What's everyone thinking then? Head says saints will walk it, heart says Wigan will knick it.

Going to go for:

Saints 24-26 Wigan

Attendance: 17,895

I'll probably have fish

Head and heart says these are our types of games. Saints have been handed a couple of games by dodgy calls these past two weeks and if we can avoid them I'll go-

Saints 18

Wigan 28

1st try- Burgess
MOM- Lockers

Manu and Lafranchi out for Saints

rlhttps://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/saints/news/11148075._/?rl

Some of our 'friends' over the hill are getting worried. viewtopic.php?f=18&t=567620&tsmp=1397547408&start=20

Some of our 'friends' over the hill are getting worried. viewtopic.php?f=18&t=567620&tsmp=1397547408&start=20

I really think Saints' luck may run out come Friday. They have been fantastic this season, playing like the old Saints but the last few games they haven't looked great, getting away with victory on both occasions with dodgy calls. They do have a few players out in their pack. Wigan win by 12 pts.

Depends if we turn up or not, if we get off to the the slow start that has been typical of most of our games this season then it won't really matter whether Saints' luck is in or not. We need to make sure we start with a well-disciplined, low error opening 20 like the Wire game. If we start as poorly as we have during most of our games this season then it could be over by half time. Fully expecting a much improved performance on what we've seen in recent weeks, however.

As for team, I'd go:

Bowen
Manfredi (possibly Sarg but think SWs been quoted that Dom will play)
Goulding
Thornley
Burgess
Green
Smith
Taylor
McIlorum
Flower
Farrell
Bateman
O'Loughlin

Crosby
Clubb
Pettybourne
Powell

Very tough to predict. We have always beaten Saints in these good Friday games since Maguire came in, and Wane has always beaten them when there have been no distractions (the losses coming the week before the CC semi last season and the week before the play offs the season before). Saints are a lot better this season though and I think they'll come out with a point to prove, beating us on Friday would really signal that they are ready to end their trophy-drought.

Having said that, I think we have a point to prove as well. All you hear when trophies are discussed is Leeds and Saints, despite us holding both trophies very few people seem to be backing us to keep either. The team seems to be at its strongest as an underdog (as we were in both play offs and the final last year) so I'm going to go for a narrow Wigan win.

Saints 18 Wigan 20 (losing 18-4 at HT)

Team wise I think it's a risk throwing Manfredi into a good Friday derby after just one game v Wakey (in which he had the ball ripped, allowing them to go the full length and score) and Sarginson doesn't really look comfortable on the wing for my money. As such I'd go with Thornley out wide, who has plenty SL experience on the wing and is in good form.

FB 1 Bowen
RW 4 Thornley
RC 3 Goulding
LC 23 Sarginson
LW 32 Burgess
SO 6 Green
SH 7 Smith
P 8 Taylor
H 9 McIlorum
P 10 Flower
SR 25 Bateman
SR 12 Farrell
LF 13 O'Loughlin

S 17 Crosby
S 24 Clubb
S 25 Pettybourne
S 27 Williams

I don't think SW can move Thornley on his current form. He's playing his best rugby since his return to league. Sarginson has a lot more SL experience than Manfredi and he'd be my choice outside Goulding. As for the outcome, I think it'll be very close but I fear a saints win. I'm dreading it and can't wait at the same time!

i am always feeling cocky these days in the build up to saints games and i'm not feeling any different for this Fridays game.
saints' luck will run out, just like it seems to have done with Huddersfield of late. I can see it being a low scoring game despite the ferocity of the looks of saints this year to date, look what we did against wire who have normally given us a good game.
honestly think wigan will win by a decent margin, saints are the team under all the pressure which wigan will thrive on as always.
but my predictions will remain as follows despite my above comments...

saints: 16
wigan: 30
first try: makinson
(our) MOM: thornley
attendance: lots.

Saints 16 28 Wigan
First Try - Farrell
MOM - O Loughlin

How many games has Sarginson played on the wing though? He looks shaky there to me, particularly under the high ball. I can see Walsh targeting him all game. Manfredi would be a better option because he is at least a winger and look pretty dangerous in attack. It's just a question of whether he's ready for the intensity of a good Friday derby with such little top level experience. In his only SL game for us it was a mixed bag for my money.

Let's not forget whoever plays on that wing will have Goulding inside of him, who is not the greatest of defenders, particularly recently. IMO Thornley is the only safe pair of hands of the three, and he may well still be effective in attack given that his attacking game is mostly based on going for the line himself anyway

To whoever said about us having all the pressure on us. That can only be a good thing, we seem to score tries and actually play our best rugby when under pressure.

Saints 30-24 Wigan

Wigan winning at half time 14-6

After the defensive performance at Cas I hope we never see a Sarg/Burg centre wing partnership ever again.