It's likely that there would have been a light rehab session of some sort on Sunday - bit of a swim in the hotel pool before departure probably. Yesterday maybe a review session and some video work.

Leaves today, tomorrow and Thursday to do the game planning so it's only like a Sunday-Friday turnaround would have been in a normal week.

By the looks of Delaney on Sunday he might take until Thursday to recover

Threads like this are ridiculous and the team being talked up usually lose the same week someone starts asking if they can go unbeaten.



How many games did Saints go unbeaten before Leeds beat them in the GF ?

I think we will win on Friday, lose to Catalan, win Castleford and lose to Huddersfield. If Wigan win all there games then by that we won't pick up the league leaders sheild until Huddersfield away.

Not to mention Peacock who could still barely speak properly at the homecoming

I think Friday and Catalan will be the other way round, and Saints will also beat Wigan.

Mac did say we are going to enjoy today

That's his normal sober voice.

If we win v saints I'd send a 2nd team to les Catalans rest the likes of hardaker Watkins Sinfield McGuire JP and Cuthbertson. Les Catalans are a big strong side and the flight etc changes things a little. Rarely do teams come back without a niggle or two.

I think also it gives us a chance to give robbie ward some time in case he is needed. Ash Handley probably deserves a game when he can get it. Golding too. Perhaps even a game for Lilley.

There's certainly an opportunity to rotate the squad a little heading into the semi-finals. I'd be tempted not to do it for the Saints or Huddersfield games though, as these are potential semi-final/Grand Final opponents.

Strongest team for those two games, put down a marker.

agree with that. Only thing I would say is that the hudds game might end up being a dead rubber by the time we play them.

well at least you proved tonight you are stoppable.

still think you'll finish top and get to the final but another defeat next week would be interesting.

Well said.



We'll still win the GF though, comfortably.

As I said elsewhere I'm not too worried about this loss. We are missing 6 first teamers, peacock and Delaney both struggled tonight, less than a week after the ccf ,gifted them their first try and we still took it to them until the end.

If we can get Hardaker and Watkins back in this 8day break we should do well in France .if they are still out and we lose Delaney and sinny from tonight then I doubt we will get the lls

It would be a real shame if injuries robbed this squad of its just deserts - hopefully they can patch everyone up and get back on the horse next week. They have been the best side and justify a place at OT at the very least.

Completely agree. An injury to Sinfield or McGuire would signal the end of the dream.

Have said the same elsewhere.....and I think you were one of the ones that also agreed with me that losing Aiton would have a much bigger outcome on our season's end than others realised.

With also losing Sutcliffe we are already stretching the options to the limit for subsequent success. The policy of trying to cover half back and dummy half with one player is already exhausted unfortunately.

Winning the LLS should be the only realistic goal now I think. This group of special players deserves that at least.

Disagree we are the best team in the comp, even without Aiton.

We ran saints close without Burrow, Watkins and Zak.

Winning the LLS and GF are both realistic and we should be favourites for both.

Winning the GF I'd still a very realistic goal. It'll probably require a home win against hudds/saints and an GF against Wigan. Anymore injuries and that'll be difficult but still not impossible for a team of such strong character

After this week's showings I can't see Saints, Wigan or Huddersfield losing again this season.

It just proves how stretched we now are that the Cup Final team is our strongest team and any injuries/niggles we get we cant manage with. Hopefully Burrow,Hardacre and Watkins come back next week with no further injuries from St Helens game.

I think Saints have to play Wigan yet so unless its going to be a draw one of them has to lose?

That'll be the one that decides if we win the LLS. One win (think we'll beat Cas at home) will be enough if Wigan lose that game with our superior points difference.

One defeat and it's taken you less than 12 hours to write Leeds off, again.

Not at all.....I would never write [ithis[/i team off. If any team can do it this team can, could, maybe and very possibly, or even probably achieve the clean sweep.

I am simply saying we should not lay such[i expectations[/i on them. They might not do it because of key injuries that could have an impact on doing so. I am merely saying that if we lower the expectations a little we should all still be very pleased (I am) at what they have done already and in the manner that they have done it.