Re: Imperative to finish top : Tue Aug 26, 2014 2:11 pm  

I cant see us losing on Friday if we go in with the right mindset and attitude.

If we get into them early on, with some tough and fast defence we should win comfortably. However, if we go in with the attitude we have shown on too many occasions this year (Catalans, Hull KR), we will get beaten.

Re: Imperative to finish top : Tue Aug 26, 2014 3:47 pm  

According to all reports coming out of Headingley Hetherington wants all out shot to finish top so maybe it will be tougher than you think

Re: Imperative to finish top : Tue Aug 26, 2014 4:51 pm  

Well if he wants people to turn up to watch then he will certainly want the Rhinos to aim to finish top.

The way people devalue the league just baffles me as it's almost saying don't bother watching the first set of rounds, which is what the clubs live and breath their income from.

Re: Imperative to finish top : Tue Aug 26, 2014 5:06 pm  

ploinerrhino wrote:

According to all reports coming out of Headingley Hetherington wants all out shot to finish top so maybe it will be tougher than you think

I think all Saints fans believe it will be tough. We have three of our key players missing, possibly Lance too (he may be back from injury for Leeds, we don't know). We've got a scratch halfback pairing and we don't even know if Robes will be fit following the cut he got to his leg that needed stitching.

Leeds is the only team that can do the treble, something Saints did in 2006, so I would imagine the club will want to put that in their history books too. Can't say I blame them. It was great fun when we did it.

Re: Imperative to finish top : Wed Aug 27, 2014 7:37 am  

bewareshadows wrote:

Well if he wants people to turn up to watch then he will certainly want the Rhinos to aim to finish top.

The way people devalue the league just baffles me as it's almost saying don't bother watching the first set of rounds, which is what the clubs live and breath their income from.

Regardless of what some think I do think teams take it seriously but the timing of the CC so late in the year impacts greatly on a team's focus.

Had Saints beaten Leeds in Round 5 then I reckon it'd be Leeds with a bit of a points cushion at top of the league right now. We saw similar with Wigan in 2013. In fact no LLS winner has even reached Wembley let alone won there since Saints in 2008 and when push came to shove in the GF of that year they didn't have enough to win.....identical story in 2007. They did manage it in 2006 but they were clearly head and shoulders above all competition that year.

Trying to fight on all three fronts, apart from 2006.....usually a crack happens somewhere.

Re: Imperative to finish top : Wed Aug 27, 2014 8:44 am  

Father Ted wrote:

You should beat Leeds as their cup win will have them happy and relaxed and not in the mood for a head on battle. Also think you'll beat Wire at home.
Just can't see you winning at Hudds though. A game too far I'd imagine.

2 wins will secure tough spot anyway.

I think Saints will go all out to try and secure wins in the next 2 games which will enable us to rest key players at Huddersfield before the Play Offs.

Whether we manage to win the next 2 games is another question. I fancy us this friday purely because Leeds played in a final last week and really targetted it. There's no way they'll be at their best this Friday which gives us a chance. Warrington at home could be a tougher game as they can't really afford to drop points at this stage otherwise they'll end up 6th so they'll be pretty desperate. On the positive, our home record is actually really good this season and that will give us a confidence especially if we do beat Leeds.

Re: Imperative to finish top : Thu Aug 28, 2014 5:58 am  

I still think 1st wont happen. We have no spine left, Roby gets hammered as he's our only strike player and gets completely neutralised. Lance being back is some boost, but he wont be match fit.
Positives are our pack seems to be firing well. Amor and Walmesley going great and if Mose has a game like he did against Wigan he'll cause the Leeds pack a whole heap of trouble. Should be his type of game

Re: Imperative to finish top : Thu Aug 28, 2014 7:23 am  

I think we are underestimating Turners new role, if you look at how he played against Wakefield his passing options were pretty good with his positioning similar to Leon Pryce in second phase instead of a flat attack.
First of all our pack has to get the upper hand to give our stand in pivots some time and space.
For me Leeds will try and play similar to last week and try and play the game in our half, but if we play with plenty of energy and purpose we can give Leeds a hard time which could go either way..........we are in with a chance.

Re: Imperative to finish top : Thu Aug 28, 2014 4:27 pm  

Judder Man wrote:

I think we are underestimating Turners new role, if you look at how he played against Wakefield his passing options were pretty good with his positioning similar to Leon Pryce in second phase instead of a flat attack.
First of all our pack has to get the upper hand to give our stand in pivots some time and space.
For me Leeds will try and play similar to last week and try and play the game in our half, but if we play with plenty of energy and purpose we can give Leeds a hard time which could go either way..........we are in with a chance.

Leeds and Wakefield are on different levels. No way Leeds will let Turner play like the wildcats did.

Re: Imperative to finish top : Thu Aug 28, 2014 5:01 pm  

St pete wrote:

Leeds and Wakefield are on different levels. No way Leeds will let Turner play like the wildcats did.

Which is why the pack needs to stand up. It's all down to them to give our scratch halves a chance.

Everything crossed too that we don't get anymore injuries.