Lets not forget every team has been patchy this year.

Wigan and Saints can't be sure where they stand as their opposition ran out of steam after 20 minutes and neither Huddersfield or Cas had their main halfback on the pitch to kick them out of trouble. Or to trouble the line.

Not sure why Sneyd was not playing???

I'm just happy that the saturday games where closer affairs, otherwise it would have been a terrible start to the playoffs.

Now the crowds should build as surely all teams in the next round will have a good chance of winning and the round after Saints know could be their last game of the season, unlike the first round were there is no route to the GF and no chance of being knocked out.

Considering how tight the top 6 was , the results of the first two playoffs were a surprise. I expected much closer affairs

Saints were saving themselves for the playoffs

With Leeds out & Saints earning clubcall we have a very good chance now of reaching Old Trafford. An outstanding achievement w/o Lomax, Walsh & Wilkin for so long.

I don't hold much hope of winning the comp w/o any real pivots but I recall going to recent Saints grand finals & cursing the fact that it always teemed it down.

Due to personel we are playing top quality wet weather football ATM, decent kicking game, great chase & tackling has been exceptional. Our strength is currently in the forwards & with Walmsley returning & Thompson back in squad you can never say never. We can but dream, & the pressure is definitely off.

Our chances of getting to Old Trafford are only marginally easier than they were after Friday evenings win against Cas.

This is merely because a 7th placed team defeated a 6th place team.
There is the argument that Leeds were weaker anyway due to the mental and physical fatigue of winning the challenge cup and were actually only the 7th best.

I would like to remind people of the other year when we defeated Wire comfortably in the first playoff game. Fans were cock a hoop, Wire then won their elimination match, came to Langtree park and smashed us out the ground.

All the teams left in the competition are capable of defeating Saints at Langtree park, if Saints are even slightly off their focus and the opposition is full primed.

As for the grand final. Wigan are clear favourites, but they were that for the challenge cup and looked what happened there this year.

IF we managed to get to the grand final and it was against Wigan we would be massive underdogs. I would not expect us to win. However I would regard getting to the final as a huge achievement and something to build upon for the following season.
IF we did defeat Wigan in the grand final it would be a huge result, however its not impossible. We defeated them on their own midden this year despite losing Walsh after just 20 minutes.

Being able to compete in playoff matches despite having no recognised half backs should be a huge psychological bonus going into next season. It means that even if opposition sides shut down our halves we can incorporate a plan B and still tough it out.

Who should make ways for Walmsley though. There was plenty of aggression and steal from Thompson and Richards and I think that splash of youth and eagerness to put the body on the line ripples through the team.

I think it would have to be Lafrank or one of the other older heads that makes way.

I'd drop Richards as he was crap going forward but good in defence

Stats show he was still better than Laffranchi ...

Richards and Thompson both made the same metres. Both were good in defence.

I thought Richards did what he was asked to. He was steady plodder with the ball and did he defence. He's brought more to the team than laffranchi has.

However, I'd bring big Alex in for Richards as I think Thompson should stay in the 17 but Id also consider leaving Boof out but he will go with Boof for his experience.

I think I would always have Thompson in the side, he,s a hard energetic player.