I'm not sure why but it certainly feels bigger than some of the ones in the last couple of decades. Maybe it's the fact Penrith are coming off the back of 3 titles on the spin or because we've not been in one for a while now. The fact it's a Saturday under the lights helps IMO but I think a major factor is the connection currently between the fans and the club. You know you can make a good day out of the event, get in the fan village and soak up the atmosphere and it also now feels like you can go in Whelans without thinking the money is going to the Bahraini mob.

It should be a great night.

Over the last few years its been just me and my eldest lad going to matches. Six of us for this game.

For 2024 season there will be four of us attending matches.

I think it's a mixture of a few things. 1. Penrith will obviously be up for it, especially after their mistake of not taking it seriously last year. 2. We've got a dam good side and the fan base is ready/expectant of a good performance and a shot at more success. 3. The club have made great strides engaging with the fan base and it's paying off - whether that's excitement about this game, or the increased season ticket sales. There's a good vibe.

On point 2. I've not felt this strongly about a team since 2011 and the Melbourne lads coming over. Obviously we've had success since then, but I've always thought the teams we've had haven't been the greatest or fluked a few finals. This is a strong team tho, with a good core of young lads. Add in Peet being the polar opposite of what irks me about Wane and I'm genuinely excited/feeling it. I'm not counting my chickens for 2024, but it looks as positive as it could be at this stage.

The team looks good. Hopefully it won't be a case of the game coming too early as we're still bedding new players in. Luckily the new guys are mainly in the forwards, so we'll still have pretty much the same spine guiding us around. In terms of the game and the match ups, we'll obviously need Field, French and Smith to fire. I just hope the Smithies exit doesn't bite us too hard in that game because him knitting the defence and leading the line speed could really be missed.

The crowd and the atmosphere could play a huge part also. As somebody who was at pretty much every GB/England test against the Aussies from the 90's onwards, I miss those nights under the lights and this should have a feeling of that. If the crowd really gets in to it, that could be worth a few points.

With over 10,000 tickets sold already (24 hrs) it does bode well for a bumper crowd.
What Matty Peet has done in his 2 yrs is remarkable if you think about it.
Most impressive is the re-connection with the town and fans.Robin Park is a complete winner for the fans,I cant praise enough the imput that Lenagan has put in over the years especially the formation of Robin Park as a place for the club and fans.

Won’t have a bigger impact on RL than saints did. They went over and won it in penriths back yard

What major impact on the sport did it have. Down under the result was treated like it never happened and largely ignored (it's not like it hasn't happened before).

Saints had a moderate average attendance increase up 12,695 from 11,851 in 2022. Solid but not spectacular and bearing in mind they are the only professional sporting team in the town.

What? the preseason challenge game?

Surely you’re not talking about that.

Of course it will Wigan are the bigger team.

PLEASE stop replying to him. Please.

So what's the difference this year?

Why bother engaging with this narrative?

The Wigan fans who like to play down the Saints result at Penrith aren't bright enough to realise they play into the wider narrative that will diminish their own success if they get a win.

To be fair It was a great win by St Helens,not all Wigan fans play down the win.
Its not like any Saints fans would play down any win by Wigan

Everyone who wrote off Saints beating Penrith as a 'pre-season friendly that Penrith weren't bothered about' has damned this game for being treated the same. Aussie sides will always say that, if they lose, English fans shouldn't give them the excuse. Saints won cos they couldn't be bothered, but if Wigan beat them, somehow it'll be different this time? Really?

Or, what Fear The Vee said.