"The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It is nothing of the kind. The game is about glory, it is about doing things in style and with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom." Danny Blanchflower.
Might have been written by a footballer about football - but never a truer word............
As per title thread, I wonder if they will go to the high ground next week as last weeks trip up to Snowdon, maybe Helvellyn or Scafell this coming weekend.
Decent little training exercise/team bonding type thing, they shouldn't need any fitness work at this time in the season apart from keeping themselves ticking over and there's only so much ball work and tactics they can do. I think it's important the lads enjoy the build up, especially the younger ones and players that haven't done it before. There seemed to be a real feel good surrounding the team on Friday and it would be good to run out at OT with that.
Or conversely in 2000 Saints hammered Wigan 54-16 and then nobbled them in the GF?
Being honest very few Saints fans would be taking the GF for granted; our recent record in big games guarantees that. However the performance on Friday ticked every box. I felt that even if Saints had won by in a tight game (and many predicted this) it would have left some question marks remaining: Were Wigan getting closer? Had Saints felt the pressure of SF rugby just a touch? What confidence would Wigan get from such a game? etc
The bottom line is that none of thoe questions became relevant because they were utterly dominated start to finish. Any claims Wigan put 'the cue back on the rack are laughable.' They turned up fancying their chances, with a handful of kids who were touted to give the Saints pack a run for its money and were whooped, again. It was a huge body blow to their confidence and if Salford stay composed and bring any sort of kicking game to the DW I'd back them to win. The chairman is right that we start 0-0 with whoever we play in 2 weeks time and its a sickener that an end of season cup competition decides the League, but the team did everything they needed to in that semi; a far cry from the nervous semi against Halifax.
The Totally Wicked stadium really has become a fortress for us this season! Lets hope we can play like that at a neutral venue.
True this. Feels good to have been so dominant this season - and playing entertaining rugby too. Only league defeats coming on the road at London and Catalans (IIRC).
Maybe the next step is to find that mentality and confidence to win on the biggest stage at a neutral venue... Embedding a winning culture and develop an air of champions and invincibility. Do this and we could begin to establish a trophy winning team for future seasons too
Tony Chubb NFA( penalty sufficient ) Theo Fages charged with illegal throw on Hardaker, but Grade A and NFA (Zero match penalty notice)
Sometimes its a good thing to get away from the game, apart from last week, we have played every week of the season, that week off would have allowed the players to get away from the routine of training and games and given Fridays performance had an obvious benefit, constantly playing can be a good thing, but it doesn’t allow player a chance to rest and recuperate that much.
Well that's it, it's still a physical activity although much easier for those lads than it would be for me, a bit of a laugh and a change of scenery from Cowley. I bet most of them wouldn't thank the coaching staff for suggesting it this week though the way the weather has been, I got soaked earlier walking from B&Q to Costa.
The players at last week’s forum (Lomax, Coote, Ashworth and LMS) all said that physically it was a hard couple of days in Snowdonia but it allowed them to forget about rugby, refresh mentally and bond away from the familiar daily environment. On returning to the normal routine, they said they focussed on reducing the errors that had come into their game in recent weeks, successfully judging by Friday’s performance.
Just watched the play off game from 2002 at Wigan (following the reference by an earlier poster). If you need any reminders as to how good KC and Longy were, then watch this master class! One of the most enjoyable matches I’ve ever attended at the DW!
Sorry meant 2000!
I think this is a fitting time to bring this thread back to the surface. As funny as tonight's game was, next week will be a tough game against a team that has no pressure on them whatsoever and is playing well.
Originally Posted by Despondent Dave
2nd time this year we are heading to a final as heavy favourites.
Salford wont be a push over. Plenty old boys in that squad who know how to win at OT
Yep, one defeat in the last eleven games and that defeat well and truly avenged.
We need to be at our very best to win, they are battle hardened, with a tough pack. Our pack are metre makers, theirs is tough and not without skill. Their halves are very good, Lolohea and excellent, Hastings.
Evalds, Bibby and Griffin are good enough for any top team, this is not the foregone conclusion some are making out.
Saw one of the players in Costa before. Believe me, they know they are in for a game.
I'm nervous too but I fully believe we will go into this with the right attitude.
At the end of the day, we might win, we might lose. Salford deserve to be in the final & it's going to be hard for us. It's also going to be hard for them.
I think their back row are really good & we've got to stop them rolling up the pitch. Josh Jones was teriffic against Wigan
I think we got our fingers burned at Wembley. Won't happen again, Saints to win comfortably.