Shut down Monaghan and we have a chance. Easier said than done. Then exploit them while Higham/Clarke are on.

Wigan in the cup and Hull IMO

Wire can win

Leeds can win

Its going to be said all week Wire are big favs and shouldn't take Leeds lightly blah blah, either side can win doesn't matter about form, the only thing am happy with going into this is the lack of injuries and the few weeks off

At the expense of sounding just like the sky numpties, a lot depends on how we start the game.

Leeds have habits of starting to play when behind, if you let Warrington get a lead, they'll take you to the cleaners. We need to start big and get points on the board early.

Is Westwood still out?

No he's back in training now don't think any key players are injured.

Getting a spot back in the side won't be easy though

What time is everyone setting off?

I'm presuming we would hit the rush hour traffic through Manchester?

Think our bus goes about 5pm!

Yes it will be tough but let's not forget Warrington have been beaten 6 times this season, an average of one in every five games lost. Four of those defeats were at home to boot. Our kicking game is going to have to be a lot better than any time in the last couple of seasons and we've got to try and nullify Briers kicking game if at all possible. Like the majority of our fans i'm worried about our defence, we're just gonna have spend more time playing the ball in their half to make it less of an issue.

I think if Leeds hang in the game then it takes Warrington to a place where they haven't been that much this season. I can think of four close games we've been in this season, all of which were at home, Hull KR, Catalans, Salford and Wigan in the cup. The only one we won was Hull KR in the second week of the season, Hodgson scored in the last few minutes to win it (had he not scored then,we would have been 0 points from 2 games and maybe the season would have gone differently).

Usually we bitch slap teams and once they are on the rack it just becomes a case of running tries in with our back line and we play the best rugby in the competition when we are relaxed and confident and the opposition are demoralised. Not saying that we wouldn't be able to handle a tight game but mentally it is more worrying for us to go in at half time next week in a tight game thinking we've had an amazing season but we could blow it at the last, when Leeds would think this is like bonus time after a tough year and smell a chance to cause a huge upset.

Also another potential danger for us is we can't rely on the phenomenon that sometimes happens when an underdog team is close to an upset in a big game, where they bottle it once victory is in sight...Leeds team is full of players for whom success holds no fears.

Add Saints at home and Catalan away to the list.

Really?

A [ihuge [/iupset?

Personally I can see why they start favourites especially with the season they've had and the home advantage, but I'm going over on friday more with expectation than hope, and knowing that we are more than capable of a win.

But maybe that's just me.

At this stage of the season nothing would be a HUGE upset. From our perspective, after the beatings we have dished out to you this year, i'd be dissapointed if we lost, but I am not expecting anything other than a close game. The extra games you have played in this year may be a factor later on though.

I think the Defensive Tactics should be:-

* Slow the Play of the Ball to 7-9 Seconds when Dominant
* 1 Low 2 High in the Tackle (Peel off and make the 10)
* Markers Square to Prevent 10Mt Dumby Half Exploits or Conceed Penalties
* Clamp Ball to stop Offloads when 3 in the Tackle (Especially on Forwards)
* Rush up on M. Monaghan to stop Link Plays
* Rush up on L. Briers on Kick Options
* Wingers Drop back to 10Mts on the 4th Tackle around 40Mts to be 1st to the Ball on Corner Bombs
* Cover the Wings with Sliding Defense (1 Line Up no Gaps)
* NO Running Backwards towards Try Line when Centre/Wing Attacks (Up in the Face on the Centre, Cover on the Winger)
* 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.
* Find the Floor on Kicks to make it harder to Return from FB and Wings.
* Clamp Ball to put Body between Ground and Ball in Try Scoring Position (i.e. Make sure that Arm goes nowhere!

If Monaghan goes off the game will have been won by then......unless he gets injured......doesn't bear thinking about

Or to simplify - load numbers into the collision, a la Wigan.

Warrington's forwards don't play at the line as much as say someone like James Graham does. If Morley's carting it up, the odds are he'll be tucking the ball under his arm and ploughing into defenders, not popping little passes at the line to runners on his shoulder. Get three and four men into the tackle, control his body angle and the speed with which he finds the floor.

Defending in their half - compress in the middle of the field. Challenge them to move the ball wide near their own line.

Defending in your own half - don't be afraid to spread a little wider, particularly on plays three and four. They like to put lots of runners in motion, and it's harder to read and communicate if you're desperately sliding across because you've compressed defensively. The two players you can guarantee are going to have their hands on the ball in those situations are Briers and Hodgson - anyone inbetween those two is more likely to be a decoy runner.

The old umbrella defence could work a treat! They won't be able to go round us, see if they can get through us!

Agree on Morley, he has looked very good since his forced layoff, he's comeback his old battering ram self, Wood and Carvell on the other hand will be looking for passes and even more so Solomona but him playing will depend on others and what bench Smith wants.

Although Smith could change the game plan like he did against Wigan when he sent them out to beat them at their own game.

What's it like to watch a hooker who is the dominant attacking force in your team?

For me its great, Mona's is unreal always looking at where the next gap is etc, I could watch him play all day.

Lucky for us Briers, Hodgson and Myler help him out.

Hopefully we can at least make it respectable. Anything can happen and we do have a chance. We need to get into them early and not let them blow us away. Not too worried about the last 15 at hudds. Think it was more a case of easing off rather than knackered. Not a big fan of the little fat man in charge of Warrington.

I presume you are hinting at your sex party in Prague and not Buderus for a change?

Would "big" upset do? We haven't beaten any of the top 3 this season, and have never really looked like hitting the same levels of performance they can. As has been pointed out, our improvements over the final third of the season has elevated us as far as being the best of the also rans, and put us in a position to go and cause an upset, but beating the likes of Cas, Hull, Wakey and a spent Huddersfield is not evidence that we can match Wire.

More expectation than hope? So you expect a Leeds win? It may not just be you, but I can't share that type of optimism.

I never rule anything out in a one-off match, but yes, for me it would be an upset if we beat them on their patch on current form. I have hope, but not expectation.

Agreed anything could happen but has to be a upset if we beat wire!

Quote ="craigizzard"Is Westwood still out?'" nope,latest news is he will be back for wire on fri!!!!!! www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk/a ... Page1.html

Quote ="craigizzard"Is Westwood still out?'" nope,latest news is he will be back for wire on fri!!!!!! www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk/a ... Page1.html

I'd agree with that. It's certainly possible, and I am hopeful. But that's all it is, hope. You cannot possibly go to Warrington as a fan [iexpecting[/i us to win after the season they've had.