Wheres Dropkick? All doom before. Should have had more faith.

If he had sent it to the video ref he would surely have sent it up as a no try and I very much doubt Thaler would have overturned it. I thought it was no try when it happened. I've seen it a few times since, normal and slow and I still say "no try".

The later one by Lineham was just pathetic.

Haha, I've just got on the train home. I wasn't remotely looking forward to anything about today, but how wrong I was, and delighted to be so. Brilliant Wires.

To an extent I think our big game experience told, as it reminded me a bit of the Grand Final a couple of years ago when Cas were easily the best team in Super League but Leeds had the nous when it mattered. Obviously that Leeds team contained serial winners rather than the perennial losers that we have been recently, but nevertheless that experience of playing in finals tells you they aren't like normal weekly round games. Saints have had it easy - and are undeniably a level above, as were Cas 2017 - but today the intensity stepped up and they weren't ready to step up with it.

Robert Hick's call of the no try by Knowles after a magnificent kick by Theodore Fages, was a disgrace. Hicks should have gone to the video referee. That wrong call effectively stole the game from St Helens.

As opposed to the numerous handling errors from Saints and some stern Wire defence.

This is just simply fantastic news to get rid of the stench of the usual Stains trolls on here. At least JEAN has tried in vain to mitigate the heartache for the Stains fans, but he has just simply embarrassed himself.

Perhaps he lost the toss and had to represent themselves.

Thought you'd be watching the Ashes.

Anyone else think Tanya Arnold looked rather nice today?

I thought we were the big game bottlers.

Would you ?

Great day and great game today.

It's said above but I think the experience of being at Wembley before gave Warrington a lift but only a little bit.
Ultimately some never say die defence won that game for Warrington. Very well deserved.

Well done Warrington, superb performance, first final I've truly enjoyed in a while. Daryl Clarke on his day is a machine.



Also shows once again why:
A - if the technology is there, use it (although I thought Hicks was correct on first viewing - and he had a good game overall).

B - the ridiculous "I have a try/no-try" call should be abolished in favour of simply "is it a try or not". We've seen far too many instances where the most probable outcome is clear to anyone with a modicum of common sense and reasonably clear vision, however as the on-field ref has gone the other way and as there is no 'clear evidence to overrule', the video ref is bound by the rules to reaffirm the on-field ref's call.

I’d agree with that, or at least give the ref the option of saying he’s unsure. Nothing wrong with him not knowing, that’s what the technology is there for.

Well you are really as you’ve been in 2 finals in the SL era and lost them both. But then it’s not quite the same as 5 in a row for Saints.

Having said that Leeds went 6 Challenge Cup Finals without a win, they were just a bit more spread out.

SL era Prem/Grand Final & Challenge Cup win loss ratios
Leeds - 58% (11W - 8L)
St Helens - 57% (12W - 9L)
Wigan - 56% (10W - 8L)
Warrington - 40% (4W - 6L)

Last 15 years
Leeds - 64% (9W - 5L)
St Helens - 45% (5W - 6L)
Wigan - 67% (6W - 3L)
Warrington - 40% (4W - 6L)

Last 5 years
Leeds - 100% (3W - 0L)
St Helens - 0% (0W - 1L)
Wigan - 50% (2W - 2L)
Warrington - 25% (1W - 3L)

Not long back. Good day and fair play Wire. Saints bottled it big time, but Warrington really managed the game well.

Few thoughts, whilst the attendance remains an issue, there did seem a lot more neutral shirts around than I’ve seen in a few years, don’t know if anyone else thought that?

Also, I just wonder if the whole structure of the occasion needs a refresh. It struck me whilst listening to abide with me and to a certain extent the national anthem as well, they both seemed really outdated in this day and age. Abide with me especially used to be a real highlight in years gone by, but didn’t do it at all for me today, no one paying attention in a half empty ground, so don’t know what it does for kids or younger fans.

For the first time as well, I also felt I wouldn’t be entirely opposed to a move away from Wembley. It’s such a lifeless place, even when full, let alone with 30,000 empty seats. Maybe limiting the crowd to 60,000 at Arsenal/Spurs would bring back a bit of prestige with a full house and tickets a bit more scarce.

That's how it use to be, but there's now the necessary recognition that the video ref isnt infallible (due to camera angles, bodies in the way, inability to actually see the ball etc) hence why the onfield call is made first, and is the deciding factor unless the technology can clearly prove otherwise.

Do you think there might have been a bit of levelling up going on with that Warrington “no try” from the video ref?

To chalk that off was ridiculous IMO but the Saints effort in the first half should have been given and was missed.

Agree though Hicks had a good game overall.

Well done Warrington really deserved win and showed how you need to play in a big final.

The early decision not to go to the screen though was very poor. It would have changed the whole complexion of the game and who knows how it would have played out if Saints go 6-0 up early.

You mean 4-0 up, you never know, he might of missed a straight forward conversion....

Nah, he's a really good kicker, especially in front of goal


Were there any Saints fans at the game ? they were very quiet all game. Never heard them shouting Coooote all afternoon.

Don't agree on either point.
Abide With Me is a tradition very worth keeping.
Sung loud and proud around me.

Wembley is the pinnacle. Let's just work on filling it.

Yes but most games are boring these days - formulaic play. Players may be quicker and stronger than in the past but with very few exceptions it’s played by players of average ability. Watch the video of 1966 Saints and compare the quality of player and goalkicking, then to now. It’s sad to see how the sport has declined with less people playing in traditional RL towns and lack of world class sporting talent from other sports. The final yesterday was poor in my view, not helped by dire refereeing in the first 15 minutes. The second game’s first half was way better before Widnes completely fell away.

I think a large part of lower attendances is playing it on the August Bank Holiday weekend when people are under pressure to do things with the family. Also it’s the time of year when most families take holidays and are either away or broke after getting back.

You need to install a stairlift?