A week is a long time...... You have the tougher run in..... Final day could be the kicker

Was it you though or 108?

I agree. But Giants haven't really got it easier.
I reckon both Trinity and Giants need a win badly.

The Hull KR win helped them a lot but it isn't over yet.

Giants hopefully will see the return of a raft of first team players after the week off, and with the points difference London realistically have to win 3 more games than the Giants in the last 6 rounds

Not over no, but if the Giants beat Leeds next round, the Fat Lady is warming up her vocals

IF London beat Saints reserves today, things suddenly get very, very interesting.
Depending on other results, there could be just 2 points separating the bottom 5 clubs.

Is there a conspiracy theory here, in that Saints - a side already just about holding the LLS are deliberately "helping" London ?

I know they have an important semi final coming up but, with all due respect to Halifax and taking into account Saints utter domination of SL this season, making 9 changes for todays fixture being disrespectful of their opposition ?

Without reading too much into it I saw Councillor Box, Eamon McManus and Robert Elstone stood outside the Scarborough taps in Leeds talking about how much they like site seeing in London. They then shook hands and McManus and Elstone walked off towards the train station holding hands. Councillor Box was collected by his driver and whisked off in his Newcold sponsored Rolls royce.

With how tight the bottom half of the table is, Trinity are not the only club in peril and I doubt that the fans of KR, Huddersfield and Leeds will be too pleased with London being "given" 2 free points.
All within the rules but, not exactly "within the spirit of the game".
It shows massive respect to Halifax though and maybe the mighty Saints are nervous about next week

Someone forgot to pass the note to the saints players. They seem to be trying to win the game.

Saints have a tradition of helping the new up coming teams in SL, some years back we did our best to give bradford a helping hand. But even that spark of generosity could not keep a development area like Bradford in the top flight permanently.

However, there is a solution to this issue. We could sack all SL coaches and let opposition fans pick the opposing teams players. This would also help reduce overhead costs for all clubs.

Seems the communique has arrived for the second half.

York & Bradford a close one today in the Championship . Leeds and Hull Close . London Beating Saints.

York beat Bradford 24-24 . To go above Toulouse . Well done York .

I will have a pint of what you are smoking..

So then....a week to recharge the batteries then
FC host a Wigan side on a Roll ....Wigan by plenty
Huddersfield will feel they need another win to be safe, Leeds are in need of at least 2 more wins....tough call, but Huddersfield by the odd score
St Helens v Wakefield. Depends on which side Saints field,bt even their kids could probably defeat Wakey on present form. Sants by a few
Catalan v Wire. A lot depends on the cup semi result here, but if Catalan want a tp 5 finish, they need to get some form.....I'll opt for the French by 1 score
HKR V Castleford. Castleford are i 5th and will want to cement that, HKR need to win 2 more......close game, Cas by 2 scores
London v Salford. London will be treating every game as a cup final, whilst Salford have an eye on the play-offs.....Head says Salford by a few, but London at Home are a tough nut to crack.....London by a point.

Again, every game is key......

Cant argue with any of those predictions other than I think London will easily beat Salford, rather than just by 1 point.

Whatever Bazza

You do realise the Saints side that played had collectively played over 400 Super League games more than the whole of the Broncos squad. That was not an inexperienced 'Reserve' side that went to London.

Saints earned the right to rest some key players. As Tony Smith quite rightly pointed out on SKY after his defeat to Huddersfield. Stupid question from the young Angela Powers lookalike.

The number of games played by the players that took the park isn't the measure of them being a "reserve" side

Compare the side that played Wigan

Coote, Grace, Percival, Naiqama, Makinson, Lomax, Fages, Walmsley, Bentley, Thompson, Knowles, Peyroux, LMS
Lees, Ashworth, Amor, Smith

And V London

Welby, GRACE, Smith, Costello, Swift, Richardson, Paulo, LEES, Smith, BENTLEY, Batchelor, KNOWLES,
AMOR, Eaves, Hazzard, ASHWORTH

As you say, plenty of experience but, definitely a second string (reserve) side
Plus there are still some notable absentees from the 17 that played Wigan.

It certainly shows that they have plenty of depth to their squad but, NOBODY should pretend that the side that took the field against London, was anything other than a reserve side, albeit with some quality in there.

If you are still in any doubt, check again when the Challenge Cup final side is announced, assuming that they make it past Halifax

There may be 3 players from the London game that make the "final" cut

I’d imagine those 400 games are made up from just LMS and Anor alone, doesn’t make the WHOLE squad experienced.

But I agree that Saints have earned the right so no problem as I see it. What will be interesting to see is how their lineups look going ahead. Realistically they’re going to win comfortably against Halifax and could do likewise vs Wakey a week later if they go strong, if they then rest again vs Leeds the week before Wembley then their strongest lineup may well have gone a while since a close tough competitive game which might not be the best preparation.

The 17 that took the field against London were all official members of the first team squad so what’s the problem?

Have a look yourself. 20, 30 50 plus games for several players. Grace, Pauloand Richardson, there were plenty of players with decent numbers of games under their belt.

It was a reserve squad but saints reserves are not young kids fresh out of school. As someone else has said they are all first team players therefore Holbrook broke no rules.

Well, I like a point o lager.

Me two

Not me John smiths please