Another chance to see how far we have come under Peet. Wish we were playing a full strength Saints side to truly measure up, but not sure they have played a full strength Wigan side for about 6 seasons so it is what it is.

Should be a decent game either way.

I'll bet redvee has been full of well thought out and completely neutral comments with no form of bias at all.

We're Wigan fans, we'll big up our chances in the same way you'll big up yours (actually read my explanation of the luck, covid, cheating comment) in the same way every other two sets of fans will prior to a game. We'll think your arrogant, you'll think we're deluded etc etc, but don't come on here expecting Wigan fans to talk about how good you are and how we stand no chance because it just won't happen. Similarly, I doubt many Liverpool fans will say how good Utd are and vice versa.

FWIW - I would still have you as favourites because frankly, you're better than we are in most areas.

It doesn’t feel much different to any other Derby week to me, in fact the only difference I sense is that the sides are a bit closer than they’ve been for a while. That will lead to comments either side might find a bit out there but when we’ve been used to us just hoping we can get close to Saints, it’s little surprise Wigan fans are showing a bit more confidence and Saints fans then see that as being disrespectful.

I’ve not seen any comments from Saints fans claiming none of our players (or very very few) would get in a combined 17, so it’s been a bit weird on that score

What I’ve learned this week

St Helens are only back to back to back winners and challenge cup winners due to luck.
Jai Field, despite no NRL team wanting him would walk into NSW’s team ahead of tedesco and Mitchell

Edited for accuracy.

Something else you need to learn, Wigan did it 8 times in a row and we did it without having any luck. That is one of the reasons why we are the most successful rugby club ever.

Seriously? It was a staple on RedVee and still is occasionally. Obviously the likes of Stu, FTV, YG don't say it but ask TheWarringtonWolve69 how many would get into the Saints team if you'd like to see it on here too.

To be fair even the good posters can be quite disparaging at times. Look at FTVs comments pre season on squad depth and compare it to what has actually materialised this season. He's a great poster and adds to this board but I remember comments along the lines of we're just replacing average players with other average players, Byrne and Smithies are just more examples of the 'too small' forwards we produce and Harry Smith was the next best thing until he wasn't. Not exactly a reasoned view when you consider how this season has panned out so far.

Ha ha your last bit let you down to a decent riposte. It's game week, I'm merely pointing out that we cannot possible win (apparently) so when we get beat everything is normal. You used the Penrith Panthers as a comparison to your defence. You said it not me, no point trying to back track on it or explain it. Why is my post pathetic btw? I'm just quoting what has been said by your inane lot. Well it's time for my hair cut, then a brekky, then meeting up with my mates, guess who is coming with me, you will like this..... It's only a woman. What do I do with one?

In all seriousness. Good luck (well not really) see you tomorrow, though maybe not

Just on here I mean but clearly it’s a small sample size. I’ve not ventured on to Red Vee this week. I’m sure most on there are claiming they have a better player in ever position, right down to the tea lady.

I’m pretty excited for the rivalry going forward tbh. We looked miles off last season and whilst we’ve closed the gap, there is still work to do. I’m confident we can keep getting closer though as players develop and gain more confidence. As much as Saints fans will have enjoyed the one sided nature of the rivalry (most of the time) these past few seasons, there’s nothing better than going in to a Derby when both sides are going well and you don’t know who’ll win.

No bigger test for our forwards than against a full strength motivated Saints pack.

They’ll all need to be excellent today.

Saints will want to dominate the middle and Roby play off quick ruck speed so we need numbers in every tackle.

Kind of annoying we play Saints at magic this year (a nice walk over of Leeds/Wire would have been fun).

If we meet in the playoffs it will be 5 times playing each other this year, bit overkill but probably good for us to get used to matching their intensity.

Personally, I can't wait until this game week has passed. We play Saints and it turns into silly week (from both sides) on here.

I've said these two points a million times. 1 - I couldn't care less with the whataboutism of "on Redvee" they said this, or "I wonder what Redvee is saying". I can't believe people who don't support Saints, go on there and then cry about what they read. Easy to call them sad, but it also takes a sad person to go on there and login to respond.

2 - People from both clubs need to hear this one. Saints are our biggest rivals, but they certainly aren't the enemy. There's plenty of teams in this league who do more damage to Wigan & the sport than Saints. They produce their own top players, bring plenty of fans to every game and have a rich heritage that sells the sport (now what other club does that remind me of?? )

Instead of squabbling about who's better between the plethora of players both sides have produced, fans should be sticking it to the other clubs who instead of investing in young lads, just poach them. Or the clubs who over inflate the salaries of half decent players, as they want the weaken the top teams. Making life difficult for everyone.

Absolutely

Great post.

I’m a Utd fan and I think similar towards Liverpool. Both have way more in common than they want to admit. Working class cities, production of Academy players, great history and a global fan base. Problem is they’ll never respect each other.

You are right about Saints and Wigan. Indeed Peet was very astute pre-match Good Friday when he was asked about his thoughts on Saints. He was very mature and complimentary. Now granted he’s probably thinking of his media image and wants to be liked but he certainly endeared himself to Saints fans when he spoke about both clubs producing youth and doing things the right way.

When did we last have a perceived easy tie at Magic? Leeds in 2016?

I don't tire of playing the big sides TBH. They're the games I look forward to and enjoy. Rather see 5 close battles with Saints than 5 crap games against the rest.

Yeah, I'm not much of a footy fan, but I love Liverpool city centre. Sadly, most of my mates are Utd fans and won't have anything positive said about the place.

Same with Wigan and Saints fans, Saints produce a talent like Welsby and all some Wigan fans have to say is "he's no Tomkins".

Better still ask that clown Webbo to post!

Good post.

That’s not true - I said a couple of decent props and a new coach would transform you but I didn’t think it would be enough to challenge saints and Catalans. I also thought Leeds would be far better than they have been. I always said the biggest thing for Wigan was replacing the clown coaching you.

I still think come business end it will be between saints and Catalans

Ask any Wigan fan at the start of the season and you would have been told we would have been happy to just compete with teams. I think we can give both you and Catalan a game (no mention of the nilling please)

I still think there is a way for us to get to the GF but if not I’m happy with the progress made and would be looking forward to the next year where I feel looking at the club we can improve further. We all have our time in the sun, unless your Warrington which I hope those lot stay in the shade for another 50 years

Mate, I don't want to squabble but that is exactly what you said. You said the reason we didn't lose much when replacing players is because we were only replacing average players with similar average players whereas Saints would feel it more because they were replacing higher quality players. The "Harry Smith was the next big thing until he wasn't" is almost verbatim your phrase! I'll find and quote the posts when I have more time if you like but, trust me, that is what you said.

"Wigan recently develop a lot of small fairly average forwards that get raved about for reasons I don’t yet understand. Looking at your team who are the really stand out players developed at Wigan? All your best players have been signed. Farrell and Marshall maybe? Then a bunch of forwards who get shown up quite a lot against decent packs. Smith was the next big thing until he wasn’t."

There you go mate. Almost verbatim what I said

Some interesting opinions on this thread. I will never like St Helens but certainly respect them and what they’ve achieved. The more clubs like ourselves, St Helens and Leeds who regularly compete and produce quality young players the better off the sport will be.

Hopefully today will be a good game, we are improving and have shown we can raise the bar but St Helens are still the team to beat and should be favourites.

I still can’t see past St Helens winning the big one this year. Next year will be the real interesting one, will Roby carry on? Woolf to leave with rumours of Wellens talking over. Will he be a Wane or a Cunningham? Interesting times ahead.

Poor start, dropped ball, penalty and cannot make any yards, they are walking over us. Hopefully we find our feet pretty soon.

Poor game really - neither team has found their rhythm at all. At least we managed to keep them to 2 when their forwards were on top early.

Saints really put everything into thay opening 20, probably why we made so many errors. They struggled towards the end of the half and the error count evened up (by errors I mean with and without the ball).