Have you?

I read you had him in your first home game against Leeds and then it was Moore against Hull and Jack Smith last week. As far as I was aware you’d not had him since the titty lips came out after that Leeds game (either at home or away) but happy to stand corrected if that’s not right.

It wouldn’t be the first time Saints had moaned that much about Kendall, that the RFL bottled putting him on your games for ages afterwards.

Yes. He was the ref last Friday against Wakefield so that’s 2 out of 3 home games.

Must’ve been a misprint I read. Fair enough, they’ve not bowed down to the pressure this time, which is positive.

I just don’t understand why the game puts itself in a position of having a Wiganer in charge of The Derby when they don’t need to. It leaves him open to allegations of bias either way.

I think that there are about four Wigan based refs so it would cut the choice down considerably?

Just don’t see why it can’t be Kendall or Thaler. I get that the pool is cut hugely because the Moore brothers, Jack Smith and Griffiths (I think) are from Wigan but unless there is no reasonable alternative, it seems easily avoided.

I’m also happy to admit that these guys aren’t biased but it just leaves that stick there to beat them with. Saints seem to like Moore and I think he’s dreadful. That isn’t going to be him going hard on Wigan because he doesn’t want to seem bias (in all likelihood) and the truth probably is, that his reffing style just doesn’t fit with our playing style. I always think Kendall is fine and Saints seem to detest him and again he isn’t going to be bias against Saints, it’s probably just that his style doesn’t lead to good outcomes when it comes to how they play the game.

“The Wigan Head Coach has made three changes to the squad, with the inclusion of Iain Thornley, Junior Nsemba and Tom Forber.

Willie Isa is unavailable for the Warriors after picking up a one-match suspension, whilst Jai Field and Cade Cust are unavailable through injury.”


No Astley so Sam Powell in the halves.

If everyone’s fit I’d go

French
Miski
King
Wardle
Marshall
Powell
Smith
Byrne
O’Neill
Cooper
KPP
Farrell
Smithies

Shorrocks
Havard
Ellis
Singleton

Although i would like to see KPP drop to the bench in favour of Shorrocks, and if i really had my way Shorrocks loose and Smithies SR, i think this is the most likely team.

NSW team will be the 17 you’d imagine (presuming Marshall and Faz are ok). Missing a few players isn’t ideal but we can’t complain with the luck we’ve had so far this season and I’m sure we’ll give it a real crack.

Looking forward to it. Good Friday always feels like Christmas Day did as a kid, now I’m fat and old and get pleasure from drinking beer and watching rugby.

That's as strong as we could have hoped for.

I'm slightly gutted that Astley isn't playing. Not because I'm raving about him as a player, but these games have a history of young lads coming in for the derby and just playing well. Obvious comparison would have been Luke Robinson's role in the comeback victory at KR, or Brown at the DW. Didn't one of the Coyle brothers also have a blinder at Leeds once?

Me too, on all fronts

https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2023/04/0...y-squad-named/ 1. Jack Welsby, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Will Hopoate, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Jon Bennison, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Lewis Dodd, 9. James Roby, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Sione Mata’utia, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Joey Lussick, 15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 16. Curtis Sironen, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 18. Jake Wingfield, 19. James Bell, 22. Sam Royle, 23. Konrad Hurrell, 25. Tee Ritson, 30. George Delaney. Probably: Welsby Makinson Hurrell Percival Hopoate Lomax Dodd Paasi Roby Lees Sironen Matautia Knowles Lussick Bell LMS Wingfield Looks pretty strong even without Walmsley (and Joe Batchelor). I think Hopoate will get the nod over Bennison; there is an argument for both. A sobering thought for Saints fans - the last time we will see James Roby in the vee on a Good Friday

https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2023/04/0...y-squad-named/ 1. Jack Welsby, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Will Hopoate, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Jon Bennison, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Lewis Dodd, 9. James Roby, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Sione Mata’utia, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Joey Lussick, 15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 16. Curtis Sironen, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 18. Jake Wingfield, 19. James Bell, 22. Sam Royle, 23. Konrad Hurrell, 25. Tee Ritson, 30. George Delaney. Probably: Welsby Makinson Hurrell Percival Hopoate Lomax Dodd Paasi Roby Lees Sironen Matautia Knowles Lussick Bell LMS Wingfield Looks pretty strong even without Walmsley (and Joe Batchelor). I think Hopoate will get the nod over Bennison; there is an argument for both. A sobering thought for Saints fans - the last time we will see James Roby in the vee on a Good Friday

As a Wiganer, I also find it sad that Roby will play his last GF game. He has been a credit to the sport.

Who is going to be the first one to give it a go after they have a few down them? https://twitter.com/WiganWarriorsRL/sta ... gr%5Etweet

Who is going to be the first one to give it a go after they have a few down them? https://twitter.com/WiganWarriorsRL/sta ... gr%5Etweet

Quote ="BoredWiganer"Who is going to be the first one to give it a go after they have a few down them? https://twitter.com/WiganWarriorsRL/sta ... gr%5Etweet'" They should sell those two-pint pots like they did at Leigh, few of them and get on that

Quote ="BoredWiganer"Who is going to be the first one to give it a go after they have a few down them? https://twitter.com/WiganWarriorsRL/sta ... gr%5Etweet'" They should sell those two-pint pots like they did at Leigh, few of them and get on that

Smithies to SR and Shorrocks to start at LF.
Forber to replace Shorrocks on the bench.
Forwards have to step up. All of them.
KPP has the perfect platform to show if he is really ready for the nrl.
Interesting times.

Agreed

Saints by 10

Wigan by 12

It would be a very pleasant surprise if we win this one. I don’t think the pack have it in them and with Field out, likely replaced by Powell we will be missing a cutting edge.

I just hope it’s a good game and a great atmosphere. I’m making the 250 mile trek up for this one and taking the kids for the first time.

Im making the 7 mile round trip and hope you have a great day!

Daughters first good Friday game and first 'major' game shes been too. Hoping for a good day all round, win or lose

I hope they win for you and your family.

We had him for the Salford play off semi too so it's three out of our last four home games I don't mind him to be honest

Saints are hard to break down at the best of times and being down to our 5th choice half (Behind Smith, Field, Cust and Hampshire) is going to be even harder.

I was more hopeful when it sounded like Paasi was out as him and Walmsley are huge for Saints but sounds like he’s good to go.

Cliche but we just need to keep it tight, defend well and take the few chances we’ll get.

With Powell in the halves, I honestly can’t see us scoring unless it’s a bit of individual magic from French. I’m dreading it. Saints by at least 16.

Disappointed that Astley isn't on the bench. It could have given us a point of difference if the halves pairing wasn't working. Nothing we have in that squad offers us that as it's likely to be Powell (slow with little kicking game) or Shorrocks (not quite as slow but with even less kicking game). Astley is inexperienced but he's quick and has a good kicking game. I think we have missed a trick not having him on the bench to bring on if things aren't clicking.

Hopefully Farrell and Marshall are available and, perhaps more importantly, are not playing injured/ill as they're likely to be found out if that's not the case. Without them we lose a lot of cutting edge in attack.

Fingers crossed for a good game.