Cant think of a better place to get a win for a first Grand Final place then away against that lot, yes we havent looked the best of the four teams that remain but that didnt stop Leeds last year, its all about the result, for me the tough win against Hull will of done us alot more good our easy win against Hudds before reaching this stage 12 months ago.

If we can add Westwood and Carvell to our side its a massive boost, we seem to have more players this year who can win a game with a moment of skill, Myler and Ratchford showing that against Hull again, still think though theres one bloke whos had a very quiet season by his standards due to injuries who was our go to player last season and thats M Monaghan, I think hes due a massive match winning game.

When we went there in the league I thought MMonas had a belter of a game, plus we won that one without Carvell - but they didnt have Soliola. Its a difficult ask but we are more than capable. COME ON THE WIRE!!

I believe we will win come Saturday. In my opinion we will be going in as underdogs with the game being away and as a result of the recent loss to them, but with Westwood surely coming back, and Carvell, our team will pretty much be full strength, and I have the belief that we will turn them over.

In regards to M.Monas, I hadn't been impressed with his return in recent weeks but after saturday I think he isn't far off being his old self. I just hope everything clicks on Saturday.

I don't really see Warrington as a much better team than Saints to be honest. Our pack is capable of matching yours and whilst your backs are better, they are either really hot or awful, like they were last week.

What should get you through to the final though is desire. Surely you've got to want it more than Saints? I've started a thread on the Saints forum which asks the question about whether we as fans want to get to the Grand Final again. A lot said they did, but it's all just bravado. I'm sure if you could ask the Saints players for an honest opinion, cutting out all the PR and media soundbites, the majority would, deep down, not want another Grand Final appearance.

I think we'll see that on Saturday, you will start the game like a house on fire and blitz us. It'll be won early, in spirit if not on the scoreboard, by you dominating the game.

If you lose on Saturday it's a major problem for you. It would be turning into a mental barrier almost on par with 'the streak' and our recent Grand Final results.

I can't think of anything worse than us getting to the GF again this year - even losing at home in the semi to you lot and your legions of graceless fans is preferable. I won't be happy if we get turned over on Saturday, but I'll be a lot less happy if we don't.

And as for you being underdogs? Give over... You'll start red hot favourites for the game all day long. Playing at our joint will take much of the pressure off you - I'd just about fancy us to win if it was at the Flatpack, but I can't see us doing it at home. Fortunately.

If you lose on Saturday it's a major problem for you. It would be turning into a mental barrier almost on par with 'the streak' and our recent Grand Final results.'"

Sad End and N.S, I think I believed that bull before Wigan picked Leeds than what is falling from your fingertips.

We'll see this weekend how much Saints want to be in the GF (players and fans alike) and I'd wager they will want it A LOT!

Of course you will see a professional approach from Saints, I just think Wire will have that little bit extra intensity and desperation that will get you through. Is it not reasonable to assume Wire will want it that bit more on Saturday?

Saddo you seem to of changed your tune from writing the Saints off.

Guess most Saints fans will be confident of a repeat of last time even more so being at home, I my doubts though that Saints can defend that well all game along with us bombing chances again.

I'm absolutely bricking it to be honest, and I'll admit right now that I'll be devastated if we lose. I find it bizarre that any Saints fan would feel anything other than 100% confident of victory, as recent history shows it isn't the semi final that they have a problem with, and although "the hoodoo" might technically be over I still think last weekend shows we're still twitchier against them than against anyone else.

I would find it bizarre how any Saints fan could have any confidence of victory at all... You more or less match us in the forwards and are light years beyond what we are capable of in the backs. We have no halves, no 3/4s, no kicking game, no matchwinning players and the most tedious, 1-dimensional and predicatable tactics imaginable. You have one of the best coaches in the country and we have Rush. Unless our forwards can keep the ball in your 40 for the whole game we're knackered. Our only realistic chance of winning basically comes down to us relying on you blowing it in a big playoff game yet again, and while you have a gratifyingly consistent habit of doing just that it hardly constitutes the basis for confidence in our team...

We cannot, for one second, think about any of the following things at all this week:
"The Grand Final"
The Super League trophy
Old Trafford
Wigan
Leeds Rhinos

...we need to concentrate on one thing and one thing only; BEATING SAINTS!

Had we beaten Saints at home and had this weekend off I would be far from confident simply because I doubt that we would be capable of beating Saints in the playoffs twice (with Leeds they are the masters of playoff rugby). I do feel confident that over two games we have a good chance of winning one and losing one, and if that is to happen I would far rather it be this way round.

I never thought we'd beat Saints twice.


Also Saddened; if we lose on Sat it will be nothing in comparison to you GF defeats to our confidence. We've been favourites and not reached the final just once before and that was last year where we lost with the last kick of the game.

And NS; coming on here and calling us graceless tells me a lot more about you than our fanbase.

find it laughable that a placcy scouser can call our fans graceless,when they have o levels in being graceless.as for the game itself it should be a cracker and the bookies are making wire favs but only just..saints are getting a 2 point start on the h,cap

My nerves are almost shot to pieces already. If Roby gets the space he will run riot .... again. If we are on our game and not overcome with nerves I see us reaching our first GF. Looking forward to it immensely. Come on the Wire !!!!

Saints fans setting themselves up with a nice get out clause....total BS

We are slight favourites with the bookies...so what. Everything in history both short and long term points to a likely Saints win...For Wire to win will be a massive achievement...massive ....end of.

We can win this defiantly. We just need to concentrate whilst having fun! I think playing away will work in our favor. Atmosphere in the away stands leak out onto the players as Wire are generally more vocal away rather than at home imo, a classic derby and going to be an absolute cracker! I think it's either going to be an extremely close game or an absolute whitewash, we shall see!

COME ON WIRE!!!

Do you mean defiantly or definately?

If you get benny and carvell back you should win and if so, most saints fans would IMO hope you beat the goons or Leeds.
May the best team on the day win and pray its not decided by some dodgy ref or video ref decision (like Cats vs Leeds).

I'm not sure. Which one is correct? Actually why does it matter? You knew what I meant...

I honestly think we could beat you (or come extremely close to beating you) without Benny or Gaz back. Obviously we couldn't first time round but I believe we lost more down to us bombing our chances. For the most part our defense was very good I thought. Against another team the scoreline would have been far bigger.

We certainly tend to have 'O' levels in English grammar matey unlike, apparently, other parts of ex-Lancashire

I look forward to the good-natured way your apparently cultured, educated and endlessly sporting fans will react to the final score on Saturday then - lots of generous applause and "well dones" for the opposition come what may, right?

--wrong-now feck off -

Errrrr.... who's setting themselves up with a get out clause exactly? I'm confused....



I must say the tone of things 'round here has changed a whole heck of a lot lately: from "who are we going to play in the WCC final given that we've already won the GF this season" to "we're rank outsiders to beat a limited Saints team and as long as we don't get beat by 50 then we've done great under the circumstances" threads in just a few short weeks. Amazing what a couple of characteristically bad playoff performances can do, eh?