MadDogg wrote:
I still think St Helens will come very close to the GF, if not make it. We've seen this play out a few times before - remember 2016 when we lost to Widnes at home with one of the worst performances in living memory. We went on to win the title. Remember 2017 when Leeds got pumped by 50 points at Cas and went on to win it.
Saints will have a big group of players coming back into the side who will be well rested for the end of the year. They'll also have a group who have been criticised all year with an opportunity to make a lot of people look very silly with just three wins in the playoffs.
Its not a criticism as our fans would be the same but I think theres a few in the Saints fan base who are going a little over the top at the minute. I understand the frustration with Wellens but he is working with a squad in decline as opposed to a squad in their prime as Holbrook and Woolf were. Theyll need to find a way of improving their attack - ultimately when the playoffs come around I think their best chance will be to turn to their more experienced players.
If they end up travelling to Warrington in a playoff semi final for example - they would be favourites in my mind.
I think it all depends on how many they keep losing. They've lost 7 already with Leigh away next week.
Let's look at their remaining fixtures:
Leigh (A) - Tough game.
Hull FC (A) - Should Win.
Salford (H) - Tough game.
Wigan (Magic) - Tough game.
Hull KR (H) - Tough game.
Huddersfield (A) - Should Win.
Wire (A) - Tough game.
Cas (H) - Should Win.
Leigh (A) - Tough game.
Obviously they will have players to come back gradually but even so that's not an easy run in, especially when you've lost 7 already.
6 Tough games and 3 Should Win games, now will they go on and lose every tough game - very much doubt it. But its not inconceivable they won't lose an additional 3-5 matches out of those nine remaining. Will that get you into the playoffs? Touch and go.