The big kick off is almost upon us. How do you all think we will fair against the old enemy.
Always find it hard to bet against us so here goes....

Saints by 10

I don't...

Saints 6 Wigan 58

Draw!!22-22

My common sense would make Wigan slight favourites, but being an optimist and a saints supporter I'll go for 22-16 to us (Tries for Wheeler, Shenton (2) and Graham).

Of course wigan are favourites, but derbies are always different and the form book can be irrelevant (even though there isnt a form book yet !)
Saints 20 wigan 18, me to have heart attack around 78 minute mark

That sums my feeling exactly

Sad one, what do you really think the score will be?
I can see Saints winning this.

First game of the season under an un-known coaching quantity? I don't think anyone can be completey sure what's going to happen.

Being a realist I would expect Wigan to win by at least 20

Sounds far closer to a pessimist than a realist to me.

Would you honestly be surprised if we lost by 20?

Yes, very. When was the last time we lost by 20+ to Wigan?

Last season we lost one tight game and won one tight game with Wilkin/Moore in the halves, then we lost by 12 with Wilkin and Smith in the halves.

People aren't half believing the hype with Wigan - do we really think they're so good that they will swat aside all their main challengers by 20+ points? I certainly don't.

Depends on who plays for us though surely? Is it too early for Kyle for example? Perry isn't playing for certain so we're down to 2 props.

They beat us by 20 in 2009 and they weren't even that good then.

I don't think they'll smash everyone all season but at this early stage they will make their new found dominance count.

Well, he's playing so I would guess not.'"

Saints 20-12 Wigan

Forgot about Murrayfield, with our players spending the build up saying how much they didn't want to play there (we beat them the other 3 times we played in 2009); I doubt we'll be taking that attitude into the game again.



Fair enough, don't agree, but fair enough.

Purtill says Kyle and Leon are playing (yes it could be smoke and mirrors) but as for props, i count Jammer, LMS, Tony P and almost certainly Cloughy as well, all in all non too shabby.
Wigan definitely have Finch out, Deacon will really struggle to do 80 minutes and Sam tomkins i'd guess will be at full back leaving their halves missing alot. I very much doubt mr gleeson will be playing for them either.

Our friends on cherry & white think he will play as Charnley isn't travelling

The only definite's out for us are Finch, Pat, Fielden and O'Carrol. Everyone else including Gleeson and Hansen are up for selection. Normally I think we'd allow the latter two more time off, but seeing as we've got the WCC coming up I'm sure Maguire will wan't to make sure everyone get's some game time under their belt before that match.

I forgot about Richards and Fielden as well!, In theory we are in much better shape than Wigan going into this match

Have you guy's got anyone else out other than Perry?

No, worries are lack of minutes for Leon and Kyle, other than that - full squad.

On paper, although I don't think any of us trust the fitness of Kyle or Wheeler even when they're named. Also, Leon's coming back from surgery on his neck, so I think we're all a little nervous about how they shape up.

First match of the season is always a weird one to call. I wouldn't really be surprised by any result.

I am in total agreement with Fear The Vee about the mythical status Wigan seem to have assumed over the off-season. They were the best side last year, and they beat us soundly in the Grand Final, but invincible there were certainly not (in fact, they lost 3 out of their last 10 games last year, 2 of those at home). They've improved on paper, but so have other teams. They're the team to beat at the moment, but there's no reason why either Saints, Warrington, Leeds and possibly even Hudds couldn't do that.

Personally, I'm just looking forward to seeing Saints running out with four good props, two half backs and two centres.