Re: The Grand Final : Wed Nov 25, 2020 3:32 pm  

Head and heart say Saints by 6-12pts but a win is certainly doable, we just need to be on our game and much better than we were v Hull. I’d probably go as far to say we need the best game we’ve played all season to win.

Re: The Grand Final : Wed Nov 25, 2020 5:55 pm  

I'm confident that if we play the way we have done for the last 5 games we'll give ourselves a very good chance of winning.

The way the team is playing they've made the second halves of games virtually one way traffic. We've only conceded one second half try since they cup semi and that was when we were destroying Salford. In total we've conceded less than 2 tries per game over the last 5 weeks.

With French, Hardaker, Gildart, Hastings, Farrell and Greenwood we have plenty of strike and in key positions we've got plenty of experience of these games.

The team seem to have gone up a gear after not really turning up against Leeds and I'm sure in a Grand Final and for Lockers' last game they'll be able to kick on a bit more.

Re: The Grand Final : Wed Nov 25, 2020 6:30 pm  

The first 20 minutes will be huge IMO. I think they’ll be smarting from that recent defeat and their forwards will come out trying to prove a point. If we can ride it out without much damage then we’re bang in the game.

Re: The Grand Final : Wed Nov 25, 2020 6:51 pm  

Yeah im edging towards Saints but certainly not ruling our boys out the way we have been playing and defending. This is the first time we have played each other in ages where pretty much anything can happen, i just hope that at the end of the game if it ends in defeat i get to say begrudgingly 'fair play Saints, the best side won' rather than having to talk about an officiating decision.

Re: The Grand Final : Wed Nov 25, 2020 6:53 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

The first 20 minutes will be huge IMO. I think they’ll be smarting from that recent defeat and their forwards will come out trying to prove a point. If we can ride it out without much damage then we’re bang in the game.

It really is about the first Walmsley spell for me. We have to hang on in there for that otherwise they'll get their tales up and as we have seen before it's a long way back.

Re: The Grand Final : Wed Nov 25, 2020 6:55 pm  

Trainman wrote:

So, what do we think?

This has got a classic written all over it. 1 and 2 in the league. The (IMO) sports biggest club rivalry. The side story of SOL and Graham’s last games.

I think we have 2 confident teams. Truth is I can’t call it, could be a relatively comfortable win for either side, could be a 2 point win either way. I’m not confident but I’m not pessimistic either.

For me it will ultimately come down to the basics of the game. The side that controls the ball better and is more disciplined will win. There are match winners on both sides.

I’m going glass half full, 14 - 12 to Wigan with Hardaker MOM, man on a mission after his last GF non appearance.

Wigan by 10+ apologies, as I'm usually wrong.

Re: The Grand Final : Wed Nov 25, 2020 7:07 pm  

Egg Chasing wrote:

It really is about the first Walmsley spell for me. We have to hang on in there for that otherwise they'll get their tales up and as we have seen before it's a long way back.

He needs to have a massive target put on him in that opening spell to really set the tone. That always had to be the case but even more so if he’s carrying a niggle. I’ve seen Saints fans moaning that we’ll target that knee in particular but I don’t mean that in the slightest. I mean get off your line and get in to him before he gets a head of steam up. If you don’t do that he will murder you but even more importantly Roby, Lomax and Coote will murder you on the back of him.

Re: The Grand Final : Wed Nov 25, 2020 7:14 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

He needs to have a massive target put on him in that opening spell to really set the tone. That always had to be the case but even more so if he’s carrying a niggle. I’ve seen Saints fans moaning that we’ll target that knee in particular but I don’t mean that in the slightest. I mean get off your line and get in to him before he gets a head of steam up. If you don’t do that he will murder you but even more importantly Roby, Lomax and Coote will murder you on the back of him.

I think a 3 man tackle involving Singleton, Bullock and Leauluai should suffice. If he gets through a couple of them unscathed he should be ok.

Re: The Grand Final : Wed Nov 25, 2020 7:18 pm  

Ive spelt Tommy's name wrong just for a change. He has played for us for about 46 years and i still cant spell his name without googling it, How many vowels do you need in a name anyway Could be worse though, The prop at Leeds everyone just calls Ava. I know his name as 'See you Manny fang hi' I bet Leeds fans still cant spell his name.

Re: The Grand Final : Wed Nov 25, 2020 8:06 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

He needs to have a massive target put on him in that opening spell to really set the tone. That always had to be the case but even more so if he’s carrying a niggle. I’ve seen Saints fans moaning that we’ll target that knee in particular but I don’t mean that in the slightest. I mean get off your line and get in to him before he gets a head of steam up. If you don’t do that he will murder you but even more importantly Roby, Lomax and Coote will murder you on the back of him.

100%

All of our attack with the ball needs to be aimed at him. Send Singleton, Bullock and Olly at him early doors and as you say, big hits in defence. We can target him without being dirty, but of course it won't be seen that way if he goes off injured.