Semi final

[Scoopage]

I think, due to nerves, I need to write my 17 down to ease the tension. Quality is reassuring.

1. Hardaker
2. Minikin
3. Webster
4. Shenton
5. Eden

6. Roberts
7. Gale

8. Lynch
9. McShane
10. Massey
11. Sene-Lefao
12. McMeeken
13. Milner

14. Moors
15. Millington
16. Cook
17. (In order of likelihood) Foster / Patrick / Springer

Incidentally, the final sub spot may go to someone like Hitchcox. We might need some X Factor at some stage and in terms of backs, he's possibly the Man.

I can see Daryl using 4 forwards though personally?

As soon as I finished reading that I got a huge surge of excitement, pride and emotion sweep over me.

What a massive game and how great is it that it's at our place?

From what I've seen and heard, the Saints fans are a bit short on confidence ahead of travelling to us - reading that potential team sheet will not help them.

Game on....!

Massey to 8 milo to 10 and Patrick to bench for me

[Askham Tiger]

I've read a lot of comments now on rlfans and redvee, I understand both sides comments, at the moment a lot of the posts are from pure nerves.

These are my thoughts. We have to start the game in a composed fashion. Against Wakefield we started poorly, kicking out on the full etc. It might be for the first 20mins we have to play un-Cas like and play it safe, play for territory. My main concern is we start slowly and St Helens go a few scores ahead as we may then start chasing the game. We need to stick in there, both teams will get plenty of chances so no need to push that play between Gale and Hardaker, if it's not on don't risk it.

I think we have more dangerous players than St Helens - Eden, Hardaker, Gale (if he plays), Webster, Millington, McMeeken, Roberts, Sene-Lefao. All are capable of creating things, taking the slightest of opportunities, spotting the smallest of gaps. Compare that to St Helens: I'm sure our redvee chums would disagree but I'm struggling to think of any genuinely dangerous players other than Roby, Fages, Barba, Grace...and those last 3 have a lot of errors in them

We need certain players to switch on (e.g. Foster/Springer if either play).

Looking at St Helens, since getting their new coach in most results have been close. There's not much in it when they've won or lost (some exceptions), I think we'll see a similar game to the defeat against them in the Super 8s but as I said in an earlier post I cannot see another defensive effort like that from any team for quite some time, possibly the best defensive effort I've ever seen.

Finally, need the crowd to be on form. I would love to hear Sweet Caroline sung during the match, not just after it. It's simple to just go straight into the chorus and cutting out the lengthy verses. For reference listen to the Wakey fans singing Hey Jude, I think it works for them and lifts the players.

I'm going 10-8 half time, full time 24-14 Cas.

[Sharlotiger]

Big games are usually won by the side who defend their line the best which Saints were outstanding during the super 8s contest against us, if they produce a similar performance it will be a tough night.
Our own defence as been relatively poor over the 8s and will need to be much better else we wont give ourselves a chance.

[ERG2012]

I think we have more dangerous players than St Helens - Eden, Hardaker, Gale (if he plays), Webster, Millington, McMeeken, Roberts, Sene-Lefao. All are capable of creating things, taking the slightest of opportunities, spotting the smallest of gaps. Compare that to St Helens: I'm sure our redvee chums would disagree but I'm struggling to think of any genuinely dangerous players other than Roby, Fages, Barba, Grace...and those last 3 have a lot of errors in them

I think you could Add Big Alex Walmsley and Mark Percival to that list...

[old cas lass]

No disciplinary problems from Friday night.
All clear to go.

[ERG2012]

Nothing mentioned about Alex Walmsley so looks like both teams will be as strong as possible

[gateman]

Keep tabs on ROBY watch PERCIVAL match their forwards JOB DONE , easier said than done

[lurcher]

I was talking to Zak today and they were his words.

according to schoey luke told him the same.

[old cas lass]

James child is the ref.

[braytontiger]

James child is the ref.

I'm not normally one to worry about refs but let's hope it's not the same one sided performance he gave last week in saints favour.

[tigerfeat]

I was talking to Zak today and they were his words.

according to schoey luke told him the same.

Hope your both right

[ERG2012]

Just as a side note Alex Walmsley was placed on report last week
how come there's no filing of the incident at the RFL this week - I can fully understand he's on report and the filing is then assessed and NFA required

Not trying to start a witch hunt either as I rate Big Al and he's not a dirty player

does anyone know how and why this has happened?

[Mysterio]

Apart from Luke, does anyone know if we're carrying knocks? Moors? Benny?

[Starman]

Saints fan in peace! Gave this forum a read to see what the other side is saying!

We are looking at Barba, Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace, Lomax, Richardson, Douglas, Roby, Walmsley, Wilkin, Taia, Knowles. Bench: Fages, Thompson, LMS, Peyroux.

We've undoubtedly improved since JH has arrived, but I feel this one is a game too far for us. We are gambling on your better players feeling the pressure, realistically. Our best performance of the season was our win at your place R1 of the 8s, and re-creating that is our only chance.

Cas have always been mine and many Saints fans second sides (even more so after your favour at the DW!), and if we don't do it I hope you lot do

[InTheKnow]

Saints fan in peace! Gave this forum a read to see what the other side is saying!

We are looking at Barba, Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace, Lomax, Richardson, Douglas, Roby, Walmsley, Wilkin, Taia, Knowles. Bench: Fages, Thompson, LMS, Peyroux.

We've undoubtedly improved since JH has arrived, but I feel this one is a game too far for us. We are gambling on your better players feeling the pressure, realistically. Our best performance of the season was our win at your place R1 of the 8s, and re-creating that is our only chance.

Cas have always been mine and many Saints fans second sides (even more so after your favour at the DW!), and if we don't do it I hope you lot do

Very strong team. Really didn't want to play Saints in the Semis but here we are. Can't see any team walking away with it and can see it being won in last 5 minutes. Not sure by who.

[InTheKnow]

Ready for a penalty fest?? James Child is the ref.

[cogito ergo sum]

Saints fan in peace! Gave this forum a read to see what the other side is saying!

We are looking at Barba, Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace, Lomax, Richardson, Douglas, Roby, Walmsley, Wilkin, Taia, Knowles. Bench: Fages, Thompson, LMS, Peyroux.

We've undoubtedly improved since JH has arrived, but I feel this one is a game too far for us. We are gambling on your better players feeling the pressure, realistically. Our best performance of the season was our win at your place R1 of the 8s, and re-creating that is our only chance.

Cas have always been mine and many Saints fans second sides (even more so after your favour at the DW!), and if we don't do it I hope you lot do

Very strong team. Really didn't want to play Saints in the Semis but here we are. Can't see any team walking away with it and can see it being won in last 5 minutes. Not sure by who.

I didn't want to play anyone in the semis, I wanted to be champions because we've played for months to earn it. However, you wouldn't expect anything easy at this stage. We've wanted to be involved in this for years, now we are, embrace it.

[Starman]

Saints fan in peace! Gave this forum a read to see what the other side is saying!

We are looking at Barba, Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace, Lomax, Richardson, Douglas, Roby, Walmsley, Wilkin, Taia, Knowles. Bench: Fages, Thompson, LMS, Peyroux.

We've undoubtedly improved since JH has arrived, but I feel this one is a game too far for us. We are gambling on your better players feeling the pressure, realistically. Our best performance of the season was our win at your place R1 of the 8s, and re-creating that is our only chance.

Cas have always been mine and many Saints fans second sides (even more so after your favour at the DW!), and if we don't do it I hope you lot do

Very strong team. Really didn't want to play Saints in the Semis but here we are. Can't see any team walking away with it and can see it being won in last 5 minutes. Not sure by who.

Our recent knockout performances are atrocious. Lost 53-10 to you in the CC, lost to Warrington with no Currie or Sandow in the semi final last season and lost 47-18 to Hull FC in the CC at home. In 2015 Leeds knocked us out of both but that was their treble winning season.

A lot is made of the pressure on your lads but there's lots of questions on how our lot can play in knock out games, as recent performances have been desperately poor, albeit under another coach.

[Dez]

theres some nerves on this forum... come on folks enjoy the ride BELIEVE..

[braytontiger]

Saints fan in peace! Gave this forum a read to see what the other side is saying!

We are looking at Barba, Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace, Lomax, Richardson, Douglas, Roby, Walmsley, Wilkin, Taia, Knowles. Bench: Fages, Thompson, LMS, Peyroux.

We've undoubtedly improved since JH has arrived, but I feel this one is a game too far for us. We are gambling on your better players feeling the pressure, realistically. Our best performance of the season was our win at your place R1 of the 8s, and re-creating that is our only chance.

Cas have always been mine and many Saints fans second sides (even more so after your favour at the DW!), and if we don't do it I hope you lot do

Very strong team. Really didn't want to play Saints in the Semis but here we are. Can't see any team walking away with it and can see it being won in last 5 minutes. Not sure by who.

Our recent knockout performances are atrocious. Lost 53-10 to you in the CC, lost to Warrington with no Currie or Sandow in the semi final last season and lost 47-18 to Hull FC in the CC at home. In 2015 Leeds knocked us out of both but that was their treble winning season.

A lot is made of the pressure on your lads but there's lots of questions on how our lot can play in knock out games, as recent performances have been desperately poor, albeit under another coach.

It's all on the day it's really that close,I guess us fans worry more than the players because all we can do is watch and hope.i don't buy into the we've no big game experience I think we've plenty of winners amongst our team non more so than in the coaching department.ive read the comments on redvee and tbh it's no different to anything that's not been written on here. There was a post at the start of the season that said what do we have to do to start challenging to which my reply was beat saints and here we are. IMO the grand final winners will come from this game.