just lost to Warrington (who battered saints) and beat Wigan.

Granted. I think we've shown an inability to 'get over the line'. I have Saints as favourites but I'd love to be wrong.

[WN83]

1 hour ago, Harry Stottle said:

That reaction will only come if Wellens puts Wellsby at fullback, Lomax and Whitby in the halves and Sailor as 19th man.

It's what I'd do, certainly in terms of the first 3 and maybe use Sailor as a utility from the bench. They need experienced leaders in there at the minute and Lomax at the very least is a solid player defensively. 

[Coastal_Geordie]

Saints may edge it with a healthier squad available.  Predict Saints forwards to step up and show why (on paper) they remain a class group.  Welsby to remind everyone how good he is, I think he enjoys playing at St James.

Leeds have looked more resilient this season though!  Expect it to to be competitive but think Saints have the better squad available this week.

[Josef K]

Leeds by 18. Only because Saints are still recovering from the WCC in Penrith, we are the only side who suffer injuries, Moses no meters a game Mbye will still get a game. Paul Wellens is still the coach. 
Wellens OUT. 

[Human Punk]

13 hours ago, Josef K said:

Leeds by 18. Only because Saints are still recovering from the WCC in Penrith, we are the only side who suffer injuries, Moses no meters a game Mbye will still get a game. Paul Wellens is still the coach. 
Wellens OUT. 

Your cup really is half empty and with a hole in it! Agreed Wellens needs to get it right or ship out (much as I hate to say it), but Mbye deserves a bit of slack -  his performance against Salford pretty much single-handedly got Saints into the top 6 last year.

[Josef K]

2 hours ago, Human Punk said:

Your cup really is half empty and with a hole in it! Agreed Wellens needs to get it right or ship out (much as I hate to say it), but Mbye deserves a bit of slack -  his performance against Salford pretty much single-handedly got Saints into the top 6 last year.

Mbye has had his chance and doesn’t deserve another. His passing is woeful when playing at hooker, but he isn’t the only one who has been poor, id say the majority of the squad have been average. 

[Thunder Road]

I'm going for Saints. 

My rationale is as follows. 

They cannot play as bad as last week.

Wellans could be on borrowed time so will be all in on this one .

 

Saints in the last 50 plus years have been competitive in the league. 

 

This year their acquusions have not been best suited  to how they play.

Saints are a proper good team..Someone needs to tell them that..

Saints by 8.

[Harry Stottle]

17 hours ago, Thunder Road said:

Wellans could be on borrowed time so will be all in on this one .

You are confident that Wellens has the dressing room backing him, I wouldn't be over confident with that, a club legend but so was Keiron Cunningham and he is now in a Rugby League wasteland somewhere.

Edited May 3 by Harry Stottle

[M j M]

1 minute ago, Harry Stottle said:

 so was Keiron Cunningham and he is now in a Rugby League wasteland somewhere.

Just had to double check Cunningham wasn't still at Leigh.

[Harry Stottle]

1 minute ago, M j M said:

Just had to double check Cunningham wasn't still at Leigh.

He lasted 1/2 a season in 2017 and I still hold him responsible for the loss to Catalan in the MPG with his team selection, inexplicably he dropped Greg McNally from FullBack who was responsible for > 60% of Leigh's try assists that year he was as good linking up in the line both sides of the field making the extra man and delivering the ball than anyone I have ever seen to be replaced with Ryan Hampshire, Leigh had at least 3 attacking plays which had been executed perfectly resulting in scores with McNallys involvement Hampshire was nowhere to be seen probably having a pee on the corner flag, and all before Catalan got on the scoreboard.

[Thunder Road]

You could be right Harry 

 

We always assume the playing group are in the same trench (so to speak) as the coach.

If Saints get beaten then the pressure has got to increase...

 

 

[Loiner]

2 hours ago, Thunder Road said:

You could be right Harry 

 

We always assume the playing group are in the same trench (so to speak) as the coach.

If Saints get beaten then the pressure has got to increase...

 

 

Don't worry Leeds will come to Wellens rescue for another few weeks at least  

[Gerrumonside ref]

Saints need a win to keep in with a chance of the playoffs, maybe the same for Leeds too.