Don`t build your hopes on the fact we have played more games than your lot. Firstly we have had a good few injuries and some key players have missed a few games already this season. Secondly we haven`t turned up for half the games we have played so we should be just right for our next 2 games

7-9 seconds??! I'm all for bending the rules a bit but we'll do well to get away with that

The tactics should be:

Make no errors
Give away no penalties
Score at every opportunity
concede no tries

If we play to those tactics, have luck from the ref, play our best ever game and warrington their worst, we [imight[/i win.

Warrington have been the best side in SL this year and will be deserved favorites not just to beat Leeds but to become new Champions.

But this is now a knock out cup match for them and possibly the fear of going out may just get to them. Whereas Leeds have nothing to lose and have the big match experience and a bit of form.....so if we can keep on the right side of the ref and cut out the errors who knows?

Much has been said of our lack of performance against the top 4 this year. Since at last getting a settled team together finally with JP & McGuire fit again and just showing some form, we have beaten 4th place twice and came close to beating the champions at Wembley. So this will be a new test for Warrington.

Can our big match experience compensate for ageing legs that have played more matches than Warrington - that is the question?

Plenty of big match experience in the Wire side.

Big thing for Leeds will be to do what no team has done for ages and score more then two tries, do that early and it will be interesting to see how we respond.

I was meaning Semi Final & Grand Final winning experience!



Agreed. Leeds have to get into the game early and be still in it at half time. Warrington are capable of getting on a roll.

I think the plan, in a turn of phrase oft used in boxing, has to be to take Wire into the trenches and see how they react.

The character and will to do it tough at this stage of the season is what makes champions. It's what Leeds added under Tony Smith that they had lacked before. After the Bulls game in the play-offs in 2004 it could all have fallen apart. Let's at least check the character of this Wire side, see what they're made of.

We did it to Wigan at Wembley. They passed the test. Which is why they're still my favourites to win the GF.

In the end, I think Wire have too much firepower, but lets at least ask the questions on Friday night and see what answers we get. Win or lose, if we go and compete and make life hard for them I'll be happy enough, and you never know what result we might get if we do that.

What Wire have done better than anyone else for a couple of years now is blow teams away if they're allowed to get on top. Let them win the little battles around the ruck and bust a few tackles out wide early on, and they will take you apart.

Oh right well we can't match that as IMO 3 Grand Final wins in a row will never be done again.

Although the likes of Morley, Carvell have played in them here and the four Aussies have played in big games down under.

I hope you beat Warrington on Friday.

Hows ticket sales going? Saw that your club is doing half price coaches which is decent.

More the better.

... Wish they'd offer half price petrol for the fans driving over!

cheaper get a taxi for me

I think the Defensive Tactics should be:-

* Slow the Play of the Ball to 7-9 Seconds when Dominant (depends on gansons mood)
* 1 Low 2 High in the Tackle (Peel off and make the 10) (not too high)
* Markers Square to Prevent 10Mt Dumby Half Exploits or Conceed Penalties (good luck with that)
* Clamp Ball to stop Offloads when 3 in the Tackle (Especially on Forwards) (again easier said than done)
* Rush up on M. Monaghan to stop Link Plays (alot of teams have tried)
* Rush up on L. Briers on Kick Options (+monas +myler +hodgson +bridge)
* Wingers Drop back to 10Mts on the 4th Tackle around 40Mts to be 1st to the Ball on Corner Bombs (myler little chip over the top!)
* Cover the Wings with Sliding Defense (1 Line Up no Gaps) (cheeky inside pass and hips are the wrong way)
* NO Running Backwards towards Try Line when Centre/Wing Attacks (Up in the Face on the Centre, Cover on the Winger) (and the supporting runners)
* Kick for Territory to the Try Line or 10Mt Scrums in the last 10mins if Lead Established to try and Force Errors with Quick Line Speed. (good tactic!)
* Find the Floor on Kicks to make it harder to Return from FB and Wings. (less distance and makes no difference to be honest)
* Clamp Ball to put Body between Ground and Ball in Try Scoring Position (i.e. Make sure that Arm goes nowhere! (easier said than done again)

My ticket was 800 odd on the online thing when I bought it yesterday at dinner time, a good few sold by the look of things!

Think there will be a decent turnout, just hope ganson has a half decent game. He has had one with loads of penalties, one with some ridiculous Decisions and no penalties given. Hopefully he will get it just right!

A lot rides on the ref ....and whether BJB kicks on again after brilliantly beating his man on the outside

He does like a kick on doesn't he!

I would love it if you beat them, however I cant see it, Wire by 18.

I think you're right and know why you'd love us to beat them but I am afraid that they will be waiting to thrash you in the final if you get past St Helens.

Your probably right, however, il settle for 3 trophies in 2 seasons, I wouldn't call grand final runners up and Challenge cup winners a bad season.

Good job you're not a Rhinos fan then, some on here would judge that to be abject failure going by some of their whinings...

Neither would I.

I'm happy that we have picked up a bit of momentum at the right end of the season and winning two play off games along with the cc final is more than I expected this year but Friday will be a step too far for us

Don't be such a negative tool.

We'll sh*t em.

So with Ablett back who would you pick in the centres?

Ablett and Delaney all day long for me. Just for the defensive security. Yes, Ablett has his moments but is a very good player and has much more experience defending there than Hardaker who IMO should miss out with Pitts.