So then....a week to recharge the batteries then
FC host a Wigan side on a Roll ....Wigan by plenty
Huddersfield will feel they need another win to be safe, Leeds are in need of at least 2 more wins....tough call, but Huddersfield by the odd score
St Helens v Wakefield. Depends on which side Saints field,bt even their kids could probably defeat Wakey on present form. Sants by a few
Catalan v Wire. A lot depends on the cup semi result here, but if Catalan want a tp 5 finish, they need to get some form.....I'll opt for the French by 1 score
HKR V Castleford. Castleford are i 5th and will want to cement that, HKR need to win 2 more......close game, Cas by 2 scores
London v Salford. London will be treating every game as a cup final, whilst Salford have an eye on the play-offs.....Head says Salford by a few, but London at Home are a tough nut to crack.....London by a point.

Again, every game is key......

Cant argue with any of those predictions other than I think London will easily beat Salford, rather than just by 1 point.

Whatever Bazza

You do realise the Saints side that played had collectively played over 400 Super League games more than the whole of the Broncos squad. That was not an inexperienced 'Reserve' side that went to London.

Saints earned the right to rest some key players. As Tony Smith quite rightly pointed out on SKY after his defeat to Huddersfield. Stupid question from the young Angela Powers lookalike.

The number of games played by the players that took the park isn't the measure of them being a "reserve" side

Compare the side that played Wigan

Coote, Grace, Percival, Naiqama, Makinson, Lomax, Fages, Walmsley, Bentley, Thompson, Knowles, Peyroux, LMS
Lees, Ashworth, Amor, Smith

And V London

Welby, GRACE, Smith, Costello, Swift, Richardson, Paulo, LEES, Smith, BENTLEY, Batchelor, KNOWLES,
AMOR, Eaves, Hazzard, ASHWORTH

As you say, plenty of experience but, definitely a second string (reserve) side
Plus there are still some notable absentees from the 17 that played Wigan.

It certainly shows that they have plenty of depth to their squad but, NOBODY should pretend that the side that took the field against London, was anything other than a reserve side, albeit with some quality in there.

If you are still in any doubt, check again when the Challenge Cup final side is announced, assuming that they make it past Halifax

There may be 3 players from the London game that make the "final" cut

I’d imagine those 400 games are made up from just LMS and Anor alone, doesn’t make the WHOLE squad experienced.

But I agree that Saints have earned the right so no problem as I see it. What will be interesting to see is how their lineups look going ahead. Realistically they’re going to win comfortably against Halifax and could do likewise vs Wakey a week later if they go strong, if they then rest again vs Leeds the week before Wembley then their strongest lineup may well have gone a while since a close tough competitive game which might not be the best preparation.

The 17 that took the field against London were all official members of the first team squad so what’s the problem?

Have a look yourself. 20, 30 50 plus games for several players. Grace, Pauloand Richardson, there were plenty of players with decent numbers of games under their belt.

It was a reserve squad but saints reserves are not young kids fresh out of school. As someone else has said they are all first team players therefore Holbrook broke no rules.

Well, I like a point o lager.

Me two

Not me John smiths please

Me three.

London will go down and Sean O’Loughlin will probably pick up the trophy as normal.

Only Wigan and Leeds have grand final winning mentality.

Give me pint of any decent micro brewery over a tasteless js

Most have first team experience but they are not all FIRST CHOICE players, by some distance.
No rules were broken and Saints are in the Luxury position of being able to "throw" pretty much all of their remaining fixtures (until the play offs) but, deliberately fielding a heavily weakened side, whether within the rule or not, isn't great for the game.
Peacock at Leeds was positively salivating at the thought of the Saints side that Leeds would face in the week before the cup final.
He couldn't contain himself.

Again, in cup final week, it's usual to see some dramatic changes but, with 7 games left, they were disrespecting their opposition and the comp in general.

I think you’re right though as a fan of a championship club I’d love it if London stayed up.

Just think they’ve got too much to do even if everyone around them is losing.

Hopefully I’m wrong.

Assuming that Saints beat Halifax they will be playing Leeds the weekend before the Wembley trip.

The players who featured in the game against London will most probably be called upon again

Indeed
As I said in a previous post, Peacock was absolutely salivating at the prospect of his side, playing the same (or weaker) 17 players in that game.
In sport, we're used to seeing multiple changes in the week before a big final and just about every side does this without question.
However, has ANY RL side rested 9+ players for a regular season game.

Wigan played Trinity a few seasons back with a heavily "injured" side, which was also apparently hit with a mystery virus but, at lease Wane tried to hide the fact that he didn't want to field his strongest available 17.
Saints on the other hand, just used the "squad system" to put out their reserves.

Still looks mickey poor form but London certainly aren't complaininig

Whilst they’ll make changes I don’t think it’ll be quite as many as the London game (maybe 5/6) . A slight difference is that it’s a Thursday night game so would be a 9 day turnaround instead of the 6 day turnaround between the London and Halifax games and like I mentioned previously with Saints’ fixtures vs Halifax and potentially the Wakefield game not being particularly close/competitive then think they’ll want to avoid being too undercooked going into Wembley.

If the London game caused outrage, this will cause a meltdown, prepare for an RLFans spike

Why is it mickey poor form? We are 10 points clear and nailed on to finish top. Holbrook obviously wanted to conserve some players energy, especially in a season that compared to previous seasons, given the rule changes, puts more strain on players bodies. There is nothing wrong with that.

I have to agree I don't think the semi final was a key factor in that line up for London. Avoiding 2 fixtures in 6 days was definitely a factor. But also spelling the players was important.

With London we could rest many players at once and the scoreline was not too embarrassing, indeed at one point it was a very tight game. Also it had no chance of being selected for TV.

If we had rested that many against Hull FC, it would have been a cricket score and national news. As it was only RL fans probably took any notice.

If we beat Halifax today (interestingly no coote so not all changes last week were optional), then I think for Leeds it will be a mixture of familiar and unfamiliar faces.

But if coote is still injured then we may go with more or less a full strength side as the new combination of 1, 6 and 7 will need game time with the first team regulars to work on their understanding.

Saints won't want 2 tough games before a potential Challenge Cup Final appearance, if Warrington lose today I expect our game with them in a couple of weeks will be a tough one just as the Leeds one will be if they are sill in that relegation battle. Holbrook will probably do his final rotations in our Leeds game and Castleford game most probably in the pack where we have plenty of cover.

Holbrook will rest/rotate to give Saints the best chance of lifting the cup, something that ALL cup finalists do and even though this may not be "in the spirit of the game", it's the accepted norm and absolutely understandable when silverware will be at stake.
Putting a reserve side out for a regular game during the season, not due to injuries, is taking the mickey out of the opponents and the sport in equal measure.
I hope that Fax take some "boost" out of the respect that Saints have given them prior to kick off.
Mind you, the 38 points start on the handicap doesn't look enough to save them against a full strength Saints side.