Possibly not. But don't we play them before or after Wembley? Hopefully their minds will be elsewhere.

I don't get it. We can't handle their pace and the speed they play the game at. Yet two are their three props tonight were 38 years old, Burrow, McGuire and Sinfield all over 30. Why can't we come up with a gameplan to prevent it? That's the most worrying thing about tonight. We knew it was coming, the coach knew it was coming and the players all knew it was coming. Yet it came anyway.

For me the most obvious way to beat Leeds is to slow them down. Get number in the tackle, artificially like Wigan do. And fight at the play the ball to keep them down. Tonight they were pushing forward, pinching two or three metres a play the ball, or going over or round the markers. Stop that happening. And get in their faces, stop giving them so much time. You let Burrow and McGuire run laterally across the whole pitch and they will find a gap. And we've got to kick better. It was truly amateurish tonight from everyone who kicked.

You forgot about their fantastic offloading game. You need to stop if to slow them down like dire did twice.

Warrington stop the offloads because, they won the collusion, and the overall forward battle. Saints showed more glimpses than in the previous games against Leeds. But, still lost the forward battle IMO.

Aaah, the old Northern [ifighting spirit[/i in evidence again, I see.



You mean the team guys like Walmsley, Sav, Percy, Vea (when on) were punching holes through all night? The side which couldn't have gained more assistance from our two halves had they bribed them with a million pounds pre-game?

In case you don't realise - unbeatable sides shouldn't be [iclinging onto a four-point lead with twenty minutes to go with the opponent having all the momentum and rightly fancying his chances.[/i

Some of our lads played as well as they have all season tonight. Certainly Sav. Unfortunately fifteen men (who were cut down to thirteen by our rotten injury luck) were badly let down by two.

Sure, some of you can say it wouldn't have made any difference had Vea & Greenwood stayed on, or Walsh made every tackle and kicked into space as often as he put it down Hardaker's throat, or Burns broke the advantage line at any point - but we all know that's pure bull.

Given our complete ineptitude in the halves I'm amazed we played as well as we did.

Let's be realistic here.

Leeds weren't clinging on to anything. They completely bossed and controlled the majority of the game but for a 15min period in the second half when we scored two.

Savelio was very good, as was Walmsley (Jones and Vea when they were on the pitch were good too) but I think you're being generous about the rest of the pack who were soundly beaten by their opposite numbers.

If you're not able to control Leeds and their offloading game then you will lose.

100% agree. We score flattered us. I bet KC couldn't beleive we was still in that game at half time. They have Been far suppior than us in all three games.

They have better backs, better halves and better pack. We can beat them for sure but Id say they would beat us four times from five.

Leeds are good side and good club.

Are you the Rugby League equivalent to Lord Haw Haw or someone?

When Saints close to 4 (with our starting back row off the pitch, I should add) the game is on. No amount of self-defeatist moping (seriously, why don't you just surrender and do us all a favour? ) changes this fact.

Leeds this year are surprising everyone, especially their fans who wrote them off before the season started.
The team itself is what wins games rather than individuals. Tremendous spirit and desire is evident, and Sinfield controls the tempo. When do you see Leeds panic? It's a 80 minute game plan, they stick to

Next season will be different, with the class of players retiring, but this year, they look like they want every trophy available

I suppose Saints will need (prefer) to meet Leeds in the qualifying play off rather than Old Trafford. You won't beat Leeds there, and there's not many Saints fans would disagree

Warrington practice the 'dark arts' when playing Leeds. Holding down, plenty of niggle, borderline tactics. It disrupts Leeds' flow. This is how they control the ruck speed against us.

Saints and Leeds don't play the game in this manner.

TBH when Warrington have beaten us (Leeds) this season I don't think they've done anything tactically amazing which stopped us. Just think we've been off colour those days and passes didn't stick and they've played with a desperation to win. Ben Westwood will still be banned for them when we play them next week and he's been the key for those two wins leading from the front so he'll be a massive loss.

Not so generous in defeat, after all.

ROFLMAO!!

I remember 2011. We just couldn't beat Wigan. We played them six times that season and we lost the first four, sometimes quite hansomely. But clearly eventually we learned how to play them because we beat them in the play offs: not once, but twice, and by the same score.

Because we came closer this time than the last twice, I'm crossing my fingers that 2015 will be a repeat of 2011 but obviously this time with Leeds.

Sorry ThePrinter, but that's not really a fair manner of looking at things. The turnaround stuff is neither here nor there - the game is littered with wins for sides with a shorter turnaround and a longer one.

The injuries stuff could easily be twisted (we lost Greenwood and Vea in the game also, you lost JJB as well).

The reality is you beat us and deserved to do so. You could have been out of sight in half an hour, but you weren't regardless of what we say or don't say. We were within 4 of you when Masoe knocked on in your half when we had much momentum. Swings and roundabouts as they say.

The only caveat I'd offer as a Saints fan, is that I honestly do believe Saints have a lot of improvement on the showings we've put up against Leeds this year (if you're interested, check the QUITTING thread where I've listed four), I'm not convinced Leeds can massively improve on the showings you've put in on us.

I've followed Saints for too long to write them off and I won't be doing it this year either. It'll still take a mighty fine effort to knock us over in the Play Offs, especially if we start to remedy some of the issues we've shown against you. However, right now, you're big favourites, no doubt. Again though, arrogantly dismissing us is something I'd be wary of doing as a Leeds fan. Admittedly, our recent history against you gives you a lot of confidence but that comes to an end let me tell you. It was you guys that did it to our legends starting in 2007, the very same could easily happen to yourselves in 2015.

Not dismissing Saints' chances but it doesn't alter the results between us so far.

To ignore the turnaround thing is kind of head in sand stuff though. To claim their's a equal list of short turnaround wins neither holds up or highlights not every one of those will be a game between 1st vs 2nd in a cup semi final. You can't honestly believe an extra two days rest for Leeds (or even two days less for Saints) wouldn't alter a thing about the game?

As for the injuries. You get a 2nd rower get injured then you roll another 2nd row on in a straight swap. Aiton who defends in the traditional hooker position in the middle making 30/40 tackles goes off and the 'replacement' in Burrow comes on and defends next to Hall and everyone has to move in one. Imagine Roby going off and his replacement has to defend out wide, what effect would that have on your props not having Roby (or a replacement) to defend with them in the middle? Very significant indeed.