Re: Good Friday : Tue Apr 04, 2023 11:44 am  

NSW wrote:

Bookies have it dead level on the handicap. I expected we’d be slight underdogs with Field missing.

Pardon the pun but I didn’t expect them to sit on the fence for this one.
Like yourself I was expecting we would be +2 on the handicap.
I’m pretty sure that this will change before kickoff

Re: Good Friday : Tue Apr 04, 2023 12:56 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

There was a visible uplift in intensity against Leigh, both in attack and defence and that played as big a part in the manner of the win, as moving Field to 6 did IMO. It’s a blow to lose Field, absolutely no doubt about it and we won’t be facing the lethargic Saints team of the past few weeks but I wouldn’t write us off yet. What I would agree with, is we shouldn’t go Powell in the halves. You have another fit halfback in the squad, so use him.

There was indeed a definite uplift in intensity which was great to see. My concerns are not around attitude or effort, just a sheer lack of creativity which for me stems from forwards being dominated for large parts of most games. I also look at how slow our distribution is from 9 when Powell is there. It’s horrendous at times and defending teams are on top of our forwards before they receive the ball. There is a marked difference when Cust and O’Neill are are at acting half.

Re: Good Friday : Tue Apr 04, 2023 1:03 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Pardon the pun but I didn’t expect them to sit on the fence for this one.
Like yourself I was expecting we would be +2 on the handicap.
I’m pretty sure that this will change before kickoff

Saints are +2 on B365 (are they were this morning anyway).

HKR are also +2 against Hull FC, which seems crazy to me on current form.

Re: Good Friday : Tue Apr 04, 2023 1:17 pm  

Saints squad annoucement will be ineteresting tomorrow as despite Wellens sounding bullish I'm not sure how fit Paasi is and this week may be too soon. He still had a noticeable limp when he walked on the pitch after Friday's game. With Norman being injured we are very light on props now and him out with Walmsley would be a big issue.

Friday is a genuine 50/50 call for me as we haven't been great since the WCC and pace will beat us which is what Wigan have with French and Marshall. Field will obviously be a big miss.

My hope is that Friday will be a turning point for us and just the type of game we need to get us out of our slumber. We have a fully fit 1-7 and Mautautia is back who is superb on that left edge and a real 80 min player.

Re: Good Friday : Tue Apr 04, 2023 1:47 pm  

Club just announced 23,000 tickets sold for Friday, ticket site shows less than 70 in West Stand and 500-600 left in East Stand (blocks ES1 and ES10 only released yesterday).

With three full days left to sell before Friday is looking likely for a complete sell out. Weather also looking fine all week so it should be a cracker!!

Re: Good Friday : Tue Apr 04, 2023 2:20 pm  

MattyB wrote:

Club just announced 23,000 tickets sold for Friday, ticket site shows less than 70 in West Stand and 500-600 left in East Stand (blocks ES1 and ES10 only released yesterday).

With three full days left to sell before Friday is looking likely for a complete sell out. Weather also looking fine all week so it should be a cracker!!

I remember being there when the record of 25,004 was set (well, i remember most of it)

Re: Good Friday : Tue Apr 04, 2023 2:24 pm  

[Gareth] wrote:

I remember being there when the record of 25,004 was set (well, i remember most of it)

Never quite understood that as I'm sure South Stand has always been reserved. Think that one was Uncle Mo massaging the numbers to break the stadium record at the time.

Re: Good Friday : Tue Apr 04, 2023 3:17 pm  

Just read Wigan are appealing Isa’s ban.

I may be wrong but I don’t feel Wigan in recent years have appealed many bans, could we be desperate with Farrell being a doubt?


Can’t see him getting off and may get another game and miss the Warrington match. He’s not got the best record has he!

Re: Good Friday : Tue Apr 04, 2023 3:29 pm  

NSW wrote:

Just read Wigan are appealing Isa’s ban.

I may be wrong but I don’t feel Wigan in recent years have appealed many bans, could we be desperate with Farrell being a doubt?


Can’t see him getting off and may get another game and miss the Warrington match. He’s not got the best record has he!

If the incident that resulted in the ban is the one I think, the the appeal is totally justified. It’s the most innocuous thing I’ve seen in years.
However, now that the RFL have been served legal papers from over 100 former players for failing to protect them properly, I’ll not view it with any hope.

Re: Good Friday : Tue Apr 04, 2023 3:31 pm  

NSW wrote:

Just read Wigan are appealing Isa’s ban.

I may be wrong but I don’t feel Wigan in recent years have appealed many bans, could we be desperate with Farrell being a doubt?


Can’t see him getting off and may get another game and miss the Warrington match. He’s not got the best record has he!

Need to get the wording spot on if you're appealing, it's what's deemed a frivolous appeal that gets the extra match, Saints seem to have it sussed out
To be honest I wouldn't mind him missing this one, he is extremely partial to getting binned against Saints and that's the last thing we need