Fair play to McManus, that was quite funny!

He tried his best to hide any arrogance that they think they'll walk through Catalans but it came across that way a little. They will smash them to be fair, Catalans are out on their feet!

Wigan and Wire could go either way.

Next week's game will be worthy of the grand final, it's a massive game. The grand final itself will be poor, saints will be sitting ducks at OT.

At this point you would say whoever wins out of us and Wigan would be favourites for the Grand Final, but often Wire v Wigan games are quite close fiery encounters and it could take a lot out of the loser, so I think this is the best chance for Saints for years to win SL.

The Saints fans do seem to be in submissive mode at the moment, where is their swaggering confidence of a few years ago? They seem to regard themselves as inferior to both us and Wigan.

I can understand that they have been terrorised through history by the pie-eaters but they used to smash us by 50 odd points every time we went to Knowsley Road and now they seem to live in fear of Wire.

Perhaps that is because they are!

Would be funny if Cats manage it but they've no chance because the RFL will be panicking at the thought of a half empty OT

I don't think there was any arrogance. It is the absolutely obvious choice. A team who finished 7th having to fly home and back for several weeks on the run and the opportunity to pit two derby rivals who will go at each other big time.

I do not think for a minute its a gimme game and nobody has watched the last 2 Catalan games will either but with the boot on the other foot I am pretty sure Wigan would have done exactly the same.

What a load of dross. We have lost personnel in three key positions at 1, 7 and 13 and we are just realistic that its a tough ask without those players. We have beaten both Wire and Wigan away from home this season such is the fear. That said I think we have a decent chance of getting to Old Trafford and in a one off game anything can happen.

Both teams with a 2nd chance gone...

Realistic expectations with Wilkin, Walsh, Lomax & McDonnell missing. Think we'd have an excellent chance with a few key pivots available. We still have the best form against the top 8 sides this year in Superleague, lots of drivel written on this thread. A fierce wigan V wire game, extra days rest & possible wet conditions, I consider us to have been playing wet weather rugby since all the injuries anyway & you just never know. Pressure off Saints if they make the final that's for sure.

Catalan v Wigan it is then.

I think your strong favourites for the GF but were going to knock 7 bells out of each other. Whoever gets through is going to play a relatively fresh saints side.

Saints are a good bet to do it.

From a a Wire point of view we need to control it down the middle and the forwards are going have to tough it out with your back 3, Micky Mac and the front row, especially Flower who for me has been excellent. The other concern for me is our half back defence. Myler is a great tackler but a Smith and Green are heavier units and can soak up more forward driving. We also need to somehow prevent your set run around moves setting up the overlap.

I think it'll be close. Bookies and most rl fans will have you rightly as favourites but I hope we get in to full throttle mode and give you a good game and a half.

I can see it now, Catalans winning the Grand Final from a position half way down the league, and celebrated by a handful of fans and 4 or 5 french players.