Our backline does indeed have pace to burn. So much so that we have to on occasion throw the pass forward of the man, which is a bit of a bugger when the ref gets a bit picky!

It's a genuine 50/50 game for me. We've peaked at the right time both physically and mentally, and that's a big plus after the season we've had.

For me its simple. If the saints team approach this game the same as we would with wigan ie total defence for the opening twenty and our front three running at the centre of Leeds then we will dominate the leeds pack and open them up in the middle.

Leeds have pace but we are no slouches either. This team has a faster line up than last year never mind two years ago. Shenton is fasdter than gidley. Makinson faster than gardner. Lomax is faster than long . gaskell and pryce well thats open to debate. Meli is faster than gilmore. Foster and meli well they are fairly equal for pace. I'm not going to argue who is faster leeds v saints but our pace has increased where as some of the leeds veterans burrows maguire and webb are not as fast as when we last met in a final.

But for me it will be about dominating their pack and the field position. Pace would only come into it if we let them run around our defnesive line.

When was the last meeting with leeds though?

You have to take into account leeds are a completly different beast to the one you faced months back earlier in the season.

Leeds backline is quick but the previous 3 grand finals between the teams were won in the forwards and crucial incidents in the game (meli's errors etc).

We last met in a final 2 years ago. Burrow, mcguire and webbs pace is no different now to what it was in 2009.

Grand finals are won in the forwards.

You're not a completely different beast. You're the same beast but functioning better. All the players are the same. And Webb still likes to pass forward. (I do think he looks like a Mexican bandito when he gets called for a forward pass. I want to put a sombraro (sp?) on him and stick him in a John Wayne movie.)

Similar principles apply as have always applied, eg don't let Burrow run. We will just have to be at the top of our game, like you will.

Beware!

They may keep Rob Burow up their sleeve until our forwards have worked hard and lost that extra bit of speed and concentration. He doesn't need much of a gap to exploit it.

Ch.

compared to our last final against leeds we have gaskell, lomax, makinson and the kicking of Foster. Lomax is better than Burrow, and faster. Makinson is as fast as any leeds player. Gaskell has really come into his own in the last month. Maguire is a yard or two slower than before his injury and Sinfield isnt as reliable as he was. Add to that that their forwards are really starting to get on now, we have the class to eraze some bad memories here

For me the key difference between Saints and Leeds in those three finals (well, maybe just the second and third ones) was that Leeds, under the guidance of Kevin Sinfield, responded with a great deal more composure to both the occasion and the conditions. They played a good territorial game, often kicking early in the tackle count, while we tried to do things out of the ordinary.

I'm not sure Leeds will be as cool headed this time round. They have been playing pretty harum scarum stuff all year and they have a very young and excitable backline. It's been working for them lately, but I'm not sure it's the right approach for a final. I think if Gaskell copes with the pressure and provides a good kicking game we'll be able to grind them down with our big pack and force mistakes out of them. You never quite know what's going to happen in a final, though; teams do strange things.

Indeed. I still can't see us winning. Probably a good thing that though.

I just hope we give it everything. No stupid individual errors, no stupid tries from kicks. If we go there, give it everything and lose, fine.

The big key for me: Meli is no longer on the wing. If Makinson and Foster can have good games, that's a big piece of their armour negated there.

Ah meli the rhinos 18th man in gf's

I'd be tempted to rest him altogether. There must be mental scarring.

I dunno, Foster's first contribution on Saturday was fairly Meli-esque.

As stated [url=http://viewtopic.php?p=16462449#p16462449here[/url, Leeds are worthy opponents but we have nothing to fear. Previous Grand Finals matter not a bit and the Leeds players would be foolish to think it does. McDermott certainly won't be allowing that sort of complacency to enter into his player's minds and likewise we should not start looking for excuses already as to why we might not win. I just hope it's an epic.

Personally I hope it's not. I want 70-0 if possible. Nothing worse than Grand Final closeness and I've had more than enough dejection. A nice comfortable stroll would be just fine thanks.

Still get the feeling we'll capitulate despite not having any evidence of that.

It could either result in a play which wins them the grand final, or loses them the grand final.

Like the game, it could go either way.

Saints will go into the game with the pressure of having lost the last 4 grand finals, and on account of their higher league placing and performances against leeds this season, they will also go into the game as favourites., despite having an arguably more inexperienced team.

Saints have nothing to fear from leeds, but then leeds have nothing to fear from saints. They've beaten saints teams at old trafford with the likes of pryce, long, cunningham et al in the team and although the new breed of lomax gaskell will pose their own threats leeds should feel confident as should saints.

Aye, I wouldn't really argue with any of that.

I'm a Leeds fan, it's going to be a very tough game, it could go either way realy, two great teams, I am sure it will be a great final either way.

It would be nice to see James Graham leave Saints with a winners medal, he's been a great player for you guys.

All you can do as a team is go to OT, give your all and that's all you can do.

The way this year has gone, I won't be making any predictions as both teams are as good as each other, it'll maybe come down to an error, a bit of luck, a piece of individual brilliance etc, whatever happens, have a great day and good luck

We [ishould[/i win if we turn up, but unfortunately we have a very good track record of not doing that... We're better than them [ion paper[/i in most areas of the pitch, but the pressure will most definitely be all on us rather than them so that advantage is basically negated...

I'm not looking forward to the drive down the M1/M6 listening to gleefull match reports on 5 live every 30 minutes yet again if we do lose...

weather could be a big factor .Just hope its dry as I remember the 2008(?) loss when we couldn't handle the conditions

Forecast up to now is dry on Saturday, just looked at the pressure charts on te MET office. If this is the case, it'll be a day for good entertaining rugby

Leeds this year have actually reminded me of Warrington, last year.
They look very strong and can play some entertaining stuff, but on the days when the defence holds up against them they get frustrated, seem desperate to offload and throw wild passes all over, getting them into difficulty.

I think both sets of players should be confident. We have both made the Grand Final from outside the 2 and are both playing pretty good stuff. I think from a Leeds POV that if we can get the defensive intensity somewhere near to the standard set Friday we will be in with a chance. I cant see this being a blow out either way anyway. I think both teams are fairly even matched and have threats all over. Forget about 07,08 and 09 because both teams are totally different now, both with personel and they way they play.

Anyway, I have a lot of respect for the Saints organisation mainly down to the battles we had over that 3 or 4 year period. I have still never seen games at the quality or intensity before that or since. I have a feeling that Saturdays game may be heading back up towards that standard too.

I can also say, I hadnt looked forward to any of those 3 GF's as much as im looking forward to this. Maybe because we are both the "wrong" teams to get there but more to do with the adversity we have gone through to get there.

Lets hope for a great game and good luck

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