Always keep that optimism as anything can happen in a one off game.

i dont think any knowledgeable Wigan fan will be writing Saints of yet. Yes, there'll be plenty of banter if you lose & vice versa, but i dont think anyone will be underestimating you

There's too much rugby left to play, and a couple of key injuries / suspensions can make a big difference. Clearly both sides are waiting on key players coming back, with you missing more than us a present. But as we all know, with the current format, all it needs is a fully fit team for the playoffs (ideally a couple of games beforehand to build some momentum)

Was listening on SKY just over a week ago, and the LLS was done and dusted, so everyone playing for 2nd spot. Whilst that could be true, any complacency will bite us on the big time. We need to use the loss to Hull as a kick up the , get back to doing the basics well, and using our pack for the full 80 minutes (rotating) as we could have some forwards who are knackered come the play offs if they dont get a rest. I get that Thompson, Havard, Ellis, Faz have the engines and ability, but the others need to step up and make sure that these guys get some rest

The thing with clubs like Wigan and Saints is that playing in finals and winning finals is in it's DNA. You can forget what's gone before when the play offs come and just that knowhow can be invaluable in getting you through games and then if you get to a final, anything can happen. Look at what Leeds used to do, struggle through the weekly rounds and then change in to a different animal in the play offs. This current Saints team won't be anything like the one which would turn up in a play off game. They'll put in a similar effort to last week against us but probably with 5 or 6 of their better players back in the side.

that the main reason why wire have signed Bateman I think - they need some of that experience of just being hard to beat in big games . Saints have that in spades.

Dont think Saints have that in spades anymore,didnt last year so far havn't this year.

Not saying they cannot win the GF but if they do it would be a great achievement.

I think Wigan,Wire,HKR are better placed,and with Wire getting Batement that will be a strong team.

Have Saints got anyone expected back for the Leigh game?

redvee now requires sign up? shame

Think it's just Tommy Mak as a possibility this week. Well i say "just", that's a pretty big returnee especially with how much he will help getting yardage out of our own 20. Assuming he will drop Ritson. Blake hasn't been very good the last month or so imo, but he is much better than Ritson at carrying the ball out of yardage as well, although I think Ritson has gone alright since he came back to the team. Seems to put a bit of worry into the defence, and cops a lot of high tackles too

Also, Hurrell now confirmed to be out for the rest of the season, which seems to give credence to the Naiquama rumours. At least on the surface

I wish the lad all the best with his recovery. When I spoke with him at the Derby match he was in plenty of strife.

Two bad teams, Peet/Wellens out !!!

Saints going out of their way to cheer us up tonight is pretty heartwarming!

I hope your joking after Lam embarrassing himself with a big clubswho’s you reckon we get in?

Seen something about Welsby suffered a serious injury?

Hamstring, going for a scan tomorrow, just watched the game and he went straight off, got to be said Leigh played some brilliant stuff and Saints look shot, we need to regroup but they’re in a world of pain, had a few players back as well tonight.
You can never tell with the disciplinary but Lomax might be in a bit of bother after a head shot on Obrian

Leigh played some really good stuff against us last home game, they will no doubt fancy themselves to put one over on us.

On current form they will beat us.

Definitely. We need a good result against Huddersfield in preparation for Leigh.

It is a game of timing sometimes. This recent run and the fixtures coming up would've looked lovely a few weeks ago but now looks extremely tough. Hull have picked up, Wire had a right wobble after the cup final, Huddersfield have changed coach, Leigh have hit top form, Leeds look a different side and Catalans look slightly better (but are always tough at home anyway).

Thank god we've got Saints at Magic

We go with what we've got against whoever we play. No excuses just go for it. This is where the coaching team, players and us the speccies earn our coin!

Back to basics. Get them right and we will start winning again.

Or, you assess the squad and bring someone in. The week to week loans for Chan and Eseh are changed to run until the end of he season. Isa, depending on his progress, retires. We then bring someone in and freshen things up. Just like we did, successfully I might add, with Dupree last year.

What absolutely shouldn't and can't be allowed to happen is for KR to do nothing, all whilst we see the season slide away. He's got previous with that under Lam.

I'm extremely confident the season won't slide away and this is just a blip, much in the same way as we had one last year. This upcoming period will be tricky without a doubt and I look at all the clubs remaining fixtures and I feel top spot may end up being a step too far but I'd be surprised if we didn't finish second in that case (Hull KR have a really tough run). The aim now has to be to get Field and French back and firing in advance of the play offs and I'd then back us to win it.

Keep the faith.

Previous seasons have gotten away from us tho. It's important, imo, to not let it happen. Once your confidence goes, it's hard to get it back. I look at Leigh and Wire they've both strengthened in the last couple of weeks.