...in charge this week.

After reading the topics on here, and watching a superbly exciting climax last night, it is clear to see just how much the game on Friday means to both sets of supporters.

It is therefore quite easy to imagine how much pressure is building on the Warrington team. Yet they seemed to have their nerves well under control at Wembley and I can only put that down to TS. I mean at Wembley when asked if he felt pressured to deliver the double, the guy just said 'Oh no, we are just taking the next 80minutes as it comes....' type comment.



He has been ingenious in his management of the team's tactics, who plays when and where etc, but I don't think we should underestimate his ability to focus the lads on the task at hand, not the history of the game.

I would love to be a fly on the wall this week!

we truly are blessed with a good coach and a good team this year that can really go the distance.

I think it would be fair to say they compliment each other. I'm just glad it is finally clicking.

With the likely scenario of the two teams meeting again a fortnight later in a "winner-takes-all" I can't help thinking that this week will see a Warrington team play to a basic game-plan with any special tactics being heldback for the game that counts.

Smith appears to be the master of picking teams and tactics to win the games that count. Compare the league and cup games against Catalans just two weks apart, also from last year the tactics and performances in the cup semi-final and final were sopmething special that nobody could see coming.

I'm not expecting anything special this week coming, we might still be good enough to win but if we don't then I will wait to se what Smith has prepared for the return with baited breath.

Wonder how Van De Velde, Plange,Cullen and Lowes would have gone about things, genuinely.

Aweek on the lash celebrating the fact they are in the play offs.

Plange, forgot about him what a plank.

You may be right, but personally I'd like to see us go all out on Friday, as that will put us back at the HJ, give us a week off, and even possibly the ClubCall. It's a massive advantage to win on Friday.

Win or lose TS won't be too concerned on friday, it's knockout rugby where the man really excels. Do the saints and pie-munchers realise the man has not lost a knockout game since he arrived at this club. You have been warned.

We've all been warned................. I ok!

Exactly. Yes there's an advantage to winning next Friday - a week off and home semi final - but if we do manage it then get beat by Saints at the HJ two weeks later we'll have shot our load too early.

We all want to win but Friday is not the be all and end all. Tony Smith will know that.

No , Sherlock

Are we sure that we would get a home semi final IF we beat Saints on Friday? I thought the only way that we could get a home semi final was if Wigan pick Saints in clubcall

The winners of the games between Saints / Wire & Wigan / Leeds are guaranteed a home semi final. The highest placed team of the 2 winners has club call selection.

So if (!!!!) we beat saints and Leeds beat Wigan, we get to select who we play in the semi final.

YES

Can anybody make a slideshow of Tony Smith photographs and put it to the soundtrack of "Only You" by Yazoo.

I want to have it on my iPod so I can play it to myself whilst I slowly cry following victory on Friday.

Him and the leg end that was Steve Anderson. Theirs was a combination for disaster.

Or if Saints lose the following week and get knocked out of the competition.

At least you know you probably have the best coach in the league in charge (McGuire as yet has no record at all to compare). Sometimes you won't win, but you do get the feeling that Smith is the best around at preparing sides for when it counts.