Really hope not.
I know it means 3 on the bounce for Saints, but prefer that to a Cats win.
Can't have the Tompkins and MciLorum grubs winning the GF.
Horrible team Cats.

So just like 2006 then

If Saints do win the Grand Final there is an arguement that they are the best team we've ever had. I'm not sure any team of the Super League past could cope with the intensity and defense this side has. The line speed and aggression is frightening.

Let’s not get carried away with this saints side. They have been fabulous this season and I have praised them for this season’s efforts.
Reluctantly I have to point out the standard of the teams in super league this season have been dire. That’s helped them enormously, perhaps I may be biased but the best Leeds team with peacock, sinfield,McGuire, burrow etc etc wouldn’t have a problem beating the current saints side.

Agreed. One thing you can say about this Saints team is they don’t work hard.

Makes me chuckle when people say this Saints would get well beaten against teams of yore. Jeez the line speed they showed on Fri was way in advance of anything the goldens ever faced. Absolutely magnificent.

Yeah the standard of Super League opposition is nothing compared to the magnificent Crusaders team we beat 68-0 at Rodney Parade or the truly amazing Widnes teams we used to face in SL. Some of the opposition the goldens faced was poor. Thats not to detract from the great team we had but i guarantee some Wigan used to criticise our team and say they would get murdered against the great Wigan teams of the 80s and 90s. Of course we wouldnt have.

This Saints team is a fine team with no weaknesses really. Look across the Saints team and tell me what you would target? Personally i think they are a terrific team and should be applauded. They could dominate for years yet.

They are a good side, we’ll see if they have it their own way against another physical side in Cats next week.

Saints will be favourites but I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion.

I actually hope Cats win it, not because I don’t like St Helens but because I think it would be a great shot in the arm for the game. Toulouse may well be coming up and this could be a golden era for French RL. The competition has been quite stale with GF winners let’s face it.

Totally agree. I expect them to win on Saturday, and if they do, I hope they get the NRL champs over early next year. Not saying they would get a win, but they have the style and ferocity to make it difficult for s rusty Aussie team.

Agree that this is an outstanding Saints team in the context of the current competition. Very well coached and certainly the best team the last 3 years. Its very hard to measure greatness as you can only beat whats in front of you. In terms of their grand final wins they have beaten Salford and a Wigan team ( in the last minute) that is been universally slated twelve months later. A win against a very good Catalan team will significantly enhance their reputation. They have also not been tested against a top NRL side.
Are we guilty of thinking the current Leeds team is better than it is and by the nature of that assessment raising the standing of Saints because they are so much better than us. The James Graham/Paul Wellens team that lost a number of fgrand finals was an outstanding team that consistently finished league leaders despite losing one off finals mainly to Leeds. How many leeds players that started on Friday would get into a starting 17 made up of the grand final winning years. I would suggest possibly only Oledski potentially on the bench. Maybe that's a different thread! If Catalans win and do the double are they going to get the respect that they deserve for the outstanding job that McNamara has done?

I agree - this is a very good Saints side.
But for me, the difference is the coaching.
Player for player, on paper, I don't think we're too far off them.
But yes, their line speed, their aggression, their discipline, movement and fitness was a million miles from ours.
Thats' about the coaching.

By the way, I'm not calling for Agar's head. Far from it.
I just think they have very good players, who are superbly coached.

This Saints team is a fine team with no weaknesses really. Look across the Saints team and tell me what you would target? Personally i think they are a terrific team and should be applauded. They could dominate for years yet.'"

Agree very good team. However much easier to have ferocious line speed when you are defending a team always coming out of their own 20. Also much easier to defend with that line speed when you are constantly rolling forward. I said earlier in the thread, stop the outside backs over the first 3 plays and suddenly Saints are not going 40-60m forward before a kick, you pick it up from the kick and you aren’t on your line and line speed is harder to produce.

In terms of where to attack them from an NRL stand point I would say Grace isn’t a brilliant defender to kicks or spread plays. I think Dodd is a young half a quality team would attack. Their back row bar knowles isn’t great and the 20-25 min spread over half time when Walmsley and Lees go off they are vulnerable and nowhere near as dominant, even with quick play the balls and a tired opposition team.

Next year Dodd May start, Welsby will be fullback, Grace will still be in the team, Hoparte/Hurrell on one edge will be a defensive vulnerability. Back row remains a question mark and they will still have the problem when Walmsley goes off/gets injuries.

Like most teams if you keep everybody fit and build some cohesion then you have a chance. Saints are a great team but against an NRL side they simply won’t march up the field from early plays, they won’t be able to put deep pressuring kicks in every set and the opposition won’t be coming away from their own line every set. If you can stop that rhythm to their play you can make them do things they are more uncomfortable with and you can then try and attack the weaker areas I mentioned before.'"

Most definitely have a better coach Saints.

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