- ffs-->get a room -

With it now likely to be either Wigan or Leeds we play in the final I firmly want us to lose the semi final. We can't beat either of those sides in a final.

Phone the Samaritans you depressing numpty!!!

I can't wait already for next week. I'd like us to play Wire because Hull going to the DW is a fifty point drubbing waiting to happen. Leeds will give them a game, for a bit. The chips are down now. No shirking, no hiding, no coasting. It's all hands on deck and that includes us. I've picked a ticket for the West Stand on Saturday so let's get that cup final atmosphere going.

We can beat both in a final. We just haven't beaten either in a Grand Final since 2006. Let's keep things in proportion.

With the way Saints have been playing this season, should we make it to OT this year we could try the tactic of boring the opposition to death. That could work where playing rugby has failed previously.

Never write off the Saints.

If the pitch is 4 foot deep in water we'll have a chance. Otherwise...

Our forwards could win it on the big pitch if they had a kicking game to work off, but they don't. If we get there again let's just hope the occasion gets to the opposition and the bad luck goes their way instead of ours for once...

Why wouldnt any fan want us there? if we're there we have a chance and thats all you need to be champions in this system

You lot are forgetting what grand final night is like. The traffic jams on the way, the dark cold night. The sinking feeling when we fall behind, the inevitability of our demise. The walk back to the car, the realisation that another 100+ pounds have been wasted.

No thanks.

You're forgetting the bleeding shins and early onset osteoporosis that you develop sitting in those cripplingly cramped and uncomfortable seats for 2 hours... I don't give a monkey's what anyone says - I'm very glad not to be going this year.

Agreed, whoever we get next week let's 'ave it! COYS!

First world problems.

Lets take a trip into the jumbled mess that is inside Sad boys head - as scary a thought as that might be



"I know that we are the worst team ever but - gosh darn it - we keep looking like we can get to the grand final again - no matter how much I try to make everyone else see how poor we are as a team and individually - especially that Wellens bloke


I am just going to have to change tack now and make out that the Grand final isnt worth going to

- well because its
In Manchester


Its dark at night


It rains


There are other people there


we might get beat in a sporting contest

Thats extremely unfair
It will cost me money


and those nasty internet warriors will rip me to pieces next year when I spout the same old crap if we do win this year


Life just isnt fair - I know I should get behind the team but I just can't do it when slagging them off is just so much fun


Please God help me

and make sure those other teams win and dont put an end to me being popular

"

When will you learn? It's the same bravado ever year.

''COYS!! WHOEVER WE PLAY BRING IT ON! WE'RE GONNA WIN! IT'S OUR TIME



'' ad nauseum.

The simple, brutal fact is you will not win the grand final whilst you are on this losing streak and you keep doggedly making the final, year after year after year after year.... You know, the players are only human and all those losses has a massive effect.

You need a season or 2 of not making the final, to put a partition on those losses, to be able to draw a line under them and move on.

If you make the final it's going to be 6 losses on the trot. You're better off having an hnourable exit next week...it'll set the club and the players free.

It's the hope that kills you.

Because, no matter how much you protest, or tell yourself otherwise, deep down inside you, theres a burning hope and desire.......''it might just be this time, they might just do it this time''.

And then the crashing crumbling reality hits as hard as ever when the loss sets in towards the end of the game.

If you beat warrington next week you are going to lose 6 on the trot.

Where did I say we would win and it's our time? Point that out to me.



The only way to get over such a horrible run is to avenge it and win a Grand Final. It takes guts and a winning attitude but it's the only way. A year off is a negative way to look at it and won't end those memories. Look at the Bradford Bulls, they lost to us in finals in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2001 yet they went on to win the 2001 Grand Final and their belief grew. Going from 5 losses to 6 losses is no real difference to me. The 5th one was the hardest to take and it'd be hard to top that feeling last season. Trust me, every team would swap position with us in the last 7 years apart from Leeds and Wigan. Warrington for example would love to experience a Grand Final, they haven't even entered the raffle!

We've not been the best team this year but we've hit form at the right time and who knows. Saints should have nothing to fear.

Saints have plenty to fear. We've not got it in us to beat Warrington and then beat Wigan or Leeds IMO. We might just about have enough talent to do it (I doubt it) but we don't have enough team spirit to pull it off. We don't have a leader, a captain, that can inspire them and we don't have the individuals that often win Grand Finals, such as Rob Burrow or Sam Tomkins.

As the guy above said, we're not going to get over this psychological barrier by just repeating final appearances. There needs to be a gap year or two. Last year proved it's in their heads, as once Leeds scored the first try in their comeback, the heads went down and it was over. That would happen as soon as the opposition went ahead this year, and there is no one in the squad to pull them through that.

Much as I hate to say it, but I can't disagree with this one iota. The only way we're going to win the next 2 games is by being mega tight in defence and in complete and total control in the forwards for 90% of each game - if any kind of creative spark or quality back play is allowed to influence the result in either game we will lose, probably heavily. We certainly have the pack to be able to do that once but not twice in successive weeks against top sides. And once the game starts to turn against us at O/T (as is almost inevitable) then we will crumble pitifully and be overrun yet again. We desperately need a break from GFs for a season or 2 and it's being a little self-deluding to think that we can turn up there against Wigan or Leeds in 2 weeks' time after putting Warrington away and do the same to them. We've got a fresh start next season with (hopefully) our first decent coach in 4 full years and a break from the final and the fresh memories of yet another stuffing at O/T is what the squad needs psychologically going into the playoffs next year. I honestly think a big win against Wire next week would be the worst possible thing that could happen to us and our trophy chances next year as a club going forward.

If Saints make the Grand Final this year they should invite Lee Briers to come and do a talk to the players on the winning mentality, there's a man that knows what it takes to face sides like Leeds in a major final and come out on top.

Saints have got the ability and potential there's no doubt about that, what they need is a few words from an inspirational figure like Briers who is from their own town and has got winners medals, it will make those lads in the Saints jersey think if he can go out there and do it then what's stopping me, maybe one day I can achieve the things in the game that he has.

*sigh*

Yes - Briers is certainly the perfect model of professionalism and all Saints' players would do well to to learn from the perfect way he conducts himself. And his massive experience of playing in GFs would be invaluable...

Very witty, I'll give you that.

why does it not say Grand Final winners in your sig?

can we have a bye then please and go and get beat for you

This is a good point too. Not many players can prolong their career at the top well into their 30s like Briers is doing, it takes a model professional that has prepared himself well and looked after his body and Briers can give some tips to upcoming players on how to look after themselves so they can have as long a career in the game as he has.

I thought it might look arrogant to put it up just yet but if we beat the Saints and have the pies in the final I will put it on then because we all know they will cack themselves when they see the primrose and blue jerseys.