Rugby League - Super League 2011

EdWeatherall

TFD
Joined
Jul 26, 2006
Messages
14,874
Got tired of waiting for jgraham to open it

So, who's going to win? Going to be tough for anyone to stop Wigan I'd say, they do look set for a period of dominance at the moment
 
Wigan will walk the regular season, best squad by a country mile with a hungry, disciplined coaching set-up. The play-offs are a different kettle of fish though and the best squad doesn't necessarily mean grand final success, just ask Saints over the last few seasons!

Wigan 1st by 4-8 points, Wire/Saints in 2nd/3rd, the rest can go home and forget OT IMO. The title is anyone of those three's come the business end.
 
Yeh, hard to disagree with that

As you can never be sure what injuries will strike at the business end, should be another good season anyway
 
WireRed said:
Wigan will walk the regular season, best squad by a country mile with a hungry, disciplined coaching set-up. The play-offs are a different kettle of fish though and the best squad doesn't necessarily mean grand final success, just ask Saints over the last few seasons!

Wigan 1st by 4-8 points, Wire/Saints in 2nd/3rd, the rest can go home and forget OT IMO. The title is anyone of those three's come the business end.
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Yep, agree with that, Wigan's new signings on top of an already very strong squad hardly gives the others a chance. Had there been any truth in the rumour that Kyle Eastmond was Warrington-bound, the balance might have been redressed a little! ;)
 
Some cracking games this weekend, including Wigan v Saints, Leeds v Bradford and the Hull derby.

Wire v Huddersfield kicking it all off. I'll have to set the Sky+ with going to the derby though!
 
I knew there was something i'd not done!!

Nice one Ed, good to see an RL presence on the caf!

Well what a day eh! Big big derby day - United City then Saints Wigan. Today has the potential to be a great day in sporting terms or could easily be a bit of a nightmare.

Saints have had a bit of a messed up week leading up to this one with the awful news about Royce Simmons dad passing away. He headed back to Aus earlier in the week to be by his side but during the flight his dad passed away. Today to be honest is meaningless in the scheme of things but i do hope that we put on a performance to at least ease what has been a tough week for him. Not only missing our head coach in the build up we've found out that the injury curse from last season is still knocking about with key man Leon Pryce being ruled out. Hopefully Johnny Lomax will step up to the mark.

I'd love for us to win but should we suffer defeat then I can always refer back to the first game of last season when Hull tonked us at home and we recovered to make the GF.

I think the Magic weekend is a perfect way to start the season now after initailly doubting it - the atmosphere down there will be immense.
 
Wigan starting the season well it seems

EDIT
Saints mounting a comeback, 16-0 down and now 16-10, likely 12
 
EdWeatherall said:
16-16

Really good game, not sure how Saints got back into it
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The tendency to collapse from a dominant lead seems to still be an issue at Wigan despite winning it last season. That's probably the only chink in their armour to be honest. Their attack is consistent, their defence is brutal, and their depth of talent is truly staggering when you consider that we are playing a salary cap sport. All credit to them for producing the young guys though, they'll probably lose a few as the years go by though due to those boundaries ala the break up of Saints 2006 globetrotters.

As for us...dear oh dear, all we needed was wet conditions and you'd basically have a like for like replay of the Huddersfield play-off game which ended our season last year. I love our brand of rugby and willingness to chance our arm but there comes a time(especially against a grinding side like the Giants)where you need to earn the right to play by working up the field and playing a smart game. They did that, we played too fancy and got the result we deserved.

I said after our last game of 2010 against Huddersfield, we must learn and do better. We obviously haven't so we must do in future.

Having said all that, I've got faith that we'll come good again. The only worry is the sack full of injuries we picked up today and which we battled on well with during the game. That's the only bit of encouragement a Wire fan could take from that performance and casualties today.
 
I've been hearing for a fortnight that James Graham (the player, not the Caf poster!) will be missing tonight... sure enough, he plays, along with Wellens, who misseed the last game. Warrington's wait for a win against Saints will probably continue.
 
EdWeatherall said:
Looking forward to the game tomorrow
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It'll be a low scoring, defence-orientated kind of game IMO. Both teams are immense in that aspect of the game with a strong defensive structure. If St.George are sharp and perform anywhere near their potential, they'll be too strong for Wigan. The fact they haven't had any competitive preparation probably gives Wigan a distinct advantage though along with the bizzare fact that they are effectively playing a major final at home. I get that it'll always be in the UK but surely the Reebok, COMS, or even Widnes or Wire would have been better, slightly fairer "neutral venue"?

The top 8 concept is another RFL joke aswell...the Crusaders-Bradford game tonight was an embarrasment compared to the Saints-Wire game last night and what the teams from Wigan down to maybe Hull KR can offer in terms of quality. The fact that one of those teams along with the likes of Catalans and Salford could in theory be crowned champions is ridiculous. It should be a play-off between 4 or at a push 6, but 8 takes the piss.
 
Yeh, but at the moment Wigan, Saints and Warrington are so far ahead of the other teams that no other will win it, the gap is massive at the moment. I'll be surprised if two of those three aren't in the Grand Final
 
EdWeatherall said:
Eastmond to Bath, at the end of the season
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I'd get rid of him ASAP if I were Saints, the guy is already halway down to Bath in mind and spirit and his attitude reeks of a money-motivated brat. Another 8 months of this chancer and his poor attitude around the place might just kill off team spirit for good over at Widnes Vi...sorry, Saints :angel:
 
Enjoyed Friday night. Warrington defence was fecking ridiculous first half. How many sides will defend 6 sets of 6 and see nothing scored against them against a side like Saints?

Briers drop goal was handy mind, given the last 15 minutes.
 
Looks like a certain Mr Gleeson is about to be sacked by Wigan...not too many tears will be shed in St Helens or in particular Warrington at that news, he was always THE bad apple in the Wire ranks and just like Saints did, we couldn't wait to get him out the door despite his ability. Looks like Wigan are about to follow suit. Wasted talent who should have achieved more at 3 of the games iconic club's.
 
londonredmaniac said:
Enjoyed Friday night. Warrington defence was fecking ridiculous first half. How many sides will defend 6 sets of 6 and see nothing scored against them against a side like Saints?

Briers drop goal was handy mind, given the last 15 minutes.
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Never realised you followed RL mate.
 
Was very impressed with Salford last night, despite the result, was a good performance and the lads should be proud.

Dodgy ref's giving all the decisons to Wigan...
 
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