Sounds about right to me. Even in the off season I felt like they would probably be going into this game in better shape than us following the WCC, and I think that's broadly right even though their attack hasn't looked overly sharp.

I think Saints are marginal favourites, but it would lay down a massive marker if we can get the win. Over the course of the season things are only likely to improve for us in terms of getting players back, being on drier tracks, and getting the WCC challenge out of our system. Obviously not the case for Saints, plus they're at home.

At what point are we going to stop mentioning the WCC hangover, what is the actual hangover from it, yes it was a tough game defensively but that was weeks ago now, if they have not recovered within a couple of weeks then the S&C staff are doing something wrong, time to stop mentioning Penrith and the WCC and just focus on the team taking to the pitch, conditions and the opposition

Taking my boy to his first derby tomorrow
He’s pestering like hell about the full words to the Allez Allez Allez song. Can anyone help?

Think it's more us, the fans, who've had an issue.
Everyone was hyped up for the Penrith game and it delivered but since then the fixture list has been to put it mildly a bit uninspiring. GF feels IMO anyway like our first big game of the league season

It’s not just what goes on, on the pitch, it’s to do with peaking the players at the right time.

Peet mentioned a few times during the off season they would look to peak for the WCC game. Training would be different more intense and demanding over a sustained period of weeks prior to that game much different to how they would normally go into a season.

It’s possible to peak 2-3 times over the course of the season. With all things after a peak there needs to be a trough to assist recovery and get the bodies back on track.

I think training intensity will have dropped off for the last few weeks post Penrith which is reflected in our lethargic performances.

I think it will have been ramped up again, but not to pre Penrith levels, prior to this match.

I think we will have looked at the fixtures post Penrith and used it as a deliberate active recovery period post the WCC.

And the trough has been the less than convincing performances over the last few weeks and the opposition we have come up against, if we are not over that by now then like I said the S&C need to take a serious long look at themselves.
Like you said, training will no doubt have adapted post WCC, possibly more rest days than normal but it's time to move on from it, get back to the regular season and stop talking about 'hangovers' the only hangovers the players should have now is from the beers they drink post games

Go onto a Saints board from last season. I know they travelled to oz for the game, but they lost games that we have won this year post the WCC. From memory they won the 1st game back and looked pretty good in that but then lost the next 2 or 3, before winning a couple prior to us dominating them on Good Friday. I'm pretty sure there was lots of talk about lethargy post the WCC and that theme ran throughout the season

Yea mean I joke about Wigan jet lag but it did seem to hamper saints and then not having the massive depth really snookered them last year. I think we are coming out the other side of the WCC, I think the majority of the drag on has been coming down from that win to play the likes of London away, it doesn’t compete. I think once we get a few injured players back we’ll be settled. Hopefully faz will get a week off soon

I’ve a feeling Field won’t play today , especially if the rain continues this morning . He’s carrying some sort of niggle and I don’t think he will be chanced if the conditions are going to be heavy

I’m sure that would be last resort really. If that’s the case French FB and rocky in the halves. I’m interested to see what Eckersley looks like a FB but not in this game

I keep checking the weather forecast, it's gone from light showers all afternoon to chucking it down 3 till 5, typical !!!

Nice and sunny at the min here

Flat battery means I won't be seeing the game live.



So either NowTV pass, or watch down the pub.

Saints are the best team so far, this could end in tears if we don't wake up

Good lord, this ref is desperate to give them 6 points isn't he.

20 mins in

error, penalty, error, penalty etc etc

Need to wake up soon. Luckily for us, Saints have no invention whatsoever and our defence is dealing with it so far despite us giving them multiple opportunities

How has he not been binned for that blatant trip?!?!

Well, whatever happens, Saints certainly can't blame the ref.

Same reason they didn't give a tip tackle on Wardle, the high shot on Miski or how he gave a pen against us for a Saints knock-on - he's absolutely bent AF.

Scary that some people just don't choose to believe it. He's an absolute scum bag.

Sort out our discipline and we can do this.

O’Neill has been horrific at 9. Need a fit Leeming in there but doesn’t look like that’s the case. Remarkable effort to still be only within 2 points though.

O'Neill has been absolutely everywhere in defence. We've been on the back foot most of the game - I'm not sure many hookers would be able to thrive in that half. Team penalties and errors are costing us. Problems if Thompson has failed his HIA which is likely if we're honest.

I’d like to see his missed tackle count, he’s been bumped off too much and not won the contact. The Thompson thing sums up the game though, Kendall allowing a free for all when it’s Saints defending.

Silly penalties and a bit rudderless in that first half.

I’d like to see Wardle get at Hurrell in the second half think there is some success to be had there.

Saints probably feel like they should be up by more but their clunky attack and excellent line defence by us has kept it so close.

I know it's all in the new rules, but that's not intentional and changes the game.