you should be very confident of reaching the semis on any known form this year wigan v wire/hull kr final for me

It would take a pretty big reversal of form for that lot to beat us but I'm pretty sure it'll be a closer game than the previous three.

We have managed just 5 wins out 31 vs St Helens at the Halliwell Jones Stadium* across 5 coaches and two decades.
2011
2016
2017
2020
2024

We are much better at The Totally Wicked stadium with 9 wins out of 16.

We will see.

*https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/head2head/st-helens-vs-warrington-wolves/super-league/summary.html

I think that our history and previous 'unreliability' has a lot to do with some of the 'nervous' thinking on here, that unease that to beat Saints three times is an achievement in itself, so four will be pushing it to the limit. I've no idea whether some of our collective thinking would be more positive if we were coming into this game 2-1 ahead with wins or even 1-2 where we'd have learned our lesson or been unlucky so it was our turn to put things right....

Of course we may get beat they'll have a point to prove and will be well backed behind the sticks but I'm expecting a tight game and a hard earned narrow victory as history is one thing but I trust this squad, the coaching set up and the spirit that Burgess has brought into the club NTW

There's no point in being nervous. A loss at home in the first round of the playoffs against the 6th placed team, would just confirm that no matter who we have coaching us, we simply are not ever going to be up for the big matches that count.

A win this week just proves that under Burgess we're able to take our true level of ability into the knockout stages. A win next week will prove that Burgess as what it takes to coach a team from anywhere in the mix to the grand final.

A win at Old Trafford will just prove Burgess is the new God, and I shall be the first to build a church in his honour, and attend prayer service every day before breakfast.

I know what you mean, it's going colder and your winter fuel payments are being withdrawn.

Crazy, isn't it? We usually have their number in playoffs, aside from last season, and have had their number at every turn this year. Yet, I too, am very nervous. Just worried because it'd be just like 'that lot' to save their best performance of the season to dump us out the playoffs. Common sense, stats and everything else says it won't happen, but sport doesn't often stick to the script does it, and I just never feel comfortable playing our six fingered brethren.

As a neutral I think the first try in this game is enormous.

If it goes to Wire it could be a procession as per previous games, currently the better side and in much better form.

If it goes to Saints, the home stands will grow extremely anxious “here we go again”. Volume in the away end and the saints team (who still have champion players) will start to gain belief.

Horrible game for you guys to have in week 1, so close to getting Catalan at home which would have a been a cake walk.

Good luck and hopefully stays 13 v 13

The biggest problem both sides have is the referee and the rules they have to follow, either team could lose players to red and/or yellow cards. Hopefully both teams finish 13/13 and its a great game with a Wire win.

I can handle a defeat to anyone except this lot. Just simply cannot bear to lose and have to listen to that 'Never write off the saints' nonsense. I'm more confident of beating hull kr away than I am this weekend.

Yeah the "never right off the Saints" thing is factually rubbish nowadays. In fact Saints have been behind a lot this season and failed to win. 3 times with us.

But I agree, I find their fans particularly odious and lacking in class. Mind you, some of our lot have started the inane "you're " chant that makes my toes curl.

I've found a lot of the chav pond life element have adopted white a lot of unsavoury chants and football rip-offs. It's all very cringe.

As an aside: who's that new one about "xx is a Wire, he hates Wigan?" guessing "Johnny Bateman is a Wire"?

And what was the one at Hudds, something about "one more year"?

Honestly speaking the only team I REALLY don't like is Wigan.
I just truely dislike Saints!

See I'm the other way around, I'd happily see the entire town of Sintellins wiped off the map but when it comes to Wigan I'm more "meh"! I think it's the horrible, spoiled, sarky breed of fan they have, you don't really get them anywhere else. Cheering injuries etc.

Same.

I admire and respect Wigan as a club and generally their fans are more balanced. You can pass the time of day with a Wigan fan.

Saints fans are generally spoilt individuals who complain if they don't get things 100% their way. They are arrogant and entitled. They crow on our board when they win and then never show their face when they lose. They are incapable of showing class when winning, or grace in defeat. (Wembley as an example).