Will it be pretty much the same sides Stu? Bar a couple of the older lads.

I’m guessing both will go as strong as possible. I commented last night that it felt like a cheat code that Robertson played in our SF (he scored 2 and assisted 3) but then I noticed that Farrimond played for Wigan in the SF too.

Should be a great game

Welsby will go to Aus probably at the end of 2025 or 2026,that'll suit his personal circumstances.

It's sad to think the game here isn't big enough for some players but that is the case with somebody like Welsby and in time, I think it'll be the same with Nsemba. Talent like that needs to test itself against the best and those lads deserve all that comes with that talent. I think you run the risk of going a bit stale if you don't take the challenge. I thought Williams needed it and it kicked him on again IMO and that will likely be the case with Welsby.

A blood bath at Leigh tonight wouldn't go amiss, proper family viewing

Yes, let’s put our feet up and hopefully, watch them knock seven shades out of each other.

So that's that then

Sit back and enjoy boys and girls

Saints could only score against 12 after probably the worst of the stupid cards of the season.

Derek Beaumont, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear

God Saints were bad then. Leigh tried to hand the game to them on a silver platter on more than one occasion but they just weren't good enough.

Same next week against the Wolfs hopefully



Saints probably would’ve been nilled without that dodgy sin bin.

I reckon that was a worse sin-binning than Leeming against Cats, what camera angle did he have that showed head contact ?

They showed a different angle after game could have been red

I nipped out for 5 minutes to make a brew. I can only think this was when Jon Wilkin had a rant about Welsby staying down and not being sent for an HIA because I didn't hear him mention it otherwise.

Not a comment about it on Twitter because it wasn’t a Wigan player.

I'm going to be sat on the 'Saints have a chance' hill on my own with performances like that. I thought they were poor all night and they'll go out at Wire next week (and very comfortably) unless there's a big turnaround on that showing. As bad as their attack is, I just thought their defensive intent was average. That 4 on the spin side never got physically dominated like that.

Iv been on that hill for the last few months as well but they're certainly not the team they were. Their only hope is they'll be playing Warrington who historically have a knack of stuffing things up when their big chance comes around.

“That’s a loss on the score board but in alot of ways that’s a win for us”


Jesus wept, physically dominated for 80 minutes

I just looked at some of the stats and their props (bar Stephens from the bench) got battered. That was the area their success was really built on but there has been a big drop off in guys like Walmsley and Paasi and Delaney and Lees are being dealt with in the main. They'll need Walmsley to roll back the clock next week to stand a chance.

I've been on the don't write off the Saints wagon but if by some miracle they get past Wire next week we should be salivating at the prospect of Field French Nsemba Wardle and Marshall going at their right hand side

The optimism I’d held for a grand total of one week is officially dead! Season is over next week. We’re just not good enough at the moment and our coach has no good ideas. After half time we were 12-0 down and needed to give it a real go and he played a conservative grind that slowly gained us some territory until we threw it all away after 10 mins with an error and a penalty. Stephens was great in his cameo, but will likely be dropped next week when Walmsley is back, instead of Paasi who should actually be dropped.

I’m one of those hopelessly optimistic fans for the most part and even when we were at our worst I never gave up complete hope because this team had earned a lot of faith with me. But I’ve officially given it all up now, our race is run.

Just hope the semis and final are good, close games. Still can’t see past you v HKR for the final, although it has to be said that KR are starting to look a bit shaky, might be the pressure getting to them so wouldn’t be entirely surprised if Warrington sneak in there instead

Can’t really see past you lot winning it, unfortunately

The club is being lauded following the signing of Feldt, Sailor and Murphy but personally I think they have got it wrong. That pack needs a major overall.

Walmsley and Paasi are contracted for next year so not much we can do there, as are Batchelor and Whitley but we definitely need a prop. A lot of the problem comes from the management of the pack more than it needing an overhaul I’d say. Sticking Matautia at centre when he’s not very good there but is great at 2nd row (and has even done well as a prop!), sticking with Batchelor and Whitley together despite neither playing particularly well. And the big one is continuing to start Lees and Delaney together despite both being fairly light and neither being a metre making kind of prop just has us starting on the back foot time and time again. That’s happened multiple times too so it’s just Wellens not learning his lesson

It’s hard to know how much of this is down to the players or whether it’s Wellens coaching them. Paasi and Batchelor are shadows of the players they were last year. Both have had big injury problems of course, so I guess we’ve got to hope they’ll come back better after a full pre season as neither really had one this year. Walmsley hasn’t been as good this year either, although he’s still shown plenty and had some really good games so I wouldn’t write him off yet.

Ultimately though I think the problem is Wellens. He seems incapable of changing a game plan mid-way through a game and his original gameplan never works against the big teams. if one or 2 players lose form then ok maybe it’s him, but the vast majority of our squad have gone backwards over the last 2 years and it’s not all down to age

Saints were comical at time. Like Zig said the pack needs an overhaul. Some of those saints players looked disinterested, Lomax being the main culprit. Build a good back line for next year however if one player gets injured the quality taking their place isn’t the best. Think the key would be getting rid of Wellens early his incompetence may likely cancel out Briers. I’d be in the market for a prop; Walmsley can’t stay off the treatment table, Passi looks like he’s been enjoying his food whilst injured, lees costs you a card/pen most games. The young lads are decent however can’t do it alone behind a beaten pack

Stephens looks like a real find, if he gets handled the right way over the next couple of years he could be an absolute monster for Saints

What are Saints fans thinking with Delaney currently? He was lauded coming through but I always just thought he looked like Mark Edmondson had made a comeback. He is as game as they come but his running style lends itself to getting bashed about the place and that quickly takes its toll. On the other hand, Stephens is looking the real deal. He doesn't look much of an athlete but he is so awkward to tackle and is very very rarely getting dominated.

He’s struggled a bit this year albeit I think he’s improved over the last few weeks. Apparently he’s been playing on with a knee problem for a lot of the year so could explain his downturn somewhat. Doing better in contact now he’s stopped turning his back going into contact. Unless he adds some weight, he’s more than likely going to be another Matty Lees rather than a big metre eating prop. I think he’s going to be a good player but probably not the level of which his early reputation suggested. Still only 20 though I believe so plenty of time on his side.

I agree about Stephens, he’s a very exciting prospect. Not sure if his fitness is way under par or what but Wellens seems reluctant to play him for more than 15 minutes a game