Hardaker
French
Sarginson/Hankinson
Gildart
Burgess
Williams
Smith
Clubb
Tommy
Partington
Farrell
Isa
Smithies

Lockers
Flower
Greenwood
Byrne

I’ve gone with a strong pack and bench because this game will be won or lost in the middle. Pointless in keeping a back on the bench. Plus Lockers can cover, if needed, at 9/6/7. That’s not ideal granted but it’s an option.

Lam commented at the fans forum that we may have our strongest side of the season out on Friday and said they need to check on Sarginson and Powell. He didn’t say it but you’d guess they’ve had better news on Powell than feared.

I'm more confident than I was.

I don’t agree with your opening line about split halves rugby mate. Williams has been devastating on the right this season because he plays both sides of the field, outside of TL. Our structure is different these days when we have the ball.
I’d have to go with French and Williams in the halves with ZH at fullback.
Please to have Partington back.

We play split halves. It's as clear as day. Williams plays and controls one side and Tommy plays and controls the other. Does this mean they won't appear on either side of the pitch? No.

We don't at all play with a lead 7 with a 6 off him whatsoever. When French came on, his role was to run the left side, and it was a bit of a mess. It wasn't Tommy leading French around the pitch with French playing off him at all. It was French used as a playmaker, on the left edge. However as he's had limited time in the role and the combinations weren't there which makes him look like he's not a half.

This season our attack looks different as we have Zak who's not really a pivot, our attack is clunky at times. I massively rate Zak, but the system doesn't cater to him. Give French an opportunity to play 1. You'll see a difference in attack.

Who in their right mind would play Williams at 9. Give your heads a wobble

Adrian Lam? He did last week anyway. I certainly wouldn’t go that way if we need to replace Powell. The indications last night from Lam were that we may not have to but he didn’t say anything concrete either way.

We’ll have to agree to disagree. The split halves was clear as day under Waney but not anymore. Williams was predominantly left sided and the vast majority of our attack went down our left. Lam has removed the shackles and given him a much bigger license to roam and he’s had a ball on our right edge. Which ever way we go, Williams is outside of Leuluai and causing havoc.

Anyway back on topic......

Can anyone explain to me why Saints fans don't think it is possible for a team to outplay them?

The only way they can lose is if the don't play as well as the fans expect them to (whatever that is or what that means)

Warrington didn't beat them, they beat themselves, the ref did them etc etc. From what i am reading, that is the only way we win this game. Them not turning up and the ref being bias towards us................because ref's are always bias towards us. The modern day Super League fan blames the ref for everything, especially if they have just been beaten by Wigan. It's pathetic.

We’re certainly going into it with nothing to lose this week. It’s a Keven Keegan king of game.... I would love it if we beat them!!!

It's just not the case mate. The only time the shackles are off is when we're in their 20 or 10. When Lam himself said he's open to play more off the cuff or creative rugby. But this is off the cuff not a 7 then 6 first and second receiver. Truth is the entire structure of the team is still split halves, as it is for most teams. If you watch the game both halves are on either side of the PTB that's just how we play. If we played a more 'old school' style we'd see Tommy playing narrow in the middle channel operating either side of the PTB with George as a second receiver, but it just doesn't really happen maybe apart from when it's off the cuff on their try line.

Did you see French outside of a playmaking Tommy? No, he was playing out left as a playmaker, half the reason why he looked lost as he was asked to run the left edge. which is the wrong way to play French, he's a strike weapon not a playmaker/organiser.

Will the RFL have the b***s and appoint Robert Hicks for Friday night's game or will they bottle it and bow to the pressure of stains and not appoint him

hope we lose as I cant see us beating saints twice, if we lose Friday I can see us winning the final

It's Kendall

Whilst I’d never say I hope we lose, I do buy in to that theory in a way. We have one win against them in our locker IMO but I can’t see us going back to back. Nobody has done that against them in a long time, even when games are a couple of months apart, let alone a couple of weeks apart. If we got to a Grand Final against them on the back of a defeat on Friday I think it can put them back in to a bit of a comfort zone and when you get to a final form goes out the window and when everything is on the line we’ve seen Saints melt. They shouldn’t feel a lot of pressure this Friday, with the safety net of a second semi final and that should see them at their best. I’d imagine there will be some knocking knees at Old Trafford though as and when they get there.

As I said, I’ll agree to disagree. Williams setting up the try for French v Cas is a perfect example but hey ho, you see it your way, I see it mine.

I do get that point and do understand that point but there is a big issue with losing on Friday. It means we have another hard fought and tough game with potential injuries to get through just a week beforehand. I say go to Saints, beat them, let them play the eliminator and them beat them again at Old Trafford. They have done us 3 times, why can't we do them for the last 2? I am very happy we have even got this far and the noisy neighbours are the clear favourites but many have buckled under that pressure, ourselves included. We need to take all our experience and channel all that good form and energy into sticking it to them on their own midden. A ground they have a 100% record on this season. That would certainly knock them off their perch a bit.

I buy into the theory that a defeat on Friday is no bad thing. Neither is an extra game the week after, let Saints stay in that comfort zone for the GF and we'll go in battle hardened. I don't think a week off has ever done us good.

Saying that, I wouldn't be gutted if we batter them Friday and smash their confidence. Something like the last few years in the Super 8's would be nice.

No pressure on Wigan whatsoever.

I'd much rather we win on Friday. If we do that'll mean Saints have lost the 4 biggest games they've played under Holbrook. That would ramp up the psychological impact on them going in the grand final (if they got there) with the perceived idea of them being bottlers.

Only downside might be we always seem to play worse after a week off!

I can’t see us winning the GF full stop so it’s irrelevant to me whether we win or not.

That being said a win on Friday would be a huge psychological gain on Saints and would compound that “can’t win a big game” mantra.

My personal opinion is that Saints will win Friday and will win the GF.

I mean they have to, right? If they don’t there’ll be a total meltdown in St Helens

There’s certainly pros and cons and realistically it’s only fans who’ll have this debate. The players will be all guns blazing on Friday to get the job done and will be pretty gutted if they don’t. I think that point about how poor we’ve been after a week off is a valid one. We struggled away in Hull twice after the cup rounds and it’s always been tough to know if you’re better having a week off or not before a Grand Final (again should we get there. I think Salford will go through Thursday and cause whoever they face in their semi a headache. There game won’t be as intense as Saints vs Wigan).

It is difficult to know with week off, as the only relevant comparison is with seasons long gone by. Between 98 and 2001, when this system was in operation, the side finishing top and having the week off won this game 3 times out of 4 (with us being the only side to lose it in 2000). More recent week off games in the play-offs were under other systems, which may or may not be useful comparisons. Personally, while I see the value of being battle hardened, I think our boys are probably fairly banged up compared to Saints this week, so winning this Friday would be the best outcome. Also, if we lose and then get through, lots has been made of the psychological pressure on Saints, but it would also be hard for our team to generate much belief going into a final against a team that would have already beaten us 4 times on the bounce, the most recent being just a fortnight before. I'd definitely rather have the win! That said, I think Saints will win anyway.

I too think Saints will win and quite easily too if I’m honest,I still think Wigan will make the GF and then it’s anyone’s guess as to what happens once we all get to Old Trafford

It's literally facts mate. I do see your point BTW, but that's not playing a 6 and 7 on 1st and 2nd receiver... It's about the structure of the team. All I'm saying is try French as a FB in the current system, you'll see an attacking difference.

FWIW I agree. I think we're a good bit off Saints. Our attack this season has been pretty poor to watch with some moment of flair. Defence has improved, but I think Saints have far more to offer.
I think those who say Lam's improved the attack need their heads checking...