Re: The big juicy Grand final thread : Mon Oct 03, 2011 6:38 pm  

This love in with the Leeds faithful is making me a bit queezy.

So I'm going for us by 20. Nothing to fear and alot to pay Leeds back for.

We still owe them 2 if we win this one.

COYS.

Lets have em.

Re: The big juicy Grand final thread : Mon Oct 03, 2011 6:46 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

This love in with the Leeds faithful is making me a bit queezy.

So I'm going for us by 20. Nothing to fear and alot to pay Leeds back for.

We still owe them 2 if we win this one.

COYS.

Lets have em.

In the last final with Leeds I made prediction we'd win by 20 which didn't go down well with gang of drunk Leeds fans sat next to us.

Re: The big juicy Grand final thread : Mon Oct 03, 2011 6:57 pm  

I have to agree with the majority of people on here and say its too tough to call. If both teams play to their full potential it should be a good close game.

Like most other posters Im just happy to be there at the expense of Wigan which for me was as big a victory as any grand final.

Re: The big juicy Grand final thread : Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:29 pm  

If I'm honest my initial reaction after knocking out Wigan was well anything else is a bonus now.

But stuff that us by 20.

Re: The big juicy Grand final thread : Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:39 pm  

I said a few weeks ago that Saints have really slipped under the radar this season. You've had very little of the media limelight, but you've quietly and efficiently gone about your business while Sky have been creaming themselves over Wire and Wigan. What a triumph for us both that we've ignored external influences and hype and here we are yet again battling it out in a Grand Final. Normality is restored!

My hope for the game is that our pivots Grand Final winning experience will be crucial compared to your inexperienced half-back pairing especially. It's not always the case and the youthful energy and exuberance could well bey the key for you, but I'm hoping the extra nous of Sinfield, McGuire and Burrow will carry us through.

As others have already said, as a Leeds fan I'm just delighted to be there and I wouldn't be too disappointed if we lose. James Graham has been our pantomime villain for a while now but I wouldn't begrudge him a Grand Final winning send off after his phenomenal efforts in helping you get there every year.

Re: The big juicy Grand final thread : Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:58 pm  

We have the better squad overall on paper, they have a bit less pressure and expectation on them to win (although frankly I think both sets of fans will be just pleasantly surprised to be there). Overall I think they cancel each other out as factors pretty much and it's just way too tough to call. If either team is going to win comfortably it'd be us, but I think there'll be less than 10 in it.

Re: The big juicy Grand final thread : Tue Oct 04, 2011 8:38 am  

Great result to renew the old rivalry. Good Luck to all.

Re: The big juicy Grand final thread : Tue Oct 04, 2011 11:52 am  

Wouldn't be massively upset if Saints take it this year. I like the balance of youth and experience in the Saints team and have really enjoyed watching Soliola put it about in the last few weeks as well as the headline grabbing youngsters. Graham and Roby are the players I fear the most, as they have that ability and mental toughness to match that of Peacock and Sinfield in our squad. Would love it to be a tight contest for the good of the game (as per the Wire match), but for my own nerves would much prefer a blow-out score in our favour!

Re: The big juicy Grand final thread : Tue Oct 04, 2011 12:16 pm  

Frosties. wrote:

I think for the first time ever, after the seasons we have both had, and both coaches have been written off, its great to see us both at Old Trafford. Were both winners so to speak in that matter, and its going to come down to a simple mistake imo. End of the day, for the first time, im just really happy to be there and proud of the team beating their doubters.

It changes your outlook and, imo, allows you to enjoy the season more when you're not expecting a trophy. Then, when you get to a final, you're bloody over the moon about it!

Re: The big juicy Grand final thread : Tue Oct 04, 2011 12:37 pm  

I've just copied this from the Leeds board. It shows just how much we have changed as a team since we last met Leeds in the Grand Final.

Leeds-Saints GF Ever presents
Leeds (9): Sir Kev, JP, McGuire, Burrow, JJB, Ablett, TMFMISL, Kylie, Kirke
Saints(5 or 6):Wellens, Meli, Graham, Roby, Wilkin, Pryce (if fit)

Leeds-Saints GF Debutants
Leeds (5): Hardaker, Jones-Bishop, Clarkson, Hauraki, Delaney
Saints(10 or 11):Makinson, Shenton, Foster, Gaskell, Lomax, Soliola, Moore, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Dixon (Wheeler if Pryce not fit)

Leeds-Saints GF Absent Friends (i.e played in all 3 in a row)
Leeds (5): Diskin, Donald, Senior, Ali(unless McDermott changes a winning team), Smith
Saints(7): Gardner, Gidley, Long, Cunningham, Gilmour, Flannery, Fa'savalu (possibly Pryce)

On the Leeds board they were discussing what impact these changes might have on the game and its outcome.

I'm just amazed at how much our team has changed since our last defeat by the Rhinos. Maybe that is what we needed? Or will our inexperience be our undoing?