Sneyd was out for "a big chunk of the season" last year, but a magic boot got him back playing a lot sooner than expected (for the rest of the season).

Now it's Talanoa's turn to wear it.

Ok we will disagree about the result but going by Radfords pre game interview he is basing the team selection on risk and reward which i think is the wrong option.
yes it will be disappointing to go out of the C/C but our priority is surely to try and get to the Grand final and its easier if we make the top four.
Again according to Radford Kelly is four weeks ahead of schedule and as someone else pointed out Carlos was supposed to be out for 12 weeks.
He also said that if a player puts his hand up to play he trusts them to know if they are fit to play which really should be the decision of the physio team.
Personal opinion but i would rather both players stay under treatment until they are deemed 100% fit by the Physio and not pushed to play.
It looks like Westerman will be out as his injury has not responded to treatment and he has gone for a scan today.

Maybe the initial diagnosis turned out to be wrong? Or maybe Radford always expected them to be playing in this one and was overhyping the extent of the injuries to the media? He said 10 weeks in his interview immediately after the game, he couldn't have possibly known that with any certainty at that stage.

I reckon top 4 after 23 rounds is optimistic, if we hold back players for the saints game, do we for Salford, Wigan and Widnes?

A couple of points or so behind 4th is a more realistic target. 1-3 is pretty much sorted already, which would mean, at best, another trip to saints in the GF semi.

Let's beat them this weekend, and then worry about the rest of the season.

I've complimented Saints on their play many times this season, but you're the one person who really makes me not want to. You're a dick. Not just because of your quoted post, but because of every other post I've ever seen you make.
You're incredibly disrespectful to other teams, even when one puts in a good performance. Whether it's cause you don't like to acknowledge that there might be another team out there somewhere which can actually beat Saints, I don't know. You never give credit for a win, you only slate the losing team for been so poor.

fortunately most Saints fans are not the same, usually a great bunch.

Yep, agreed.

Well I,m expecting a pretty tough game for the first 60 mins, Hull won,t give up the trophy without a good fight.
If Radford has put a couple of unfit players on the pitch then perhaps the last quarter of the game could go in Saints favour.

The post might seem harsh but honestly, what’s wrong with it? I’m hardly going to say I think we’ll lose and Hull are a great side. I wouldn’t say I’ve been disrespectful apart from criticising teams possibly harshly. The only teams to which I’ve been particularly harsh about are Cas and Wakey.

I think he'll go with Hadley at centre.

If Carlos plays then Scott will miss out.

Washbrook or Miloudi for the last place on the bench.

I agree, I am sure the players selected are fit, but wether a few of them have 80 minutes in them we don't know. It's an odd thing to say, but if we lose (which I don't actually think we will) I would hope St Helens would go on to win it.

I can just see a Hull Cup mentality kicking in, I hope it's a great game and not ruined by the officials.

I’ve backed Hull at minus 3.5
10/1 beautiful odds
Also backed them bigger at Plus 18.5 start
We will not give up OUR Cup easy and may even surprise a few doubters
It’s not top v bottom and it’s a total one off
Anything can happen
A sending off for them ?
An injury ?
Anything can happen in one off and we can win

I've not seen it elsewhere (apologies if I've just missed it), any idea who is refereeing etc?

Ben Thaler is referee and I believe James Child is VR.

thanks

we need to be "squeaky clean" then!