Good Friday predictions : Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:05 pm  

What's everyone thinking then? Head says saints will walk it, heart says Wigan will knick it.

Going to go for:

Saints 24-26 Wigan

Attendance: 17,895

Re: Good Friday predictions : Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:38 pm  

I'll probably have fish

Re: Good Friday predictions : Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:03 am  

Head and heart says these are our types of games. Saints have been handed a couple of games by dodgy calls these past two weeks and if we can avoid them I'll go-

Saints 18

Wigan 28

1st try- Burgess
MOM- Lockers

Re: Good Friday predictions : Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:19 am  

Manu and Lafranchi out for Saints http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/saints/news/11148075._/?

Manu and Lafranchi out for Saints http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/saints/news/11148075._/?

Re: Good Friday predictions : Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:44 am  

Some of our 'friends' over the hill are getting worried. viewtopic.php?f=18&t=567620&tsmp=1397547408&start=20

Some of our 'friends' over the hill are getting worried. viewtopic.php?f=18&t=567620&tsmp=1397547408&start=20

Re: Good Friday predictions : Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:46 am  

I really think Saints' luck may run out come Friday. They have been fantastic this season, playing like the old Saints but the last few games they haven't looked great, getting away with victory on both occasions with dodgy calls. They do have a few players out in their pack. Wigan win by 12 pts.

Re: Good Friday predictions : Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:53 am  

LewCharnock wrote:

I really think Saints' luck may run out come Friday. They have been fantastic this season, playing like the old Saints but the last few games they haven't looked great, getting away with victory on both occasions with dodgy calls. They do have a few players out in their pack. Wigan win by 12 pts.

Depends if we turn up or not, if we get off to the the slow start that has been typical of most of our games this season then it won't really matter whether Saints' luck is in or not. We need to make sure we start with a well-disciplined, low error opening 20 like the Wire game. If we start as poorly as we have during most of our games this season then it could be over by half time. Fully expecting a much improved performance on what we've seen in recent weeks, however.

As for team, I'd go:

Bowen
Manfredi (possibly Sarg but think SWs been quoted that Dom will play)
Goulding
Thornley
Burgess
Green
Smith
Taylor
McIlorum
Flower
Farrell
Bateman
O'Loughlin

Crosby
Clubb
Pettybourne
Powell

Re: Good Friday predictions : Tue Apr 15, 2014 8:01 am  

Arthur Warrior wrote: Some of our 'friends' over the hill are getting worried. http://forums.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php? ... 8&start=20 To be fair, I'm always worried going into the derby irrespective of what has gone before! I have a horrible feeling we'll lose the two games that count in the next couple of weeks - Wigan and Leeds.

Arthur Warrior wrote: Some of our 'friends' over the hill are getting worried. http://forums.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php? ... 8&start=20 To be fair, I'm always worried going into the derby irrespective of what has gone before! I have a horrible feeling we'll lose the two games that count in the next couple of weeks - Wigan and Leeds.

Re: Good Friday predictions : Tue Apr 15, 2014 9:14 am  

Very tough to predict. We have always beaten Saints in these good Friday games since Maguire came in, and Wane has always beaten them when there have been no distractions (the losses coming the week before the CC semi last season and the week before the play offs the season before). Saints are a lot better this season though and I think they'll come out with a point to prove, beating us on Friday would really signal that they are ready to end their trophy-drought.

Having said that, I think we have a point to prove as well. All you hear when trophies are discussed is Leeds and Saints, despite us holding both trophies very few people seem to be backing us to keep either. The team seems to be at its strongest as an underdog (as we were in both play offs and the final last year) so I'm going to go for a narrow Wigan win.

Saints 18 Wigan 20 (losing 18-4 at HT)

Team wise I think it's a risk throwing Manfredi into a good Friday derby after just one game v Wakey (in which he had the ball ripped, allowing them to go the full length and score) and Sarginson doesn't really look comfortable on the wing for my money. As such I'd go with Thornley out wide, who has plenty SL experience on the wing and is in good form.

FB 1 Bowen
RW 4 Thornley
RC 3 Goulding
LC 23 Sarginson
LW 32 Burgess
SO 6 Green
SH 7 Smith
P 8 Taylor
H 9 McIlorum
P 10 Flower
SR 25 Bateman
SR 12 Farrell
LF 13 O'Loughlin

S 17 Crosby
S 24 Clubb
S 25 Pettybourne
S 27 Williams

Re: Good Friday predictions : Tue Apr 15, 2014 9:57 am  

Grimmy wrote:

Very tough to predict. We have always beaten Saints in these good Friday games since Maguire came in, and Wane has always beaten them when there have been no distractions (the losses coming the week before the CC semi last season and the week before the play offs the season before). Saints are a lot better this season though and I think they'll come out with a point to prove, beating us on Friday would really signal that they are ready to end their trophy-drought.

Having said that, I think we have a point to prove as well. All you hear when trophies are discussed is Leeds and Saints, despite us holding both trophies very few people seem to be backing us to keep either. The team seems to be at its strongest as an underdog (as we were in both play offs and the final last year) so I'm going to go for a narrow Wigan win.

Saints 18 Wigan 20 (losing 18-4 at HT)

Team wise I think it's a risk throwing Manfredi into a good Friday derby after just one game v Wakey (in which he had the ball ripped, allowing them to go the full length and score) and Sarginson doesn't really look comfortable on the wing for my money. As such I'd go with Thornley out wide, who has plenty SL experience on the wing and is in good form.

FB 1 Bowen
RW 4 Thornley
RC 3 Goulding
LC 23 Sarginson
LW 32 Burgess
SO 6 Green
SH 7 Smith
P 8 Taylor
H 9 McIlorum
P 10 Flower
SR 25 Bateman
SR 12 Farrell
LF 13 O'Loughlin

S 17 Crosby
S 24 Clubb
S 25 Pettybourne
S 27 Williams

I don't think SW can move Thornley on his current form. He's playing his best rugby since his return to league. Sarginson has a lot more SL experience than Manfredi and he'd be my choice outside Goulding. As for the outcome, I think it'll be very close but I fear a saints win. I'm dreading it and can't wait at the same time!