I say set Huddersfield against Wigan simple as that.

I can't see Huddersfield playing like that two games running.

Years of getting stuffed by Saints tell me that you can NEVER write them off, and can you imagine playing them next week with 3.5 thousand of their fans cheering them on, no thanks.

You can also never write Leeds off in this particular comp.

So I think we should pick Huddersfield next week. forget the protocol, if it backfires on us, so be it. We're a big club in a big competition, competing against top sides, there's no shame in losing. Let Wigan battle it out against saints or Leeds.

Wire scared of saints and Leeds.

Choose the Giants and if you win you will give your final opponents the biggest boost they could have.

Not scared, but we've been bitten by those two clubs more than we have by the Giants. To be honest, if we didn't pick the Giants and instead send them to Wigan, I can see you folding like a pack of cards and virtually giving Wigan a bye to the final.

Like I said, if it backfires and motivates the Giants to shove our decision down our throats so be it, we're not kids.

Can we pick Hull please.

we ARE gonna beat you again sometime, why not In a play off semi or even grand final itself?
I have thought all along that most people see us as the weaker of the big 5( league table wise) and would pick us,despite TS saying he would pick the lowest ranked team.
I think you will call us out despite this, therefore proving to baloo and our boys that you believe we are the weakest team.
see you next Thursday

Oh I hope they choose us. No better way to motivate our side. Every time we have lost a game this season we have come back and put in a great performance to win. Choosing us will motivate us just as much as a loss IMO.

I honestly can't believe people are still discussing this. It's a non-event; we're playing Leeds or Saints, purely because of league positioning. Should be a cracking game regardless of who it is.

I think Wigan will be too good for Huddersfield again, so this is the chance to finally land the Wire-Wigan final that's been on the cards for the past 3 seasons. Will one or both or us cock it up again?!?

Absolute drivel.

Every team and player will be properly prepared without any cod schoolboy psychology.

But it just isn't as easy as saying pick the lowest ranked club. Saints had major injury woes through the season but, towards the back end, managed to win 7 or their last nine. Equally, Leeds have won 6 of their last 9. Shouldn't we be looking at recent form rather than using a league position that, potentially, have been effected by results some 4 or 5 months ago?!?!

Not what Barry McDermott was saying 'ther night on back chat, and he had a few high intensity matches, so I think he knows what he's talking about on that score

I agree with this. League position is usually a good guide but Leeds, St Helens & Wigan have had spells during the season where they have had several of their best players missing. Huddersfield have not been hit so badly with injuries. So I think you need to be very wary of thinking that Huddersfield are the best side because they finished top. I've heard the phrase the "table doesn't lie" but I think it can be misleading without all the facts taken into account. The big guns in each side are now playing.

Our record against the Stains with TS in charge for a full season are even, with six wins apiece

2010
H loss 26-24
A loss 28-12
Playoff A loss 28-12

2011
H win 35-28
A win 25-18

2012
H loss 28-16
A win 22-12
Playoff qualifier H loss 28-6
Playoff semi A win 36-18

2013
H loss 22-10
A win 29-16
Magic win 48-22

And over the last two seasons we've won four lost three. The history of not being able to beat the Stains is over, with more recent games between the two clubs being pretty much even. Let's not have this nonsense about Stains being unbeatable. Warrington have turned into a top quality side since TS took over. If you add up all the league points since the 2009 season then we come out second (Wigan top) and if you only look at the 2010-2013 seasons (as Tony had a full pre-season to prepare the squad and instill his philosophies from 2010 onwards) then we come out as the top team.

Now the Wire!!! We can, and have, beaten all of the teams left in the playoffs on a regular basis in the recent past. Fear no one, and I believe we can win the GF whoever plays against us.

It could be interesting IF Stains beat Leeds tonight. You could send Stains to Wigan let them batter each other and play the card that it would be beneficial for the rugby league public to watch a belter of a match. Which obviously leaves Huddersfield.

But all of that will be pointless if Leeds win as you will pick them.

Whilst I might agree with you, isn't your formula the same as virtually having no pick at all? in your scenario if Leeds win we can't choose them, Wigan are 'safe' because of their opening win meaning we are playing winners of last night's game unless Saints win then we'd have a choice, or are you saying that we could as the highest ranked first game wiinners choose Wigan?

It is complicated enough already ha ha

He also back-tracked on what he said and confirmed that players are motivated to win no matter what.

And that is different than what was said earlier on this thread and he was saying that the clubs we didn't pick would think we are 'avoiding' them which is total garbage.

It is just all hot air.

The grim thing is I'd be enjoying this if we won the final last year, but as it is I'm just dreading another failure either next Thursday or at Old Trafford. The whole thing is just plain doing my head in.

I think we'll pick the winner of tonight's game no matter what though.

Simple for me pick Leeds if they win regardless of their playoff form
If Saints win pick Huddersfield, you don't want a blood and thunder derby game for a semi final end of, too unpredictable.

I would much rather play Sintellins away, our home record is still crap.

I have a horrible feeling about saints... it think they will win tonight.. if they do, we have to send them to play the pies.

Man up!

Mick Monas leads us to the Championship!

I love these "Clutching at Straws" comments

Oh you better not pick us because...

I can see your point, but, I would probably pick Huddersfield in any event and send Leeds/Saints to Wigan. No disrespect to Hudd's, but, as you eluded to in your post it's not just about who you play, but, who we 'send' to Wigan and how that affects those teams' preparations. (I don't want to cause a storm with the Fartowners on their recent record at DW either)

On the other hand if they win pick Leeds and try and dispatch them at HJ rather than possibly at OT..,..

Cant wait NTW!!!

I'm not worried about who we pick. A few posters on here have eluded to Leeds & Saints recent form, but what about ours ? We've only lost 2 games in the last 15 in all competitions without key strike players in some of them ie, Myler, Atkins etc.

People say, we should pick the lowest ranked club...now, forget final standings, isn't this now, effectively huddersfield, since they lost week one, they've beaten the lowest ranked team in week 2, Leeds and saints are higher over all, so who regardless wins, is still holisticly higher ranked AT THIS POINT, than huddersfield.

So we pick the lowest ranked team, which is huddersfield.


no fuss, no muss.