For me the game hinges on how we play.

If we play as we have been doing then frankly, the skys the limit for Leeds, it could be an 18+ points win for them.

If we start to finish our sets and kick well then it will be a typical Saints v Leeds game, very tight. I think were defending okay anyhow so it depends on our ball retention.

Also, I'm not overly concerned with the forwards, we match up pretty well. Its the backs that concern me. With the exception of Gidley, I'm not convinced any of our backs have shown up so far this season. I just struggle to see where we can break the Rhinos down in the backs.

the so called experts said saints were finished last year when we went 6 points behind leeds, and ade took a whole heap of stick off these experts for saying we would win the league, a winning run of 20 matches later and we were top. You cant really gauge alot from early season form.

No.

But the good news is that Ian Smith is ref in France at the weekend - we get Phil Bentham.

If we defend like we have been doing we're in with a chance. Leeds' defence has been similarly tough and I don't expect us to be rattling in the points which puts the emphasis on our need to defend exceptionally well.

(2)

Don't think either team has hit their straps going forward yet.

Leeds and Saints have the worst attacking records in the top 7 and the best defences. So I can see another brutal game again with the wingers seeing very little ball.

What's your likely line up then, just so we can compare to ours? ATM I think ours is up in the air with the injuries we seem to be picking up.

Wellens
Gardner
Gidley
Gilmour
Wheeler/Armstrong
Pryce
Long
Graham
Cunningham
Hargreaves
Clough
Wilkin
Flannery

Fa'asavalu
Roby
Cayless
Dixon

That's my guess.

Blobby, if that's the team Potter puts out then there can be no excuse for dropping bloody balls and not attacking with at least a degree of flair (bearing in mind defences will be on top). A real pity Tony P couldn't be in there too. I was dying to see him in action against Leeds!

Is Cayless struggling with an injury or just out of favour?

I'd imagine we'll line up;

Webb
Donald
Smith
Senior
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Leuluai
Diskin
Peacock
Ablett
Jones-Buchannan
Sinfield

Lauitiiti
Burgess
Bailey
Kirke


A few of those lads took whacks last week but I'd say they will all play.

Should be a cracking game.

Injury. He's not played alot this year so far.

Really rate him but does seem to be picking up a lot of injuries over the last couple of years.

He did his knee ligaments badly last year didn't he?

No problem for Saints.

We've softened them up for you.

It will be close maybe as close as 1 point in it one way or another.

He had knee surgery at the end of 2007 and missed the first 6 weeks of 2008. His return was against you guys coincidentally. He picked up another knee injury in June and one in August and hasn't really recovered yet. He seems to be picking up little knocks now such as his ankle and shoulder IIRC.

He's a class player on his day, but I fear his day was in 2006 and the early part of 2007. He seems to be picking up too many injuries now, which is unfortunate. We'll see how he goes, but I think a few of us are a little concerned especially as we've all experienced similar with Sculthorpe.

He was pretty good that night IIRC.

Agree with your point about him and Scully on the injury front.

Only if half your team dies and you replace them with players from Middleton Marauders ARLFC

No they should replace them with players and speccies from Queens.


It may not be much of a game but the fights would be worth getting back from Salford for.

Met Office has us for sunny day and clear night.

Good open game between us finally, instead of the bloody rain we've had against them.

You don't remember our win at theirs last year? I don't remember much of it, like.

TBF that was in the ballence until Pryce went over plus we played a chunk with 12. The way Leeds set up to attack on Friday makes me think we will be more expansive this season so it should make for very entertaining dry weather games between us.

Scruton was only sent off in the second half if i remember correctly?
Hardly a chunk.

Im just hoping for a good expansive game on friday.

Can someone please remind me, did it rain when we played the Challenge Cup semi?

The sunburn I got would suggest it didn't



And as Ski has said Leeds away last season was ok weatherwise too.

4 games last year aginst these muckers.
Game at KY in the league, shockign rain, LOST
Game at Shedingly, lovely dry day, WON
Game in CC semi in shudds, top day, dry as a bone, WON
GF day, rained for 8 months in that one day, LOST and my socks shrunk.