[JTB]

Re: CCF match discussion : Tue May 24, 2022 12:09 pm  

I see this one as a scratch game too. Whilst I can understand the last couple of weeks wobbly performances, I can't entirely dismiss them when thinking about this week. So much of defending in crunch games is a mindset of discipline which I think is a lot harder to flick a switch on and off from as opposed to attacking structures.

Attack wise, our real advantage comes from being able to score from any part of the pitch due to the pace in our back 3. Watson still coaches in the 'grind out sets' style which can go one of two ways with us. If we have one of our ball-juggling jittery performances it leaves us pinned on our line as per 2 weeks ago.

That said as others have mentioned I feel the cup has been targetted this year. Our cup performances this year have been a cut above most SL ones and our points difference in the cup just from a handful of games can't be far of our league tally. They have us in the centres but I feel our back row - both in attacking threat and in game experience - may be the difference. Pre-match ales for nerves will help.

Re: CCF match discussion : Tue May 24, 2022 12:10 pm  

Not overly confident for Saturday, would of liked to go into the game in some kind of form rather than off the back of a couple of defeats.
Smith needs to have a good defensive game on Saturday, he has been a weak point lately and has been skinned a few times this season, if we can stay switched on and keep the penalties to a minimum then I think we should win, get on the wrong side of the whistle and we invite Hudds to take the spoils, very evenly matched teams at the moment.
If we can get some quick plays and ship the ball out to field and french to attack at a broken line then we should get some good breaks and hopefully some break away tries.

Re: CCF match discussion : Tue May 24, 2022 12:32 pm  

JTB wrote:

I see this one as a scratch game too. Whilst I can understand the last couple of weeks wobbly performances, I can't entirely dismiss them when thinking about this week. So much of defending in crunch games is a mindset of discipline which I think is a lot harder to flick a switch on and off from as opposed to attacking structures.

Attack wise, our real advantage comes from being able to score from any part of the pitch due to the pace in our back 3. Watson still coaches in the 'grind out sets' style which can go one of two ways with us. If we have one of our ball-juggling jittery performances it leaves us pinned on our line as per 2 weeks ago.

That said as others have mentioned I feel the cup has been targetted this year. Our cup performances this year have been a cut above most SL ones and our points difference in the cup just from a handful of games can't be far of our league tally. They have us in the centres but I feel our back row - both in attacking threat and in game experience - may be the difference. Pre-match ales for nerves will help.

It’s a good summary. I can’t say I was particularly pleased with the mentality in that first 20 minutes at Hull on Saturday. I’ll give them credit because they did put it behind them and got back to playing properly but for 20 minutes, it just felt like a small club mentality of ‘I’ve got a cup final to play in next week, so screw this’.

The proof will be in the pudding on Saturday but I always feel momentum is tough to create and easy to throw away and we had great momentum going in to the semi. We’d been excellent at Wire and took it in to the semi and whilst I wasn’t against the rests at Huddersfield, we have lost some momentum. I suppose on the plus side, we did play pretty well outside that first 20 minutes, so maybe we can get straight back in the grove.

I’m nervous already and don’t have a great feeling about it but that’s probably just natural final pessimism.

Re: CCF match discussion : Tue May 24, 2022 4:22 pm  

James bloody Child.

Re: CCF match discussion : Wed May 25, 2022 4:09 pm  

They are very well coached and you can bet that they will be exploiting any perceived defensive weakness from Wigan (Smith certainly, O'Neil potentially). They are a real handful to defend against aswell. Watson has been a bridesmaid a couple of times with Salford and he'll have them busting a gut to finally get a trophy.

That said I just think Wigan have that bit more class, and the pace of the back 3 is bound to make a difference at some point in the contest. I think Wigan will win by the odd try.

Re: CCF match discussion : Wed May 25, 2022 4:41 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

It’s a good summary. I can’t say I was particularly pleased with the mentality in that first 20 minutes at Hull on Saturday. I’ll give them credit because they did put it behind them and got back to playing properly but for 20 minutes, it just felt like a small club mentality of ‘I’ve got a cup final to play in next week, so screw this’.

The proof will be in the pudding on Saturday but I always feel momentum is tough to create and easy to throw away and we had great momentum going in to the semi. We’d been excellent at Wire and took it in to the semi and whilst I wasn’t against the rests at Huddersfield, we have lost some momentum. I suppose on the plus side, we did play pretty well outside that first 20 minutes, so maybe we can get straight back in the grove.

I’m nervous already and don’t have a great feeling about it but that’s probably just natural final pessimism.

Its ok to be nervous but cant believe your fans are not confident about beating Huddersfield
Personally think it will be one way traffic and an easy win for Wigan

Re: CCF match discussion : Wed May 25, 2022 5:20 pm  

bonaire wrote:

Its ok to be nervous but cant believe your fans are not confident about beating Huddersfield
Personally think it will be one way traffic and an easy win for Wigan

They’re a good side and I still feel like we’re trying to build our way back up. I think we’re meeting somewhere in the middle and it makes it a tight call. Pick a combined side from the two sides and it would be pretty equal, so no reason why we’d think it should be a comfortable day.

I really hope you’re right mind.

Re: CCF match discussion : Thu May 26, 2022 8:38 am  

Wigan at a canter.

Re: CCF match discussion : Thu May 26, 2022 9:33 am  

TheWarringtonWolve69 wrote:

Wigan at a canter.

Seem to remember you saying a similar thing about St Helens in the Semi final

Oh right - I get it - Your trying to Jinx us like you did the Saints

Re: CCF match discussion : Thu May 26, 2022 9:59 am  

My first final was the 1998 one at Wembley. A very important lesson learned at a young age!