So how do people think the big game will play out?

What are the key battles, who will leeds need to stop?

For me, saints preperation has been perfect. They've had a week off inbetween 2 tough games against wigan, they have the perfect balance between being well rested and battle hardened.

We'll obviously be battle hardened, but we really could have done with a week off at some point in the last month to recharge some batteries.

What other potential factors may affect the result?

If it wasn't for saints gf losing streak, i'd really fancy it, but theres always the thing that it ''has to come an end sometime''. If you get to the grand final you're obviously a good team and you have a 50/50 chance of winning. Sooner or later the 50/50 will go your way.

Theres also lots of potential history to be made.

If leeds win, they'll become the first team in super league to win it from 5th, and saints will become the first team in history of the sport to lose 5 title deciders on the trot (i beleive wigan and oldham previously did 4, tvoc?).

Mcdermott will also become the first english coach to win since 2005.

There won't be more than 4 points in it IMO.

Law of averages suggests that Saints are due to beat us a final, this worries me a great deal!

There are too many external influences to make the law of average hold in this instance. I'm feeling confident

I like your thinking.

Saints have started the previous 3 grand finals better than us, but on this occasion i think it's very important we draw first blood just to get that doubt into their minds.

I don't get the feeling that we're running out of gas, quite the opposite in fact. Plus when Saints see those Leeds shirts lining up opposite them on Saturday, all of the old demons will return.

I'm confident, but it really is 50/50. I'd rather have played Wigan if I'm honest.

Quite a few of their guys didn't play in those grand finals.

The halfbacks for example.

If leeds score first though, say in the first 5/10 mins, many of the saints players would be inhuman not to allow a ''god not again'' thought to enter their mind, and if leeds smell blood...

There's no such law, except in the mind.

Peacock and McGuire won't be as tired as a normal season-end, having only played half a season.
Indeed, McGuire seems to be getting better in every game.
Buderus will be giving it everything to take a winner's ring home to Oz. (As will Graham I guess).
Burrow ought to be reasonably fresh, having only been allowed on the pitch for 40 to 50 mins each week.

I sort of agree with the previous post about scoring early, that would be very useful but, hey, who doesn't try to score early?

Saints do have one big advantage.
i.e. They might have a stand-off playing this time.

I don't think having the extra week off gives a team any advantage at all, it could possibly have a detrimental effect. It didn't do Warrington any good last week and certainly didn't do St Helens any favours in 2007 and 2008. We had an extra day to recover so an 8 day turnaround is plenty enough time. As for law of averages, i don't buy into that theory when your playing well enough to beat the same team year after year. If we'd have had massive amounts of luck or lots of iffy decisions going our way i'd say yes the law of averages could change in that respect but there's only really been the Lee Smith onside/offside decision in 2009 that's been a defining decision. Whoever doesn't make the silly mistakes will have the best chance of winning because i think the teams are evenly matched, if Foster turns into coco the clown as he did on Saturday with his air shot and pansy tackle on Charnley or Gaskell makes bad decisions again they could be the game changers.

i can see foster and meli getting peppered under the high ball. a lot depends on how the saints youngsters cope wit the pressure.
will they freeze or will it inspire them?

lots of questions to be answered come saturday

i hope not

remember when they did us in a brusing encounter at knowsley road in the playoffs and we went on to beat them at the gf

both are class sides it will take effort but we have the mental strength and the feeling sweeping down on the terraces and from BM and the team over the dream team selection says we have a big chip on the shuolders to stick it up

ill love it if we beat them love it but i have got everthing crossed

This final cannot be called.
i do believe we come into this final with a much younger and quicker side then your self's, but you have a lot of experience.

It's 50/50 for me too. Saints have a superb mix of youthful talent and a few older wiser heads like Graham, Wellens, Puletua, etc, whereas we have lots of Old Trafford experience in our squad, with a smattering of talented kids as well, BJB, Hardaker, Clarkson. For us Danny Mags and JP are looking more like their old selves, Rob Burrow is looking explosive off the bench, and Sinny is.....well he's just Captain Marvel isnr he? Then Saints are playing some great stuff too, and as a group are determined to put right the feelings of losing at OT so often (no disrespect Saints fans!), and to send Jammer off to Oz with a GF Winners ring in his collection. It's a heady cocktail, and should ensure a fantastic game, between two sides who have a great respect for each other. I can't wait!
Just hope we can do it again on the big night!

True enough, but a good few of the experienced heads did, and it will be those players keeping their heads that will be important for the younger players. But you're right it is a fresh, youthful side now, so will the Grand Final experience of our pivots prove crucial? I hope so.

I am pretty confident it will be a game too far for the Saints, as per the norm.

For Leeds fans worried about law of the averages imagine how we must have felt dicking Warrington for the best part of 30-odd games on the bounce!

I reckon they'll pepper webb and BJB.

One thing that does concern me is some inexperience in the backline.

In previous grand finals we've had pretty solid players in that respect which have kept us error free when tested.

Ha!

It got to the stage where before a saints warrington game you'd be thinking 'it's got to be this time, got to be'', and then long would pop over a drop goal with seconds left and it would go on.....

I know of Wigan doing four losing Championship Finals (1909/10 to 1912/13) and obviously St Helens have joined them (2007 to 2010), not sure Oldham have done it but they did do three as have Leeds.

__________



He's already got one. Let's not be greedy.

I have no idea how you would go about calling this one. The pre-play off form guide suggested neither would be there, both (especially Leeds) have performed well above expectations to be there, but neither will be settling for that.

I really think either team could win it.

But, pessimism has served me particularly well this year, so I see no reason to get all optimisitic now.

I've absolutely no idea about this one.

I do know that I am, for some reason, looking forward to it more than any of the others bar 2004.

Could be a great game. I don't think either team's under any pressure this time as neither of us have been regarded as favourites to win it at any point; this is still the case even now.

Bring it on.

If we won where would this rank on our list of recent achievements? To win it from 5th after the season we have had is some acheivement, especially with no breaks during the season

I said it on the other thread, and also said it is quite easy to say once achieved, but I would take even greater satisfaction out of this one if a win than 2004. It is a phenominal achievement this year if they do it.

Personally, I will stick to what I said last week, I was confident of beating Warrington and winning the GF, so I shouldn't and won't deviate from that.

Sit down.

Take a long, deep breath.

Ready?

I thought Warrington would beat us by 20. You were right and I was wrong.






That said you have been predicting the terminal decline of the team since about 2006 so if you predict every possible outcome you must be right eventually.

Completely agree, I guess there simply isn't as much pressure to win. Simply getting to the GF has completely exceded this years expectations, and despite what certain red rose trolls may think, it is a phenomenal achievement in itself.

I can't believe i'm even thinking this way (let alone sharing it) but as long as we give a decent account of ourselves, then I aren't at all bothered what the result is. Not meaning to sound sympathetic or patronising but if Saints do win, who can begrudge them. Not only the 4 losses, but to reach OT with their run of injuries is almost as impressive as us getting there!

That said, by Friday I'm hoping I'll be not quite as passive, and have more of a 'hope we smash the cr@p out of the scouse f***ers' attitude.

If we play as well as we did at HJ, we will win