I think Peet will play the strongest squad with a view to putting a marker down for our next meet (if we win of course).

Then rest some players for HKR.

If Leeds beat Hudds and we win Friday then we can shuffle the deck ahead of the playoff and try to get players as fresh as we can.

Like the Magic game I still think the most important thing when looking forward to a [ipotential[/i GF is to make sure its close and competitive. We wouldn't want to be going into a playoff game against Saints off the back of a comprehensive defeat against them.

Other than that the biggest reward is the 2 points, the possibility of nailing down 2nd and being able to rest some players. Whether we do that this week or against Hull KR it doesn't really matter.

We need to win full stop.

We have to show we need it more than they do. No excuses for them out working us in this one.

So Will "made of biscuits" Hopoate is out for Friday. Could be a long night for us.

Will either be Welsby at 1 with Roby at 7 which hasn't worked every game we've tried it, or Bennison at 1 with Simm on the wing. That's my least favourite option. Either way its another patched up backline up against a good team with genuine pace.

That's 3 out of the first choice back 5 injured, 4 if you include Matautia and 4 out of the first choice 1-7 if you include Dodd.

I know teams get injuries but ours are all in the backs up against 2 of the best players in the competition in the backs

Excuses in early Stu

Just being honest. It's easier to deal with injuries when they are spread through the team. Unfortunately for us they are all in the backs. Even Matuatia can cover well at centre, he played for Australia at centre.

If the injuries were in the forwards I'd feel more confident as Wigan's pack isn't as good as their backs. However when you have Field, French (and Marshall) to be fair up against a patched up backline then naturally there are concerns.

I don't expect us to win on Friday but I'll be there regardless and I'm still confident in a GF if Hopoate and Matautia are back and we don't get any more injuries. That's even without Percival who I don't think we will see again this year.

Well you did lose the semi with Percival and Makinson in your backs pace to burn only didnt burn fast enough to catch Marshy.
I have us winning by 8 regardless of who or who might not play for St Helens and in the GF I also would have us winning whoever plays for Saints.

Of course you could win both games.

I know you think Saints fans bleat about injuries too much and I know that Wigan still have 3 out but its interesting that Wigan are favourites for Friday. They are -2 with the bookies. -2.5 with Bet365.

That for me tells you everything about Friday. When was the last time Wigan were favourites against Saints? I bet its been a few years.

Well we are at home for a start,and only just favourites,and yes I think saints fans do go on too much about players missing as it is a great excuse when you lose.
I also think if you had a full squad and we have a full we could still win unlike you when you say 100% you would win.

Saying all of that I bloody cant wait for Friday (2 more sleeps

)

Havard, Thornley, Tommy L and Powell.

From my perspective, it's more that you have had three good seasons on the injury front whilst every other club suffered and all of a sudden it's an excuse for you but nobody else was allowed to use it.

Look at the teams from GF 2019. We were missing several players (started with our third choice HB) and lost two or three during the game meaning we had a SR on the wing for large parts.

Never mentioned by Saints fans as a reason why you were better than us, you were just better than us. You probably were based on how that season panned out, but if we beat you on Friday then we'll have to listen to how many injuries you have and how players are out of position etc. We spent most of that season playing with a pack containing three rookies who we are now starting to see the best of.

I don't remember the last time Saints were beaten by the better side on the day. Even the cup semi produced lines like "Wigan only played for 5 minutes" "we had injuries" and how lucky we were. Appreciate every club has fans like that including ourselves, but it is very common with Saints fans at the moment (goes back to the arrogance from success thing I mentioned way back) and most of us are sick of reading/listening to it.

The point I'm making is that this time the bookies have responded. Its a big thing to have Wigan start as favourites beairng in mind I can't recall the last time they did in a game against us.

So its either home advantage that is making Wigan slight favourites, or the fact that Saints injuries affect us more than Wigan's injuries do. This isn't just Saints fans moaning, its the fact that the bookies have reacted.

I suspect that is due to us beating you in the semi, coming close to beating you at magic and us being at home.

If it was your injuries then I would hope we would be bigger favourites than -2.

You guys might not like reading this, but the gap is closing.

My worry is that missing Powell and Tommy might just cost us. For the stick Powell gets his decision making from dummy half as to which side to attack is second to none and something we miss when he doesn't play. On the plus side it is forecast to be nice and sunny so hopefully we get to run the Saints pack about and get over the top in the back end of each half

100% it is. Without a doubt. It is the reason why Roby laughed when Peet said we are still way ahead of Wigan.

Or the fact that the bookies think Wigan are the better team now.

Oh, wait a minute! That couldn't possibly be the reason. Must be the injuries...

I've missed you.

Who are favourites to win the grand final, that will show you who the bookies think are the better side? There shouldnt be much between them to be fair

How so?

Hence why I said "now". It'll be interesting to see how those odds change between now and October too. They've been closing all season so far to the point there's next to nothing in it any more.

Don't forget
The odds will be skewed Saints way currently with the bookies because Wigan aren't definitely 2nd
If/when we are those odds will narrow again.

I don't think the bookies see anything in it tbh. Either team could win the GF if they get there just as either team could win on Friday despite Wigan being favourites.