i think it's a shame that saints have to put up with the rest of the teams in SL, they should breakaway and form a 1 team league, they wouldn't be unhappy then, they'd always finish top, and they wouldn't have to worry about choking in a semi final

I think they'd also ensure all trophies were to be handed out in May.

I presume you're a Saints fan? I remember getting a similar response from your comrades a couple of years ago when I dared to suggest that Danny Richardson wasn't the next messiah!
While I'm here could I trouble you for your Red Vee tinted thoughts on Wires Joe Philbin?

Wire, like Wigan, is always a big game for us.

It's a big game because it's Wire, not because of the league.

I can see why is feels like a big game in the context of the season (beyond just the local rivalry) for Wire fans, as they absolutely need to win to carry on with any feeling they can finish top.

For us it's different, I don't think the result makes any difference because I'm pretty confident we'll finish top regardless. That's why it feels a bigger game in Warrington than in St Helens - no need to be defensive about it, it's pretty simple really.

They could even have their own forum and call it something like Redvee so they dont have to interact with the likes of us.

I don't think we have a chance of finishing top even if we win, I think most Wire fans would agree. Winning would go a long way to securing 2nd though.

If we had put KR away then gone on to beat saints this week I think we would have done. 2 points between us and the pressure all on them.

Our next run of games:

London(A)
Salford(H)
Castleford(A)
Catalans(A)
Saints(H)
Wigan(A)
Salford(A)
Wakefield(H)
Leeds(A)

Saints:

Hull FC(A)
Wigan(H)
London(A)
Wakefield(A)
Leeds(A)
Castleford(H)
Huddersfield(H)
Hull FC(A)

Wire should have 6 Wins nailed on really looking at the fixtures and Saints 5. A Pretty even home straight and saint have a CC Final to play as well. whether that's Vs us or FC it'll be a tough game either way for them. If we'd been a bit smarter the treble was still a mathematical possibility.

As it happens we're well out the way. 2nd place is where we'll finish I think. Saints are too far out in front. keep picking up wins and gaining momentum and a CC & GF Double would still send me on a two week bender.

In the context of league standing it's only 2 points and not a big game for me. Regardless of who wins, I believe Warrington will play Hull (either home or away) to meet St Helens away for the right to play at OT, once the regular rounds of SL are done. It's only an opportunity to see where both clubs are at this moment in time, and no more than that.

I don't think Saints will win the treble even though they are much better than everyone else at the minute. If they win the CC then I can see them having a 'hangover' afterwards and dropping some league points and maybe even going out in the playoffs. If they don't win the CC then obviously someone else will.

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