Who in their right mind would play Williams at 9. Give your heads a wobble

Adrian Lam? He did last week anyway. I certainly wouldn’t go that way if we need to replace Powell. The indications last night from Lam were that we may not have to but he didn’t say anything concrete either way.

We’ll have to agree to disagree. The split halves was clear as day under Waney but not anymore. Williams was predominantly left sided and the vast majority of our attack went down our left. Lam has removed the shackles and given him a much bigger license to roam and he’s had a ball on our right edge. Which ever way we go, Williams is outside of Leuluai and causing havoc.

Anyway back on topic......

Can anyone explain to me why Saints fans don't think it is possible for a team to outplay them?

The only way they can lose is if the don't play as well as the fans expect them to (whatever that is or what that means)

Warrington didn't beat them, they beat themselves, the ref did them etc etc. From what i am reading, that is the only way we win this game. Them not turning up and the ref being bias towards us................because ref's are always bias towards us. The modern day Super League fan blames the ref for everything, especially if they have just been beaten by Wigan. It's pathetic.

We’re certainly going into it with nothing to lose this week. It’s a Keven Keegan king of game.... I would love it if we beat them!!!

It's just not the case mate. The only time the shackles are off is when we're in their 20 or 10. When Lam himself said he's open to play more off the cuff or creative rugby. But this is off the cuff not a 7 then 6 first and second receiver. Truth is the entire structure of the team is still split halves, as it is for most teams. If you watch the game both halves are on either side of the PTB that's just how we play. If we played a more 'old school' style we'd see Tommy playing narrow in the middle channel operating either side of the PTB with George as a second receiver, but it just doesn't really happen maybe apart from when it's off the cuff on their try line.

Did you see French outside of a playmaking Tommy? No, he was playing out left as a playmaker, half the reason why he looked lost as he was asked to run the left edge. which is the wrong way to play French, he's a strike weapon not a playmaker/organiser.

Will the RFL have the b***s and appoint Robert Hicks for Friday night's game or will they bottle it and bow to the pressure of stains and not appoint him

hope we lose as I cant see us beating saints twice, if we lose Friday I can see us winning the final

Whilst I’d never say I hope we lose, I do buy in to that theory in a way. We have one win against them in our locker IMO but I can’t see us going back to back. Nobody has done that against them in a long time, even when games are a couple of months apart, let alone a couple of weeks apart. If we got to a Grand Final against them on the back of a defeat on Friday I think it can put them back in to a bit of a comfort zone and when you get to a final form goes out the window and when everything is on the line we’ve seen Saints melt. They shouldn’t feel a lot of pressure this Friday, with the safety net of a second semi final and that should see them at their best. I’d imagine there will be some knocking knees at Old Trafford though as and when they get there.

As I said, I’ll agree to disagree. Williams setting up the try for French v Cas is a perfect example but hey ho, you see it your way, I see it mine.

I do get that point and do understand that point but there is a big issue with losing on Friday. It means we have another hard fought and tough game with potential injuries to get through just a week beforehand. I say go to Saints, beat them, let them play the eliminator and them beat them again at Old Trafford. They have done us 3 times, why can't we do them for the last 2? I am very happy we have even got this far and the noisy neighbours are the clear favourites but many have buckled under that pressure, ourselves included. We need to take all our experience and channel all that good form and energy into sticking it to them on their own midden. A ground they have a 100% record on this season. That would certainly knock them off their perch a bit.

I buy into the theory that a defeat on Friday is no bad thing. Neither is an extra game the week after, let Saints stay in that comfort zone for the GF and we'll go in battle hardened. I don't think a week off has ever done us good.

Saying that, I wouldn't be gutted if we batter them Friday and smash their confidence. Something like the last few years in the Super 8's would be nice.

No pressure on Wigan whatsoever.

I'd much rather we win on Friday. If we do that'll mean Saints have lost the 4 biggest games they've played under Holbrook. That would ramp up the psychological impact on them going in the grand final (if they got there) with the perceived idea of them being bottlers.

Only downside might be we always seem to play worse after a week off!

I can’t see us winning the GF full stop so it’s irrelevant to me whether we win or not.

That being said a win on Friday would be a huge psychological gain on Saints and would compound that “can’t win a big game” mantra.

My personal opinion is that Saints will win Friday and will win the GF.

I mean they have to, right? If they don’t there’ll be a total meltdown in St Helens