Always knew you were a 2 man team.

Cas have something to play for, Quins don't.

Wire will walk 2nd place by a good 20 points I reckon.

I know Wire/Wigan fans won't agree, but it will be a shame if the play-off series goes off without "star" players like Long/Peacock/Eastmond/Pryce.

This had the makings of the best play-offs ever (probably still will be) but looks like a few sides will be genuinely weakened.

I agree. Obviously the GF is the pinnacle of the season, but to get there you have to go through the playoff system. It's always a blow if you don't see the best players plying their trade in the end of season playoffs.

Me personally, I want you to have Eastmond, Pryce and Cunningham back because if we beat you without them, many Saints fans will just the excuse that we beat a weakened Saints side. I would rather beat you with your full strength team out, that way the win will mean so much more.

We would get 5,000 tickets from Wigan and I'd expect us to sell them easily with more in the Wigan end too. Saints would be different though as they wouldn't give us anymore tickets than they are obligated too, knowing that the fact it's a semi, combined with it being the last ever game as Knowsley Road, would result in a far higher demand from their own fans than there was when we took thousands in March.

If that happens then the savviest Wires will be buying tickets from Saints directly to dilute their support as much as possible

Note: Saints game Vs Castleford has been moved from Friday night to the Saturday night, live on SKY. Is this fair as Saints will now know how many they are to ebat Castleford by to finish second?

No chance no way not ever never..

I don't think it is fair but on the flip side we can put more pressure on them by first winning and then getting atleast 30points ahead of saints which could make them panic by rushing plays and not focusing on the game plan.

Yes, but on the flip side, Cas have still got something to play for aswell, so they are not going to just lie down and die for Saints.

I'm not surprised in the slighest that this is the game that has been moved for Sky, both teams have something to play for and they'll think it will make for a great game.

Price you pay for Sky's involvement in the sport. No point complaining about it not being fair, when we want the coverage. I'm not that convinced it makes much difference anyway.

I don't think you need to worry somehow. Quins haven't been playing for months so you will absolutely hammer them. While we have hammered Cas in the past, we could be down by two halfbacks plus others and besides, they have something to play for so chances are we won't be doing any hammering ourselves.

I'd be content with third myself. I'd rather not have the hoodoo broken at KR. If you're going to beat us again in the SL era then I'd prefer it to be at the HJ!

Yeah i expect Castleford to give them a game i dont think Saints will win by more than 20 points

Castleford will turn in a typically pathetic performance (as they always do against West-of-Pennines sides) and Saints will post something like 60-12.

I remember a mid-week game once at the HJ where they didnt "turn in a typically pathetic performance (as they always do against West-of-Pennines sides) ". Cost a man a job.

60-12 will be the score. In favour of St Helens.

If we are able to post a big score on the Friday night, imagine the pressure that would put on Saints. I think this could work in our favour. I believe this puts the ball in our court, put in good performance, and saints have it all to do.

If we played at the same time, they could just go out and play as well as they can, get the win and hope for a bigger points difference. If we win by a big margin, they will always have that in the back of their minds. It is now completely in our hands. Couldn't ask for more realy.

I love your optimism but we will be 3rd, and deserve to be.

It's not just optimism, If we'd had a consistant goal kicker this season this thread wouln't exist. I think we deserve second. I also put far more importance on having the home tie than some. Sod the romance, I for one, would happily never go back to KR as long as I live.

Me neither re KR. I was just quoting TS in saying we will end the season in the position we deserve.

Think there was a bit more than one game to it.

This gives Saints an unfair advantage without a doubt, and only the greatest optimist could think otherwise.

It might seem unlikely too, but it could also possibly give Cas an advantage over Crusaders because if we lose then Saints will be happy to rest a player or two for the play offs knowing that defeat wouldn't hurt them as long as it was by a narrow margin.

It should be written in stone at the start of every season that all games on the final day must kick off at the same time, as happens in football. Sky can choose the time, as they do in football, and show two matches concurrently if they like, as they do in football.

Sky are happy to do it that way in the sport they invest most heavily in, so I don't see why the RFL should bend over and let them do whatever they like.

totally agree, its a complete shambles letting every game go at different times. where there are 3 games that have all have an equal impact on 3 different positions in the play offs, they should all be at the same time.

Saints, Cas, Crusaders, Wire should all be the same day, they could then show the Leeds/Dull game as their saturday game

Ah yes. 14 points up with 10 to play and we end up losing by 8 points.