All those last minute victories that Saints pulled off against us, often when we had been the better team. I don’t recall the Saints fans complaining, just gloating “it’s the sign of a Chapion team”, “Never write Saints off” etc etc. We weren’t at our best, but we are in the semis and they aren’t. I’m going to enjoy the moment, and I really don’t understand how any Wire fan feels the need to be critical, straight after such a victory.

And yes, I do know you’re entitled to your opinion.

Probably the difference is that Saints regularly won Grand Finals and we never have, hence there's more scepticism for us.

Yesterday was shaping up as a classic Saints script, late try to take it to golden point and charging down our first drop goal attempt. I knew what was going to come next - we'd concede a penalty, they'd charge up field and kick a drop goal themselves, season over.

But we didn't, and they went away from the script with their fifth tackle play on the following set and failing to get in a good kick.

Good to get through it and get the play off monkey off the back. Saints are a completely different beast when they play like that, Makinson and Percival personify that Saints mentality, and really challenged us to return fire.

Another impressive performance from Currie, but Williams played like the marquee player we need, dragged us into the game and found the way to win it.

In the cold light of day......

I'm still buzzin'.....

Another point, Saints put in what was possibly their best performance of the season, we were some way short of our best and won. Mind you, according to the ever reliable Redvee every one of our points was gifted to us by them. Wish they had gifted them to us at kick off, would have saved me a fortune on Sanatogen (other nerve tonics are available).

Ben Currie immense. Must have been close to 60 tackles.

Williams quite rightly will get the plaudits.

Pack will need to be a lot better with go forward if we are to beat HKR or Wigan. We got out of jail in that department by the meters we made on the edges with Ashton in particular.

I see; so Leigh lose next week then?

I agree that I just don't see any need to be negative or criticise any players. Yes some players made mistakes, but so did some Saints players. Even team does in every game. It's not a computer game with a cheat code on making them infallible.

It was a great game, and winning in such dramatic circumstances in such a big fixture against that opposition makes it a contender for the best night ever at the HJ. I've been going there since game one, and to Wilderspool before that, so I am in a position to judge on that one.

If your first instinct after that was to have a pop at Drinkwater (or any other player) and start over analysing every perceived weakness, then you're either a frustrated coach or just a joyless bore.

Wigan were favourites at the start of the season & apart from a stumble when a few stars were missing they have continued to impress.

Both can be done. I have written extensively already about how great the game was and how well we did. But that play almost embarassed us to high heaven if we had gone on to lose. And yes, it didn't happen, we won. But next week that could kill us. It's killed us many times in the past. It was an awful moment for a professional player with his experience to make at that time. If that had happened in minute 2 I probably wouldn't care. But its the time it happened that just leaves you tearing your hair out.

Everyone defending Drinkwater suddenly because we're all high on the win is funny to me. Everyone's been calling him crap all year. As I said he had a decent game, shut down Welsby a few times on the outside. But that moment was like Chris Bridges chip through, or that kick to the corner vs Hull with Lineham intercepting and going the length of the field. It put us through 10 minutes more stress than any of us needed lol.

Having watched the match back, it's clear that from 50 minutes, Saints were totally out of gas. I'm not taking anything away from their last-minute try against the run of play, but from the very start of the golden point period, they looked out on their feet. On the other hand we looked like a young team full of energy who could go on another 40 minutes.

I have no idea whether this is down to superior fitness and conditioning, or whether it's the Burgess mentality. I suspect it's very much the latter. We haven't been out of a game at all this year, and even at 4-16 down I still felt we had points in us. From the start of the second half we started opening them up.

Quite true, although Strange things can happen, and lady luck just might be there too. Here's hoping though.
TBH- I wouldn't mind a Wires v Leopards final.

IF - and it's a big IF - we do make it to the GF, and if Wigan are the opposition it all comes down to 'mentality'.
In fact Wigan v anyone in a GF (except maybe the Saints team of a couple of years ago, or the 'golden era' Leeds team) and they start as favourites because of their proven pedigree, culture and mental strength.
We underperformed in the CCF and the guys know it. Wire 'lost' the mental battle pre game.
The big question now is 'have we really learnt?'
Time will tell, but anyone is a fool who writes HKR off. They are one hell of a good side and we'll need a repeat performance plus some to win at their place before thinking of the GF.
And that's not to mention Leigh (abeit with some significant injuries now).