First of all just wanted to say how well Royce has done this season, his first year as a head coach in SL and with the injuries he has had to contend with I dont think any of us were really expecting to be back at Old Trafford. Not once this year has he used injuries as an excuse (IIRC when we went to Huddersfield with 12 players out, he blamed himself for changing tactics and not believing enough in his young team for the loss), has just gone about his business under the radar and has got us firing at just the right time of the season.

He has blooded through the youngsters brilliantly and turned a lot of them from fringe first teamers with bits of experience into household names, I think 12 months ago if we were going into a Grand Final with Makinson, Foster, Dixon and a half back pairing of Gaskell and Lomax, we would have been worried about being under-strength and now we are all fully confident in their abilities to go and perform (after upstaging international stars to knock out defending champs Wigan in the semi final)

It is also refreshing to read an article on the SL website (rlhttps://www.superleague.co.uk/article/saints-eye-perfect-send-off-for-graham/23677rl) where he is quotedSimmons will be tempted to make use of Pryce's vast experience but he is determined not to break up the fledgling half-back pairing of Jonny Lomax and Lee Gaskell that has served them so well this year.

"I'll sit down and watch the video and evaluate," Simmons said. "I wouldn't have started with Leon and he knows that. He accepted that and was quite happy with it.

"He's had very little game time and would have been happy to come off the bench until his illness. We will just have to re-address it but you don't have to be a brain surgeon to work out I won't change the halves."
'"

Indeed. A superb achievement could become the club's best ever. If they pull this off it will be an absolutely magnificent moment for the club.

And I'll have a few apologies to make.

But still, irrespective of the result, it has been an amazing season of effort and resilience by the club and the players. So many times they could have just thrown the towel in this year, given up like 99% of the fans on here had done, but they refused to accept it and are now fighting back.

I just hope that rubbishy Lance Hobag doesn't ruin it all next season.

He hasn't played a bloody second for us yet killjoy, go get some happy pills from your doctor.

If he disrupts Lomaskell, a full on riot is in order.

Not been 100% convinced on him this season, but fair play to him and the players for timing the run perfectly at the business end and our defence has been terrific for a few months now. We'll need that intensity in the Grand Final if we're to stand any chance. Ultimately you're judged on what you win though, so he's not achieved anything yet. But recent signs have certainly been promising. Let's hope he delivers the best preperations and team talk of his life on Saturday.

All the signs are good and for once we are actually looking like a team who can play the pressure games well.

We soaked up everything Wigan had in that first half, its always a fools game predicting knock out games, but I don't mind being that fool.

I said we would make a final and a semi. I just got them the wrong way round, I expected us to make the semis of the playoffs and the final of the CC.

Oh well Saints by 20 for me.

Bring it on.

Has to be said Royce comes over really well, a humble bloke with no need to make big waves in the media or court attention. He comes over as the type of guy you could imagine coaching an U10s side.

And his achievements with Saints in the circumstances this year have been superb. Well in Royce.

I was very happy to see he has emotions, and they got the better of him on Saturday.
I like to see coaches show passion.

got to say i had my doubts for this season about the Saints team.Royce has done wonders for the team/club & my doubting Thomas thing. As some has said he has never shown much emotion unlike Basil but things got to him V Wigan these last two weeks.Can't make up my mind whether i like the Basil type thing or someone who is a tad on the poker face,Royce did at times show some smiles.Brian McDermott is too frozen face tho.Once again Thanks Royce see you next season.He's signed for two hasn't he?.

Yes, he's signed for two seasons.

He's done a great job I think and I'll still think that even if we don't win on Saturday. Unlike some fans, I'm looking for progress and I've seen it in pretty much all our players and in the way they play as a team. I like watching this team play because of their spirit and because so many of them are local lads, which is a novel experience for me as a relative newcomer to the sport/Saints. A win on Saturday would be wonderful, but it would be a wonderful bonus as I didn't think we would even get to the Grand Final this year due to all the disruption.

In addition to the professional side of things, Royce comes across as an ordinary, decent bloke who cares about what he is doing. He got involved in the 10K run, which I thought was a nice touch, and he seems genuinely interested in young talent. He's also bloody hilarious and I'd be happy to hear more of his stories. And I thought his celebration of Roby's try on Saturday was class.

Comes over as a really honest, nice bloke like one of your favourite uncles. Should imagine the players have total respect for him with the exception of the "17th Man" perhaps.

Given this years performances, would you be happy for McManus to sit down with Royce in the off season and extend his contract? Personally I would be happy to give him the chance to build his team around our youngsters and have the chance of stability for the club. The players certainly seem to want to play for him which didn't always appear to be the case under potter.

The most promising thing with Simmons is what he said about our first half yesterday. "We were trying not to lose". To me that's very encouraging. It suggests he wants to not only win but with with good attacking rugby. With this season under their belt and the addition of LH I am excited to see what he can do with them if this is the start.

two more trophy free years just like the Potter era

I bet Royce will be chomping at the bit to get back to it. Being out-coached by James Lowes and Brian McDermott must bloody sting.