Chapel House Motor Company Limited Advertising Banner
Page 1 of 8 12345 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 186

Thread: Saints Vs Catalan Semi Final

  1. #1
    Learning All The Songs RJM25R's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Royton, Oldham
    Posts
    2,098
    Rep Power
    16

    Default Saints Vs Catalan Semi Final

    Looking at this objectively, we should win this one.


    I think we are better all round than the Dragons but With their first choice hooker and Joel Tomkins likely to be missing we should have a strong advantage.

    The only thing I’m slightly worried about is that if it’s a particularly hard (as in big heavy shots getting put in) would be the players being able to back it up with a potential slugfest with Wigan in the final (assuming Wigan beat Hull....)

    Thoughts?
    Can't stop the spirits when they need you.

    This life is more than just a read through.

  2. #2
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk The Yellow Giraffe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    11,760
    Rep Power
    33

    Default

    On the first point I agree we “should” beat them, even at full strength. But without their yard dog in the middle I’d be even more confident, as he’s the type of player who does set the tone for them defensively. His absence would affect them quite a bit. Joel Tomkins I’m not fussed about one way or another, he’s a big pudding.

    Catalans always strike me as a group of talented individuals as opposed to a proper “team.” They have some genuinely brilliant players on their day (S Tomkins, Folau and Maloney the main ones) but they’re an inconsistent bunch and I have doubts about their ability to match us for the full 80. Leeds ran them close the other night with their two starting props off the field for more than half the game, so using that as a gauge we should be fine.

    On your 2nd point; I think Wigan will have just as tough a game as us really, albeit 24 hours earlier. I tipped Hull to beat Warrington and I think they’ll have a good go at Wigan too. I can see it being tight for an hour with a couple of late Wigan tries seeing them off, but Wigan will know they’ve been in a game.
    NEVER WRITE OFF THE SAINTS

  3. #3
    Learning All The Songs
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Bury
    Posts
    1,847
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    A big factor to take into account could be the weather at this time of year. I would be worried if it is very wet.

  4. #4
    In The West Stand Dux's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Liverpool
    Posts
    5,572
    Rep Power
    27

    Default Saints Vs Catalan Semi Final

    I actually think 80 minutes of rough treatment from Catalans will be good prep for a final against Wigan.

  5. #5
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk STIDDY's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Kingdom of Wigoon
    Posts
    8,870
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    I'm expecting a tough first 30 mins similar to our Wigoon game, we should be able to match them, then it will be all down to errors and set completions. Not expecting our 2 weeks rest to be a problem we should be match fit for the 80 mins, Catalans on the other hand have not really played much high intensity games so I expect Saints to find the gaps before half time comes up.

    Biggest danger will be Rat Boy so that's a job for Morgan Knowles to hit him hard early in the game and a couple of high bombs with 3 saints players ready to flatten him would be another ideal.

  6. #6
    In The South Stand Sean Day's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    4,672
    Rep Power
    24

    Default

    They will throw the kitchen sink at us in the first half an hour. For me, if it’s level or even we’re a couple of points down at that point it’s a tick in the box. Leeds carved through them 4 or 5 times after that and we should be capable of even more.

    If we adopt similar one out tactics as against Wigan we are going to be in trouble. We need to move the ball a bit even if it’s for the centres to come back on the inside, get their big lads moving sideways and not being able to line up our forwards one after the other. Keep the ball in play and they’ll be gasping for air. There might be a case for playing Smith off the bench to take advantage of their big lads tiring. There might be a shout for Simm to oppose Falau, I think he’s a stronger defender than Welsby

  7. #7
    In The South Stand OoOGazOoO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Lincs.
    Posts
    3,456
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    Leeds played to Catalans' strengths if you ask me.

    I think we should try and play it on the fringes of the middle, and use the likes of J-Lo and Fages and get them running on the outside shoulders of some of the big Catalans forwards. Yes they are big, yes they are powerful, but I'm not sure the likes of Kasiano want J-Lo, T Mak, Kev, Simsy (if he plays), turning them and making them change direction.

    Make it a forward battle and it will be the wrong tactic in my opinion.

  8. #8
    Learning All The Songs
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    1,246
    Rep Power
    18

    Default

    Wolves posters on their prediction thread in the main are going for a Cats win! Wishful thinking with a sauce made from sour grapes!

  9. #9
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Posts
    1,105
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    I would rather play Catalans than Hull. Hull can do Wigan if their confidence is up but they could just as easily fall out with each other on Wednesday. If we cant beat Catalans at home we dont deserve to be in the final, they humiliated us once and the team should not forget that. LMS and Amor cant afford to be weak off the bench again.

  10. #10
    In The South Stand OoOGazOoO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Lincs.
    Posts
    3,456
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    Problem with Hull is that they are as unpredictable and inconsistent as Catalans are! They obviously played well against Wire last week, but knowing Hull, they'll go and get spanked by Wigan on Thursday.

  11. #11
    Learning All The Songs
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    1,179
    Rep Power
    7

    Default

    Walmsley is back. Semi and grand final. No problem

  12. #12
    Learning All The Songs
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Stood at the back of Stand B in Knowsley Road
    Posts
    1,884
    Rep Power
    13

    Default

    There'll be a lot of high kicks to Grace's wing especially with Folau on that side.

    Whoever is centre on that side will have his work cut out.

  13. #13
    In The South Stand Sean Day's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    4,672
    Rep Power
    24

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Infamous Grouse View Post
    There'll be a lot of high kicks to Grace's wing especially with Folau on that side.

    Whoever is centre on that side will have his work cut out.
    All you can do is pressure the kick and get bodies around him

  14. #14
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Posts
    1,105
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    It will be interesting who he plays at centre. I think he is stubborn and will stick with Welsby. FWIW it's the wrong choice for me.

  15. #15
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk The Yellow Giraffe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    11,760
    Rep Power
    33

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Cyprus View Post
    It will be interesting who he plays at centre. I think he is stubborn and will stick with Welsby. FWIW it's the wrong choice for me.
    I agree on both counts.
    NEVER WRITE OFF THE SAINTS

  16. #16
    Starting A Programme Collection
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Posts
    572
    Rep Power
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Cyprus View Post
    It will be interesting who he plays at centre. I think he is stubborn and will stick with Welsby. FWIW it's the wrong choice for me.
    In the last game the high ball regularly went to our left & Grace was forced to take the high ball every single time, Welsby didn't take it once from memory and as a result Grace was out of gas, completely stunted then making errors. He needs to pick a centre in the centre to work with Grace especially against Falao. It'll be ridiculous & a travesty if he doesn't, but we know who he seemingly must pick at all costs.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  17. #17
    Got A Replica Shirt
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    55
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sean Day View Post
    They will throw the kitchen sink at us in the first half an hour. For me, if it’s level or even we’re a couple of points down at that point it’s a tick in the box. Leeds carved through them 4 or 5 times after that and we should be capable of even more.

    If we adopt similar one out tactics as against Wigan we are going to be in trouble. We need to move the ball a bit even if it’s for the centres to come back on the inside, get their big lads moving sideways and not being able to line up our forwards one after the other. Keep the ball in play and they’ll be gasping for air. There might be a case for playing Smith off the bench to take advantage of their big lads tiring. There might be a shout for Simm to oppose Falau, I think he’s a stronger defender than Welsby
    I would have Peyroux in the centres to nullify Folau.

  18. #18
    Starting A Programme Collection
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Posts
    572
    Rep Power
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by saintnickle View Post
    I would have Peyroux in the centres to nullify Folau.
    It's not a bad call, stronger defence but I believe less going forwards with Simm preferred (by me)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  19. #19
    Banned Gerry Mander's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Around the Ruck. Winning the Collision.
    Posts
    3,223
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by WalkieTalkie View Post
    It's not a bad call, stronger defence but I believe less going forwards with Simm preferred (by me)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Same for me I would go with Simm but know that "Wunderkind Welsby" will get the nod .

  20. #20
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk Belgian Saint's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    11,176
    Rep Power
    32

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by saintnickle View Post
    I would have Peyroux in the centres to nullify Folau.
    Peyroux has the size to compete, but he did miss tackles when he was playing centre. A big call for Woolf this one, who he picks at centre could make or break the season. If he went with Simm and Folau got the better of him then so be it.

  21. #21
    In The West Stand Dux's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Liverpool
    Posts
    5,572
    Rep Power
    27

    Default Saints Vs Catalan Semi Final

    I think if Peyroux was going to play centre he would have done already this season. There’s been enough times when we were short and he could have picked him but didn’t. I think it’s between Simm and Welsby and I’m hoping it’s Simm.
    Last edited by Dux; 15th November 2020 at 22:27.

  22. #22
    Learning All The Songs saint mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Gone fishing
    Posts
    1,127
    Rep Power
    19

    Default

    Got to be Simm for me he as done nothing wrong in the Games he as played plus he is more of a physical presence than Welsby.

  23. #23
    In The South Stand
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    3,225
    Rep Power
    26

    Default

    Peyroux’s defence is actually pretty poor. Playing him centre wouldn’t shore us up, probably the opposite.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  24. #24
    In The South Stand
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    3,642
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    Depends on whether our pack fancies it. Against aggressive forwards, we wilt in big games so it’ll depend on whether the likes of LMS and Amor actually put in a half decent performance against a decent side.

    I also worry about them being fresher than us having played four fewer league games.
    St Helens Rugby League Football Club

  25. #25
    Learning All The Songs RJM25R's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Royton, Oldham
    Posts
    2,098
    Rep Power
    16

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dos Cervezas View Post
    I also worry about them being fresher than us having played four fewer league games.

    However they have just had a bruising game against Leeds, whereas we have had a rest.

    I still believe we have too much for them however as seen all season, anyone in this league can beat anyone given the right circumstances and conditions.
    Can't stop the spirits when they need you.

    This life is more than just a read through.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •