Sit down.

Take a long, deep breath.

Ready?

I thought Warrington would beat us by 20. You were right and I was wrong.






That said you have been predicting the terminal decline of the team since about 2006 so if you predict every possible outcome you must be right eventually.

Completely agree, I guess there simply isn't as much pressure to win. Simply getting to the GF has completely exceded this years expectations, and despite what certain red rose trolls may think, it is a phenomenal achievement in itself.

I can't believe i'm even thinking this way (let alone sharing it) but as long as we give a decent account of ourselves, then I aren't at all bothered what the result is. Not meaning to sound sympathetic or patronising but if Saints do win, who can begrudge them. Not only the 4 losses, but to reach OT with their run of injuries is almost as impressive as us getting there!

That said, by Friday I'm hoping I'll be not quite as passive, and have more of a 'hope we smash the cr@p out of the scouse f***ers' attitude.

If we play as well as we did at HJ, we will win

I wasn't claiming to be right, so you didn't have to admit any wrongs to me. I was far more wrong on the team.

You know your last sentence isn't true, so I don't really need to comment do I?

Does the law of averages extend to the international game?

Who's going to be betting on England winning the Four Nations, surely our losing streak against the Aussies has got to come to an end some time....?

Quote: Gotcha "I wasn't claiming to be right, so you didn't have to admit any wrongs to me. I was far more wrong on the team. You know your last sentence isn't true, so I don't really need to comment do I?'" Not sure what made you think Leeds were any more likely to win than when they played at the Halliwell Jones earlier in the season: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=484567&start=15 or even when they faced each other at Headingley: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=495523 but it appears you were right on all three occasions so top marks for that. __________ I wonder if we can persuade the forums 'alpha male' to join in the Prediction comp next season?

Quote: Gotcha "I wasn't claiming to be right, so you didn't have to admit any wrongs to me. I was far more wrong on the team. You know your last sentence isn't true, so I don't really need to comment do I?'" Not sure what made you think Leeds were any more likely to win than when they played at the Halliwell Jones earlier in the season: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=484567&start=15 or even when they faced each other at Headingley: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=495523 but it appears you were right on all three occasions so top marks for that. __________ I wonder if we can persuade the forums 'alpha male' to join in the Prediction comp next season?

I think its anyones game. But there are some interesting things to take into count.

Starting with Saints, the last game for Graham so he will be giving it some welly. They have some young players who havent had to play us in a GF so will just play out of their skin.

Leeds on the other hand have a few things backing them. Theres the obvious one of it being Buderus last game that will spur him on to add a SL ring to his nal of titles. Also we hold the record of the first team to win three GFs on the bounce. We can't add to this but we are in a position to break a record in being the first team from 5th place to win the GF. That record alone would take some beating. Then we can look at the season in general, it has been rather indifferent resulting in said 5th place in the league. Maybe that will be a spur for Leeds, the players will be up for this to vindicate Macca as will he to prove all those neigh sayers (me included) that we were wrong. Plus the likes of Cunningham and Gilmour arent playing this year and they always did us damage the so-and-so's

There is far too much of a love in going on, on both saints and Leeds threads.
I'm here to break up the happy couple. My prediction is Saints by at least twenty.

Graham will be giving it some welly but to be fair when does he ever not?
Roby is also in outstanding form, however I don't think this Saints team is quite as formidable as some we have played (and beaten) in the past. Having said that we probably aren't as formidable either.

Well I really hope it won't be a game too far. I am so pleased we have made it to the finals and if we don't win it will not be a disaster and Saints certainly deserve a win at some stage for their tremendous record of getting to so many GF's.

IMO Leeds have the experience, the motivation, a renewed desire, a nice mix of old and new heads with form and momentum.

You can say that the Saints also have form and momentum but they also have more youngsters than we do who could just be effected by the atmosphere in the Theatre of Dreams.

I hope all the players are fit (incl Ablett) so we can play the same style and tactics and if so I would not change the team. We must keep on the right side of the ref as field position will be crucial and they have a fine goalkicker.

So difficult to call as both sides are capable of running away with it. If we get an even rub of the green from the ref and we keep our form I am backing Leeds to win.

Have to agree with that. It's an odd feeling but since last Friday I've wanted Saturday to come. Thought I was past all that now

I think they are even more formiddable now. For a number of reasons.

Firstly the mental aspect of things. They have a bunch of players who don't have a complex about losing to leeds at old trafford. These players as well, just happen to be pretty damn good. They gave wigan a touch up twice so that should indicate straight away to us that they may be young, but they sure as hell aint no mugs.

Secondly they have a more rounded team, better suited to beating leeds. They have more pace outwide, and more pace and agility at halfback, they have a better kicking game and a more reliable goal kicker.

You just can't rule out this leeds team being able to find a way though. The tenacity and togetherness they display on these occasions is a very powerful factor and can sometimes prove to be the overiding factor.

I have absolutly no idea which way this ones gonna go.

Will saints, ironically, end their losing streak with a rookie halfback pairing?

Will leeds make history and become the first team to win it from 5th?

Oldham lost four on the bounce up to and including 2010.

If we lose this one, of course, we will be in our own little exclusive club!

On the matter of our youngsters ...

Assuming we stick to last week's team (and a couple of players had to go for scans this week - we played Wigan, dontcha know), of the rookie players only Makinson and Gaskell haven't played in a Grand Final before. Poor old Lomax was stuck in the centre position for the first and only time in his career last year (thank you Potter and your idiotic team line ups), Foster played on the wing and Dixon scored the first try for us. In addition to Gaskell and Makinson being GF virgins, LMS and Shenton haven't played in GFs before either but since Shenton has played against the Aussies down under, I don't expect him to have any problems with the occasion.

You could have said all of this about Warrington.

Warrington had no mental baggage about Leeds in Grand Finals or playoffs, we'd only played Leeds in knock out games twice in the modern era, first in the 2006 playoffs when we knocked Leeds out at Headingley and then last year in the Challenge Cup final.

So Warrington certainly had no mental baggage about Leeds and we happen to be pretty damn good (better than Saints who we beat twice and finished above in the league, and yes we beat Wigan home and away in the league also just like we did Leeds).

If Leeds can beat Warrington at Warrington then they can definitely beat this Saints team which I do respect as it is good and they have done very well this year but I think Leeds with Sinfield, Burrow and co will win another GF, it will be a game too far for the Saints.

Sorry, I lazily assumed the original comment referred to the top grade Championship.

Hang on to that silver lining .... just in case.

Best team on the day will win, just as it should be.

Its really hard to call,whats impressed me about Saints recently is the scrambling defence has been outstanding its like watching the old Saints that just would never give up,they dont panic if they go a couple of scores down,there is a real self belief coming back for us.What worries me about Leeds is pace,they can damage us on the break if our line isnt set.On balance i think we have an advantage in the forwards and that may well be the difference after 80 minutes.

Lokking forward to it,its to close to really call but being a Saint im going for us by 4.