I said at the start of the season that i wouldn't lose to much sleep if we got knocked out of the challenge cup, of course i wanted us to win yesterday like any fan but you have to look at the bigger picture.

Our players will now get 2 weeks off between now and the challenge cup final, thats something we havn't had the luxury of having over the last 2 years. It gives the players a chance to freshen up and get rid of a few bumps and bruises, mentally they can recharge their batteries as well.

The team that wins the grand final gets the chance to take on the NRL grand final winners in the WCC, i'd love to see us having the chance to take on Australia's best club side.

We will have forgotten all about the game yesterday come play off time, i'm not that bothered now really about yesterday for the above reasons.

Makes Catalan away a huge game if it weren't already now. That will have been a week prior to the final and I have a feeling they'd have done us as we may well have been selective with the team saving for the final if we'd got through the semi.

just the same if u lose sam t and thomas l. best team will win superleague end of

Its not a blessing but it leaves us in an interesting situation.

2 weeks off.

We need 3 wins from 6 to get 2nd spot.

Now in the past Smith hasn't been bothered by finishing top (well thats what he said anyway) so really we are in a good position not to risk anyone (Briers, Morley etc) and aim to peak in the two playoff games that we are at least going to get and hopefully win one or two if needed to get a chance for a spot in the Grand Final

It can work both ways. I felt the weeks off we got last year affected us going into the play offs. We became a little scratchy and losing in the first round against Leeds actually did us a favour because we got an extra game against HKR to find our form.

On the plus side with you guys having a few injuries the odd week off could help players get over them.

Maybe a blessing. We certainly need to get Briers, Morley, harrison and Solo back

Thought it was 6 games left its only 5 but Saints are in the semi's so can't see them giving eveything to come 2nd while they are in that.

Solomona looked really bad and Morley could be anytime at all but got around 7 weeks to get them back for the play-offs

Guaranteed loss next week, fella.

Put all your pennies on it then....

I'm not actually bothered that we lost yesterday. I'm gutted we're not going to Wembley, but we need the rest. A few players are carrying knocks and the extra 2 weeks rest we have will seriously help us gain full fitness going into the playoffs.

Funnily enough, when making bets at the start of the season I went to put £10 on us to win the Grand Final, League & the Challenge Cup and something stopped me betting on the Challenge Cup.. Now im glad I didn't as I'd be a tenner down. Oh well, we have a chance to take the league now and we will be in a strong position to push forward into the Playoffs with a full squad.

Nice tough game for Goons and Saints while we have a week off.

Certainly agree that the game plan seemed to have been forgotten early on.
We could have been absolutely tonked yesterday.
No-one was bossing the team around - a role Lee does superbly.

Bridge never will be a decent half back. He doesn't have the range of skills or verbal prescence for that role. I thought he had poor game yesterday.
Suits centre much more.

Going back to the origianl thread - I think it'll help us in the League, but maybe not in the play offs.
Can see us finishing top (if we tighten our defence) and then getting knocked out in the semi's

Personally i'd rather of won and chanced our arm.

I would much prefer us to win the GF... so if we do achieve that I will look back on this defeat as a big bonus.

So would Smith with what he said after the game.

Briers rates the Cup more hopefully a Grand Final would change his mind.