Re: SL GF E | St Helens (A) : Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:18 pm  

Saints will probably win three on the trot because they are significantly better than the rest. But anything can happen in a one-off game. Last night the Rhinos were blown away by amazing line speed and group defence right across the park, not just the forwards. Regardless of any creativity in the half’s, if your pack is retreating the game is lost. However, we have much to learn from this season and should look forward to 2022 and beyond with optimism. The additions to the squad will bring more balance and with a bit of luck with injuries we should make a stepped improvement. We have weaknesses in the team and lack of pace in wide areas but we should remain positive moving forward. I feel the future will be good for the Rhinos and I do sense for the competition as whole. We will not be the only team making a major improvement in 2022.

Re: SL GF E | St Helens (A) : Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:39 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Anyone think Cats will beat them?

Really hope not.
I know it means 3 on the bounce for Saints, but prefer that to a Cats win.
Can't have the Tompkins and MciLorum grubs winning the GF.
Horrible team Cats.

Re: SL GF E | St Helens (A) : Sat Oct 02, 2021 4:10 pm  

FlexWheeler wrote:

It's a disgrace this saints team is going to win 3 on the trot. Everyone is so crap, they don't even have to work for it.

So just like 2006 then

Re: SL GF E | St Helens (A) : Sat Oct 02, 2021 9:30 pm  

FlexWheeler wrote:

It's a disgrace this saints team is going to win 3 on the trot. Everyone is so crap, they don't even have to work for it.

If Saints do win the Grand Final there is an arguement that they are the best team we've ever had. I'm not sure any team of the Super League past could cope with the intensity and defense this side has. The line speed and aggression is frightening.

Re: SL GF E | St Helens (A) : Sat Oct 02, 2021 10:12 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

If Saints do win the Grand Final there is an arguement that they are the best team we've ever had. I'm not sure any team of the Super League past could cope with the intensity and defense this side has. The line speed and aggression is frightening.

Let’s not get carried away with this saints side. They have been fabulous this season and I have praised them for this season’s efforts.
Reluctantly I have to point out the standard of the teams in super league this season have been dire. That’s helped them enormously, perhaps I may be biased but the best Leeds team with peacock, sinfield,McGuire, burrow etc etc wouldn’t have a problem beating the current saints side.

Re: SL GF E | St Helens (A) : Sat Oct 02, 2021 10:23 pm  

FlexWheeler wrote:

It's a disgrace this saints team is going to win 3 on the trot. Everyone is so crap, they don't even have to work for it.

Agreed. One thing you can say about this Saints team is they don’t work hard.

Re: SL GF E | St Helens (A) : Sun Oct 03, 2021 2:18 am  

Makes me chuckle when people say this Saints would get well beaten against teams of yore. Jeez the line speed they showed on Fri was way in advance of anything the goldens ever faced. Absolutely magnificent.

Yeah the standard of Super League opposition is nothing compared to the magnificent Crusaders team we beat 68-0 at Rodney Parade or the truly amazing Widnes teams we used to face in SL. Some of the opposition the goldens faced was poor. Thats not to detract from the great team we had but i guarantee some Wigan used to criticise our team and say they would get murdered against the great Wigan teams of the 80s and 90s. Of course we wouldnt have.

This Saints team is a fine team with no weaknesses really. Look across the Saints team and tell me what you would target? Personally i think they are a terrific team and should be applauded. They could dominate for years yet.

Re: SL GF E | St Helens (A) : Sun Oct 03, 2021 5:21 am  

They are a good side, we’ll see if they have it their own way against another physical side in Cats next week.

Saints will be favourites but I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion.

I actually hope Cats win it, not because I don’t like St Helens but because I think it would be a great shot in the arm for the game. Toulouse may well be coming up and this could be a golden era for French RL. The competition has been quite stale with GF winners let’s face it.

Re: SL GF E | St Helens (A) : Sun Oct 03, 2021 6:34 am  

Marty Grrrrrrrrrr! wrote:

Makes me chuckle when people say this Saints would get well beaten against teams of yore. Jeez the line speed they showed on Fri was way in advance of anything the goldens ever faced. Absolutely magnificent.

Yeah the standard of Super League opposition is nothing compared to the magnificent Crusaders team we beat 68-0 at Rodney Parade or the truly amazing Widnes teams we used to face in SL. Some of the opposition the goldens faced was poor. Thats not to detract from the great team we had but i guarantee some Wigan used to criticise our team and say they would get murdered against the great Wigan teams of the 80s and 90s. Of course we wouldnt have.

This Saints team is a fine team with no weaknesses really. Look across the Saints team and tell me what you would target? Personally i think they are a terrific team and should be applauded. They could dominate for years yet.

Totally agree. I expect them to win on Saturday, and if they do, I hope they get the NRL champs over early next year. Not saying they would get a win, but they have the style and ferocity to make it difficult for s rusty Aussie team.

Re: SL GF E | St Helens (A) : Sun Oct 03, 2021 6:41 am  

Agree that this is an outstanding Saints team in the context of the current competition. Very well coached and certainly the best team the last 3 years. Its very hard to measure greatness as you can only beat whats in front of you. In terms of their grand final wins they have beaten Salford and a Wigan team ( in the last minute) that is been universally slated twelve months later. A win against a very good Catalan team will significantly enhance their reputation. They have also not been tested against a top NRL side.
Are we guilty of thinking the current Leeds team is better than it is and by the nature of that assessment raising the standing of Saints because they are so much better than us. The James Graham/Paul Wellens team that lost a number of fgrand finals was an outstanding team that consistently finished league leaders despite losing one off finals mainly to Leeds. How many leeds players that started on Friday would get into a starting 17 made up of the grand final winning years. I would suggest possibly only Oledski potentially on the bench. Maybe that's a different thread! If Catalans win and do the double are they going to get the respect that they deserve for the outstanding job that McNamara has done?