I'm more bothered about it in the context of the playoffs. We have two home games against them and need to show in both that we're a match, if not better. We'll see.

Surely your bothered? If you're a fan of either team you have to be don't you? It's Wire v Saints for goodness sake! Regardless of whatever the competition league position venue or time of the day if Widnes lose particularly to Wire or Saints or Wigan I sulk for a week....... which on reflection is probably why I'm constantly such a miserable git!

Brilliant

I've not seen enough to judge Philbin really, he's been quiet against us and I've not seen enough games against other teams to form much of an opinion. From what I have seen he looks more effective from the bench, when he's started games his effectiveness has been reduced. I think Warrington should be selecting him or BMM and not both in the 17.

I wouldn't say I don't care about the result. I just said it's not as important to us as it is to you. There is more riding on it for Warrington and in tight games that can be the difference. Do I want Saints to win? Of course I do. Would I be overly worried if we lose? No, we'll still be 4 clear and there's no harm in a wakeup call every now and again to keep people on their toes. That explains why it doesn't feel like a particularly big game to me, the threat of losing is only being top by 4 points.

Well that was a more sensible reply than I anticipated! Maybe I misjudged you! The reason I asked is I think Philbin and Thompson are very similar style players. I would concede that Thompson is the better player but he's getting a regular game in a regular position in a very good pack.
I would like to see Wire play Philbin at prop on a more regular basis and stop messing him about as a loose forward!

Exactly that. Your outside backs are just better and faster.
It's a big team game with little rewards. Wire are simply not chasing 1st. Many of our games are collateral. Unlike Saints.

Because they’re really struggling without him aren’t they. A few fans saying they miss him is hardly saying anything.

Of course, losing games is all part of the master plan. How's that been working out down the years?

Neither Saints nor Warrington are in any position to be arrogant about their chances. IMO, Saints are better generally than Warrington as the table suggests, but have a tendancy to lose the big games. If both finals are Saints v Warrington, it might break create a black hole that engulfs us all, as how do both sides lose?

He’s hardly error prone at all, what gives you that impression? He’s comfortably top two with Walmsley, he literally walks into every Super League side as their best prop. There is a reason Bennett is trying to convince him to go to the Rabbitohs.

He’s 30 and he hardly stormed it at all.

He plays a big part in that pack being very good though so you can hardly use that as one of the reasons for Thompson being streets ahead of Philbin.

If Philbin's favour though he is not ALWAYS third man into the tackle like Thompson nor run with his knees raised (two warnings so far should be more). Neither would assist him in storming the NRL.

It's not an important game to me, see my earlier post.
The CC semi and the playoffs are important, there's just two league points at stake, nothing else.

It will be important to me if we win, any win over Saints is!

Got to say, the promo vid released tonight is really REALLY good

They are, but BMM can only do 15 mins whilst Thommo can do the full 80. Thats why BMM has one of lowest carries of 109 in your team, whilst Thommo is double that of 213 carries in our team.

It’s a gimmick, it’s a gimmick. Doesn’t have an effect on anything https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... -headlines

It’s a gimmick, it’s a gimmick. Doesn’t have an effect on anything https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... -headlines

You seem to be missing the point? If Thompson were at Warrington he wouldn't be getting a regular start so wouldn't have the luxury of having a settled position! Philbin hasn't had that chance yet. If he did it'd be fairer to compare. Regardless of that if you think Thompson is "streets ahead" of Philbin you need to take a look at yourself!

Well as Thompson is voted good enough to make a World Class X111 and Hill + Connor never got on the radar I would imagine he would regular start. Philbin has played 30% more games than Thompson and is nowhere near the performance game stats, that would suggest that Thompson is an A roader and not a Philbin back street performer.

Well they rarer than rocking horse shet.

In league games they certainly are rare - common as a Parr trollop in play-off semi-finals though.

Haha, it's been a lot more even since we got the first win, miserable before then.

I couldn't really care less who was voted in what.....and what Connor has to do with anything I've no idea! I accept that Thompson is a top performer and you see more of him than I do so I respect your opinion but in the game that mattered last season the Warrington pack were far superior to Saints in particularly the front rows of which Thompson was a part! I would suggest that before we start showing off about a World X111 lets start showing off about the big games we've helped win!