Re: Fight for the Grand Final & A Relegation Battle : Fri Jul 26, 2019 10:05 pm  

infamous grouse wrote:

Assuming that Saints beat Halifax they will be playing Leeds the weekend before the Wembley trip.

The players who featured in the game against London will most probably be called upon again

If the London game caused outrage, this will cause a meltdown, prepare for an RLFans spike

Re: Fight for the Grand Final & A Relegation Battle : Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:04 am  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Indeed
As I said in a previous post, Peacock was absolutely salivating at the prospect of his side, playing the same (or weaker) 17 players in that game.
In sport, we're used to seeing multiple changes in the week before a big final and just about every side does this without question.
However, has ANY RL side rested 9+ players for a regular season game.

Wigan played Trinity a few seasons back with a heavily "injured" side, which was also apparently hit with a mystery virus but, at lease Wane tried to hide the fact that he didn't want to field his strongest available 17.
Saints on the other hand, just used the "squad system" to put out their reserves.

Still looks mickey poor form but London certainly aren't complaininig

Why is it mickey poor form? We are 10 points clear and nailed on to finish top. Holbrook obviously wanted to conserve some players energy, especially in a season that compared to previous seasons, given the rule changes, puts more strain on players bodies. There is nothing wrong with that.

Re: Fight for the Grand Final & A Relegation Battle : Sat Jul 27, 2019 7:30 am  

I have to agree I don't think the semi final was a key factor in that line up for London. Avoiding 2 fixtures in 6 days was definitely a factor. But also spelling the players was important.

With London we could rest many players at once and the scoreline was not too embarrassing, indeed at one point it was a very tight game. Also it had no chance of being selected for TV.

If we had rested that many against Hull FC, it would have been a cricket score and national news. As it was only RL fans probably took any notice.

If we beat Halifax today (interestingly no coote so not all changes last week were optional), then I think for Leeds it will be a mixture of familiar and unfamiliar faces.

But if coote is still injured then we may go with more or less a full strength side as the new combination of 1, 6 and 7 will need game time with the first team regulars to work on their understanding.

Re: Fight for the Grand Final & A Relegation Battle : Sat Jul 27, 2019 8:02 am  

ThePrinter wrote:

Whilst they’ll make changes I don’t think it’ll be quite as many as the London game (maybe 5/6) . A slight difference is that it’s a Thursday night game so would be a 9 day turnaround instead of the 6 day turnaround between the London and Halifax games and like I mentioned previously with Saints’ fixtures vs Halifax and potentially the Wakefield game not being particularly close/competitive then think they’ll want to avoid being too undercooked going into Wembley.

Saints won't want 2 tough games before a potential Challenge Cup Final appearance, if Warrington lose today I expect our game with them in a couple of weeks will be a tough one just as the Leeds one will be if they are sill in that relegation battle. Holbrook will probably do his final rotations in our Leeds game and Castleford game most probably in the pack where we have plenty of cover.

Re: Fight for the Grand Final & A Relegation Battle : Sat Jul 27, 2019 10:24 am  

Judder Man wrote:

Saints won't want 2 tough games before a potential Challenge Cup Final appearance, if Warrington lose today I expect our game with them in a couple of weeks will be a tough one just as the Leeds one will be if they are sill in that relegation battle. Holbrook will probably do his final rotations in our Leeds game and Castleford game most probably in the pack where we have plenty of cover.

Holbrook will rest/rotate to give Saints the best chance of lifting the cup, something that ALL cup finalists do and even though this may not be "in the spirit of the game", it's the accepted norm and absolutely understandable when silverware will be at stake.
Putting a reserve side out for a regular game during the season, not due to injuries, is taking the mickey out of the opponents and the sport in equal measure.
I hope that Fax take some "boost" out of the respect that Saints have given them prior to kick off.
Mind you, the 38 points start on the handicap doesn't look enough to save them against a full strength Saints side.

Re: Fight for the Grand Final & A Relegation Battle : Sat Jul 27, 2019 11:18 am  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Holbrook will rest/rotate to give Saints the best chance of lifting the cup, something that ALL cup finalists do and even though this may not be "in the spirit of the game", it's the accepted norm and absolutely understandable when silverware will be at stake.
Putting a reserve side out for a regular game during the season, not due to injuries, is taking the mickey out of the opponents and the sport in equal measure.
I hope that Fax take some "boost" out of the respect that Saints have given them prior to kick off.
Mind you, the 38 points start on the handicap doesn't look enough to save them against a full strength Saints side.

How is player welfare taking the mickey out of rugby league?

Re: Fight for the Grand Final & A Relegation Battle : Sat Jul 27, 2019 11:55 am  

Sandro II Terrorista wrote:

I say that as a HKR fan that needed them to put a hundred on London and hopefully Leeds.

Leave it out guvnor.....surely you mean Leeds but not us little old 'armless cockneys

Re: Fight for the Grand Final & A Relegation Battle : Sat Jul 27, 2019 12:59 pm  

Call Me God wrote:

Leave it out guvnor.....surely you mean Leeds but not us little old 'armless cockneys

It's a really strange one chief because I'd love London to stay up, I mean they're the most deserving team in the league but unfortunately if they do it'll be my ruddy hopeless gets that go down!

Re: Fight for the Grand Final & A Relegation Battle : Sun Aug 04, 2019 2:44 pm  

Ruune Rebellion wrote:

Wakefield will not win any of their remaining games leading up to London which will put them on 18 points.

London will beat our academy, Salford and Leeds which will put them on 20 points.

So it will all come down to the last game unless London can shift the points difference in their favour which I cant see.

It is obvious that Chris Chester cannot motivate his players. If he is in charge for the last game, Wakefield are down. If John Kear is in charge, they have a chance.

Got next week's lottery numbers LeBron? 30-6 to Salford coming up to half-time.

Don't give up the day job.

Edit: 34-6 with kick to come. Jack Dearden almost choking on his own words as he blatantly can't stand Salford.

Re: Fight for the Grand Final & A Relegation Battle : Sun Aug 04, 2019 3:32 pm  

If Warrington pick up injuries and suspensions they could lose the top 5 possibly with only 1 win at home against Wakefield, the chasing pack are closing in.