Mission impossible ? Saints (A) Challenge Cup : Mon May 27, 2019 4:40 pm  

They dont come any tougher than this.

Saints, riding high at the top of the league and beating all before them.

Their one defeat this season was against Catalan and they will take some stopping.
This really is mission impossible.

Having said that, we went pretty well against them earlier this season, getting done by a late try, after missing a penalty ourselves.

They have quality all over the park and are top of the pile for a reason.
We need to be at our absolute best to have any chance and get the bounce of the ball to have any chance.

Anything less and it could be a long afternoon.
But, we are Wakefield, always at our best when the odds are stacked against us and IF we can get past this one, it starts to get really exciting.

Bradford or Halifax will still be in the draw although, we would probably end up playing Wire.

The one thing we do need is some strong support and please, anyone who can get over there needs to do so.
I know it's on TV but, the boys cant hear your support if you are in the pub or sat at home.

Come on Trin !

Re: Mission impossible ? Saints (A) Challenge Cup : Mon May 27, 2019 4:49 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

They dont come any tougher than this.

Saints, riding high at the top of the league and beating all before them.

Their one defeat this season was against Catalan and they will take some stopping.
This really is mission impossible.

Having said that, we went pretty well against them earlier this season, getting done by a late try, after missing a penalty ourselves.

They have quality all over the park and are top of the pile for a reason.
We need to be at our absolute best to have any chance and get the bounce of the ball to have any chance.

Anything less and it could be a long afternoon.
But, we are Wakefield, always at our best when the odds are stacked against us and IF we can get past this one, it starts to get really exciting.

Bradford or Halifax will still be in the draw although, we would probably end up playing Wire.

The one thing we do need is some strong support and please, anyone who can get over there needs to do so.
I know it's on TV but, the boys cant hear your support if you are in the pub or sat at home.

Come on Trin !

Watching them against Cas, the pace and some of their passing was top draw, yes they will take some beating but like you say, it is Wakey and we’ve had worst odds.

Re: Mission impossible ? Saints (A) Challenge Cup : Mon May 27, 2019 5:48 pm  

It's a mammoth task, no doubt about it! Saints on a different level at the moment.

It's a one off knock out game though and history says we have a chance.

In recent seasons we've played well against Saints and just fallen short a few times....on the odd occasion I think to the odd suspect decision so if it's right what they say about decisions levelling up over time then who could deny us getting a few 50/50 calls our way!

What we need to do to win...

Get in their faces from the off...if we stand back and let them play we'll get steamrolled....they deserve huge respect for how good they're playing but we have to show them none from the start..

Play for the full 80....not something we've been able to do...but...if we do we're a very good side ourselves and well capable of producing an upset...

Complete high...again...when we do we're a very good side...we can't afford the dumb, unforced errors we keep doing that's putting us under pressure...

Be smart and disciplined...will be very tough I know because Saints like getting rolls on with quick play the balls and any signs of us trying to slow and the crowd will be loud and trying to influence the ref...we need to try and win the ruck as much as we can...

Not be too one dimensional...again, will be tough...as against Catalans showed...first half when we were trying to play safer, we looked devoid of attacking ideas and were too predictable....second half, straight from the off we started throwing the ball around and looked a completely different side. Going back to when Chester took over the reigns he said he was allowing the team to express themselves and play with smiles on their faces...that's the attitude I'd like to see us adopt...I don't see any point in going there and trying to beat them with five drives and a Brough kick...lets take the game to them from the off and signal our intent.

It's a huge ask but if every one of our players plays to the best of their ability for the full 80 minutes then we have every chance...all the pressure is on them as everyone in rugby league is expecting them to beat us comfortably.

Left edge is a real concern though up against Makinson and Naiqama who's really starting to look the part after a slow start...will Kershaw be brought back in or could we play Ashurst in the centre to be a bit more solid? If Percival isn't back I fancy us to have a bit of success against their left edge with Lyne and possibly Hampshire running out there....some big calls to be made on team selection!

Re: Mission impossible ? Saints (A) Challenge Cup : Mon May 27, 2019 6:57 pm  

You play what’s in front of you. It does look impossible but you never know. All I can say is I wouldn’t bet on us winning

Re: Mission impossible ? Saints (A) Challenge Cup : Mon May 27, 2019 7:17 pm  

If you fancy a betting interest you might aswell throw a fiver on us vasty....

Would return £27.50 as opposed to the £6 you'd get if you backed Saints...

Re: Mission impossible ? Saints (A) Challenge Cup : Mon May 27, 2019 7:22 pm  

upthecats wrote:

If you fancy a betting interest you might aswell throw a fiver on us vasty....

Would return £27.50 as opposed to the £6 you'd get if you backed Saints...

Jesus h don’t you start, I’m not vastman, I’ll give DNA if you want.

I don’t bet tbh, I don’t really understand it, I meant it in it’s broadest sense

Re: Mission impossible ? Saints (A) Challenge Cup : Mon May 27, 2019 7:58 pm  

All what has been said is correct, however, if we put in a massive effort & then saps our energy & ability to beat Leeds, that would be a disaster & take some pulling back, would it be better to keep Broughy out till the Leeds match ?

Re: Mission impossible ? Saints (A) Challenge Cup : Mon May 27, 2019 8:07 pm  

No.

There are two major finals to go for...the challenge cup and grand final...

We are potentially two wins away from a challenge cup final....everything, and I mean everything has to be thrown into Saturday to try and win.

We have much more of a chance of winning Saturday than getting anywhere near to a grand final....Leeds game shouldn't even come into it in my opinion...

Lets not forget though we beat Leeds last time with possibly the weakest side we've fielded this season....

Re: Mission impossible ? Saints (A) Challenge Cup : Mon May 27, 2019 9:24 pm  

upthecats wrote:

No.

There are two major finals to go for...the challenge cup and grand final...

We are potentially two wins away from a challenge cup final....everything, and I mean everything has to be thrown into Saturday to try and win.

We have much more of a chance of winning Saturday than getting anywhere near to a grand final....Leeds game shouldn't even come into it in my opinion...

Lets not forget though we beat Leeds last time with possibly the weakest side we've fielded this season....

means nothing now as Leeds is the weakest team in decades

Re: Mission impossible ? Saints (A) Challenge Cup : Mon May 27, 2019 11:05 pm  

we most as well be a 1000 absolutely no chance

if we get within 20 it would be a good day