Don't think Saints are good enough to win it but I wouldn't write Cas off completely.

We will indeed. I've been watching an inconsistent side for much of the last decade. Strangely, we've still managed the odd final appearance and even the occasional trophy during that time

Why can't Saints win it? Certain posters on here have being saying for weeks now that Saints would be losing due to their injuries. Obviously having no idea of the Saints players other than those injured. And yet they have kept winning.

Only time will tell whether it happens, but can't see how they are written off. Injury hit or not have they have beaten Leeds twice this year, despite at times having big territory in the game against them.

Anything can happen over 80 minutes and we do stand a chance of winning it. My worry is that our game is solely based on attempting to bully teams off the park by having as many big lads on the field as possible. You saw last night we have very little creativity in the backs and our chances rest with James Roby being able to create something out of dummy half on the back of good go forward. If we get to Old Trafford on a big wide pitch I'd fear for us. Especially against Wigan who would match us up front and have more guile in the outside backs.

If it had stayed 13 aside last night, we'd have lost by 20.

you forgot to mention when we beat them at langtree park earlier in the season...we had 8 1st teamers missing as well!......

I'm not sure you can say that with any degree of certainty. Before Moon went off wasn't the score 0-2 to us or had it moved up to 2 all by then? I think the try came after we lost Percival. And don't forget Percival. He is one of our few remaining attacking threats and certainly our only remaining strike centre (as well as our best goal kicker) but we had to stick LMS in there because our other strike centre is being used as a combo 13/6. We were then also one down on the subs too which wouldn't have helped us either. So while Leeds and all the pundits can go on about Leeds being one man down throughout the game, we also lost a man and a valuable one at that.

Yes but you still had 13 men on the pitch which was one more than us for 60 minutes and without the help of a few dubious Silverwood decisions might have still lost.
FWIW I still think you have a chance of making the GF if nothing else with your home advantage and two bites of the cherry.
Wigan can't play as badly as they have done recently so should be there or thereabouts.
Before the CCF I tipped Cos to win the league but don't think they will make the GF.
Wire and Giants maybe not this time.
So Leeds against Saints or Wigan for me.
Its pretty open this year and should make for a good play off series.

Depending on how things work out with league placings and who ends up with clubcall then if Wigan and Leeds meet in the last 4 it could be any one of the other four contenders who progresses in the other semi to the GF.

However I reckon at least one (if not both) of Wigan or Leeds will peak in the playoffs and if they do I can't see any of the other four beating them.

Saints lack key men through injury
Wire lack leaders
Cas and Hudds lack experience (for those thinking Cas now have it because of the playing in the CC, well Wire won the CC in 2009 and it took them until 2012 to find a way to get to Old Trafford, even when they looked nailed on in 2011)

Even though they won in 2010, I think something clicked for Wigan regarding how to play playoff rugby last year in 2013, similar to how Leeds clicked with it several years ago.

Now I'm no St Helens fan. But I find it nothing short of utter arrogance that Whinos fans are dismissing them for the play-offs.

Didn't they just turn you over on your own ground yet again and completed a double over you? And without any half backs??

As for Leeds supporters branding Wigan their most feared opponents during the play-offs, have a look at their board, not many of their fans, who see them week in week out, rate their chances!

And if you look you'll find Saints fans dismissing their own chances too! They are all opinions. Don't take them to heart.

Terrible post.

To me wigan playing poorly is irrelevant. They have the halfbacks, the pack, the backs and the experience. They've not exactly planned to lose recent games but i think they've assesed things and basically figured it's a much of a muchness. Getting primed is more important then actual league placing so they've not been near 100% while teams they have played have been battling for their lives for one reason or another...... So they've had a few little defeats big f*cking deal.

I will be suprised if wigan aren't lining up at old trafford by the end of it.

I recall as dismal performance at Huddersfield in the last round of 2012 and 4 games later we were arranging another homecoming. Wigan are more than capable of hitting form again when it matters. I don't think Saints have the strength in depth to cover for the missing players in play-off rugby. They've done well enough in the regular rounds but who was busting a gut every week? Even Huddersfield appear to have held something back this time. They may prove me wrong but I'd be very surprised if Saints win it.

I think gaining virtually all home games in the playoffs will be a massive boost for us, we've generally played much better at LP this year as opposed on the road.

I think we can make the final, but what happens on the day is anyone's guess.

I don't think saints can reach old Trafford tbh. To many strike players missing which is a shame as we've topped the league for most the season.

Just shows that a injury crisis at the wrong end of the season can ruin the whole season but that's rugby league.