Re: Wigan v Saints (h) (match talk not general chat) : Wed Aug 24, 2022 9:08 pm  

TheWarringtonWolve69 wrote:

Shame Skint RLFC never sell their allocation at st Helens like saints do at Skint RLFC

You need to stop drinking LeBron.

Re: Wigan v Saints (h) (match talk not general chat) : Wed Aug 24, 2022 9:25 pm  

Great result for Wigan tonight - means one from three will get us 2nd. Ideally we would win on Friday, rest the whole squad against Hull KR and then prepare for the playoffs against Catalans. You can be sure Saints will be playing a reserve side on Monday. Let's not forget our squad hasn't had a break all year with making it to Tottenham.

Re: Wigan v Saints (h) (match talk not general chat) : Wed Aug 24, 2022 9:36 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Great result for Wigan tonight - means one from three will get us 2nd. Ideally we would win on Friday, rest the whole squad against Hull KR and then prepare for the playoffs against Catalans. You can be sure Saints will be playing a reserve side on Monday. Let's not forget our squad hasn't had a break all year with making it to Tottenham.

I'm loving it, for me the pressure is on everyone else in the playoff positions to win silverware this season (especially Saints). We already have the Challenge Cup safely stored in our trophy cabinet, 2nd spot in the table is now very likely after tonight's result, we are in a great position to secure a spot in the GF having turned the DW into a fortress so far this season and probable home semi final.

We are exceeding expectations this season, look at the season predictions thread on the VT, most had us 4th-8th.

Id love for us to do the double, we are the only team who can do it this year. Its very much on.

Re: Wigan v Saints (h) (match talk not general chat) : Wed Aug 24, 2022 9:47 pm  

MattyB wrote:

most had us 4th-8th.

And thats just our fans

Re: Wigan v Saints (h) (match talk not general chat) : Thu Aug 25, 2022 6:46 am  

Egg Chasing wrote:

And thats just our fans

Not me pal I had us down for CC/Hubcap (vexed of about that)/GF-

Could see a massive change to the attitude of the players and staff when Peet and Briers took over.

Re: Wigan v Saints (h) (match talk not general chat) : Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:08 am  

MattyB wrote:

I'm loving it, for me the pressure is on everyone else in the playoff positions to win silverware this season (especially Saints). .

Correct. Only a GF win stops our season being a disappointment now. Whereas if we win it you will still be disappointed but the Cup win still makes it a good season.

To answer the poster earlier who mentioned us only having 4 injuries - not that it matters too much but we are missing Grace, Percival, Dodd, Hopoate and Matautia. Not making excuses before anyone has a hissy fit, just simply correcting someone as they had missed one off.

Should be a great game Friday and one I'm really looking forward to. The difference in styles has been mentioned lots on here and I think that will be evident on Friday more than ever. If it's an open free-flowing game then Wigan will outscore Saints. If it's a playoff-style "grind" then we might just have enough but we will need to be extremely clinical and take whatever chances we can muster on the night.

Re: Wigan v Saints (h) (match talk not general chat) : Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:27 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

To answer the poster earlier who mentioned us only having 4 injuries - not that it matters too much but we are missing Grace, Percival, Dodd, Hopoate and Matautia. Not making excuses before anyone has a hissy fit, just simply correcting someone as they had missed one off.

Its not just the numbers as you could argue its only one more than Wigan, its the positions. If you look at Wigan's injuries they are:-

Thornley- Centre
Leuleaui- Half
Powell- Hooker
Havard- Prop

So they are spread across all positions in effect. Backs, halves and forwards. However with Saints:-

Hopoate- FB/Centre
Percival- Centre
Grace- Wing
Dodd- Half
Matautia- Back row but first pick to cover centre (Played for Australia at centre)

Ours are predominantly all in the backs. If say Hopoate and Percival were fit but Knowles and Lees were injured then we could handle it much better. Thats why my worry is that Wigan will have too much pace in the backs tomorrow. Of course I just get accused of making excuses even though I have literally posted numerous times on Red Vee that we can't use injuries as an excuse.

As I've said its not the number of injuries, its the positions that they play thats the issue. Not sure why people can't see the logic in this.

Re: Wigan v Saints (h) (match talk not general chat) : Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:38 am  

Stu M wrote:

Its not just the numbers as you could argue its only one more than Wigan, its the positions. If you look at Wigan's injuries they are:-

Thornley- Centre
Leuleaui- Half
Powell- Hooker
Havard- Prop

So they are spread across all positions in effect. Backs, halves and forwards. However with Saints:-

Hopoate- FB/Centre
Percival- Centre
Grace- Wing
Dodd- Half
Matautia- Back row but first pick to cover centre (Played for Australia at centre)

Ours are predominantly all in the backs. If say Hopoate and Percival were fit but Knowles and Lees were injured then we could handle it much better. Thats why my worry is that Wigan will have too much pace in the backs tomorrow. Of course I just get accused of making excuses even though I have literally posted numerous times on Red Vee that we can't use injuries as an excuse.

As I've said its not the number of injuries, its the positions that they play thats the issue. Not sure why people can't see the logic in this.

Not only that but it's all on our left edge too. Our entire first choice half, 2nd row, centre and winger on the same side are missing. I think we will see a lot of French and Field down that side like all their points were at Magic. They'd be silly not to.

Re: Wigan v Saints (h) (match talk not general chat) : Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:55 am  

People can see the logic Stu and you're spot on.

However, did you defend Wigan in the same way last season when we were missing our entire back line and playing two SRs (including one of the best in the league) at centre for most (or all in Isa's case) of the season? Or how about 2019 when we had our 3rd choice HB playing (until he got injured) and a pack made up of kids? We played two games last season missing 10+

You probably didn't defend us. You probably called us poop and told us to get on with it like everyone else did. Rightfully.

For 3 seasons you have been incredibly lucky with injuries and this season you're struggling. It isn't unique to Saints. If it costs you the title then so be it. We could argue the same in 2017 for example. From World Champions to not even making the playoffs.

Not to mention BTW that some fans on here spent the whole of pre-season telling us you had the best squad in the league and nobody could match your depth.

Re: Wigan v Saints (h) (match talk not general chat) : Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:59 am  

Egg Chasing wrote:

People can see the logic Stu and you're spot on.

However, did you defend Wigan in the same way last season when we were missing our entire back line and playing two SRs (including one of the best in the league) at centre for most (or all in Isa's case) of the season? Or how about 2019 when we had our 3rd choice HB playing (until he got injured) and a pack made up of kids? We played two games last season missing 10+

You probably didn't defend us. You probably called us poop and told us to get on with it like everyone else did. Rightfully.

For 3 seasons you have been incredibly lucky with injuries and this season you're struggling. It isn't unique to Saints. If it costs you the title then so be it. We could argue the same in 2017 for example. From World Champions to not even making the playoffs.

Not to mention BTW that some fans on here spent the whole of pre-season telling us you had the best squad in the league and nobody could match your depth.

The final outcome is often less about the standard of rugby than the sport would like to admit. Injuries and subjective referee interpretations regularly decide games/trophy winners.