Comparisons like that prove absolutely jack, even more so this season with the totally lopsided teams so to speak due to the covid situation and the mass changes in the 17's that teams are able to put out.

Its all ands ifs and buts at the end of the day. I think its fair to say had we not had the long term injuries to Taylor, Griffin and latterly Connor, not been disrupted by the covid protocols, not missed chunks of training etc we'd have been in a different position. We haven't been able to get any rythm going due to the stop/start nature of not being able to fulfil fixtures or undertake training plus the number of players missing against Catalans due to injury, suspension and covid has not helped. This is a similar case for other teams too and Wakefield as another example, they've gott games played even though they've been heavily depleted at times. Certain clubs I do believe have used the covid situation purely for and to their own advantage and we as a club would have been better calling off the Catalans game but as a club seemed to want to ensure integrity in the game by doing all that was possible to play it.

If we can get the majority of our first choice 17 on the field on Saturday and their fitness levels are good then we have more than a chance of winning on Saturday. I'd also argue its fair to say had Connor not been injured then we would likely have beaten Huddersfield and Leeds.

Rovers have missed Saints twice, Hull, Warrington and Salford. Covid has worked wonders for their season and will ultimately result in them finish the season in a false position.
No doubt their fans will still come out and claim they would have won all those games.

Also played Leigh twice very nearly got beaten a couple of weeks ago and will also play them at the Magic weekend.

I’m not sure who you are trying to kid saying this is rovers grand final. The noise coming out of Pearson, Taylor etc in the local rag and the sheer desperation shown indicates otherwise. I would go as far to say FC NEED to win, not only for playoff hope this year but subsequent ticket sales for next season and the imminent financial black hole.

Onto the game, I think it’s a tough call. Dependant on the teams named I think but it sure feels like we are now going through the injury problems you lot went through earlier in the year.

I think with abdull & quinlan missing we will struggle to fire in attack, as I don’t think our forwards can get on a massive roll against your monster pack. Hopefully SKD makes it as him vs tuimavave is a quality match up to be fair.

Parcell and litten could cause havoc against your middles like, we have to play quick and keep turning them round and making them defend. Give cheap ball away it could be a long day for us

I think FC’s desperation will shine through and you lot nick it by 6-10

If we are anywhere near our best we will win regardless of who is or isn't playing for Rovers.

Pretty much my thoughts....

See the bookies have us as favourites against our Old Trafford chasing opponents.

Decent post, it is a must win for us, not really because it Rovers but can't fall further behind a play off rival.

I hope SKD plays, he won't be fit and Carlos has to class to cause him real problems.

50/50 game for me, if we have the most of the players back we will be strong on paper, but low of confidence, against Rovers who are playing good rugby with lots of confidence.

He will be match fit unlike a few of yours coming back, could be blowing after a frantic start, and I think he can be jabbed and be ok for the period of the game with some support on the actual injury. Think the decision for rovers is do we risk him in this game and potentially cause further injury and then miss some winnable games such as Leigh and wakey. Or is it manageable for the rest of the year. He certainly played well when coming back on last week against hardaker so we can only hope.

Hearing Satae is out for you, I bloody hope so. What’s up with him? That would make it a genuine 50/50 game. Decent weather, good crowd, Z list celebrities pushing the game on social media. Good to be back eh!

Shame about Bastian, made great strides. Rumour one of the Wilson’s is coming over to us from you guys as well, although I must admit I’m not overly clued up on academy level.

The club are doing a great effort to drum up interest on social media, but sadly it's looking like the West Upper wasn't needed after all.

Take your pick if it is Covid, the state of SL in general, our home form and/or August peak holiday season that is keeping a few thousand away. Best we can do is deliver the performance of the season to get them back in for Cas the week after

I think sadly its a combination of all the above. Hopefully the game will be a great one and we will get not only a win but a performance too.

Connor, Sneyd, Savelio, Johnstone, Wynne and Shaul named in the squad.. No Satae or Fonua though.

No Satae is a big blow

Yep that certainly is a huge blow to be without Satae as he's been one of if not the best and most destructive forwards in SL this season.

Heard Sneyd still a doubt too I'd go
Connor
B
Carlos
Scott
Swift
Grub
Sneyd or Macca
Tag
Mint
Sao
Ma'u
Dre
Lane
Subs
Fash
Bowden
Cator
Shaul

Offset slightly by Taylor returning, not fussed about Fonua at all needs releasing.

So we're pretty much full strength apart from Satae and Griffin.

Connors the game winner for us, links up well with Reynolds and sneyd we win.

Satae is a big miss given Tag isn’t match fit. Fonua on the other hand is a relief to be missing.

Big blow that Satae's out but at this stage of the season that's a strong side. More than enough to beat Rovers despite their Grand Final winning form who also have players out.

I see that tonight's game between Warrington and Catalans has been postponed due to Covid in the Dragons' camp.

A certain irony there after last week.

Jack Brown is in the 17 I believe.

I hope you are right, deserved to be.

My bench would be

Taylor
Brown
Lane
Shaul

Very worrying with no Satae, Taylors only just back Bowden has no impact these days, Fash works hard but I've never seen him break a tackle, Brown is young and inclined to make silly errors unfortunately without Satae our props are no better than Rovers.

Probably get called off tomorrow or Saturday morning.

I agree about Jack Brown but he still offers more than Bowden and Fash and the one thing he does regularly is offload the ball in the tackle which is what all good teams do as it creates gaps.
Problem with us is that the receiver has usually gone to sleep and the momentum is lost.
The key to this game is keep the indiscipline to a minimum and hold the defensive line when HKR move the ball wide.
Rovers will start fast as usual and no doubt score first to wake us up.
Bowden really needs to step up and put himself into position to take carries and not hide.

Pivotal game of the season for us and not because it's the derby. 4 defeats on the trot. Yes, you could use the reason of injuries, covid and the quality of the opposition. We have the strongest team playing since the first round. Not many other teams are in that position. Rovers are favourites on form but we will have the better 17.

We need to deliver. No excuses, a defeat would be a major disappointment.