Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:05 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

Just read that Luai is "an outside chance to be fit for the World Club Challenge, but club medical staff are expected to hold him back a few extra weeks in time for the season proper."

Not risking players to make sure they are ready for NRL round 1. Interesting. . . . hope they're not treating it as a pre-season game eh?

Anyway, on a serious note, can't wait for this. Have my accomodation booked, will be a fabulous occassion.

Read the other day he will play but we will see. If they decide to hold him back and give preference to the NRL games when they could manage him through it, then clearly they are valuing those games higher than the WCC. I don't find that at all difficult to admit but it's hugely offensive to a lot of Saints fans when people dare suggest Penrith might not have been fully invested in your game last year.

Your win was an amazing achievement regardless and a win for us would be as well. They have absolutely huge advantages over the English clubs, so they should be able to overcome one or two absences and some ring rust.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Wed Jan 17, 2024 11:09 am  

Did Penrith give it 100% against Saints I'm pretty sure they did once the game started. I'm also pretty sure before hand they was listening to and believing they would be declaring before half time as Phil Gould claimed. Saints did fantastic playing against a team with double the cap. Will Penrith take victory against Wigan over the NRL campaign? I would think not. Will they be expecting to declare at halftime again doubt it after what's Saints did. I don't find that hard to believe but if we or Saints play with our squads in the NRL I expect we would be more on par with West's at best not pushing Brisbane and Penrith at the top. The WCC is a one off taken more seriously over here normally than the NRL who will see this as a not die at all cost fixture. I do think the team turning out though will have more intent than last time because of what Saints did.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Wed Jan 17, 2024 11:13 am  

The Etihad training camp to host Penrith next month: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/manche ... 5exqb.html In addition to Wire holding an opposed training session.

The Etihad training camp to host Penrith next month: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/manche ... 5exqb.html In addition to Wire holding an opposed training session.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Wed Jan 17, 2024 12:22 pm  

Looks like they're taking it very seriously indeed..

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Wed Jan 17, 2024 12:47 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

Looks like they're taking it very seriously indeed..

Why? Just because they are being based at a camp and having an opposed session? Roosters did the same before they played us in 2020, spent time at Barcelona. Rabbitohs had an opposed session against Wigan at Orrell when they played us in 2015.

if Luai is indeed rested then whats the difference between that and resting Edwards before they played us?

This is another example of Wigan fans assuming that Penrith are taking this ultra seriously to value a Wigan win more if it happens completely ignoring the home advantage and over 20k fans cheering them on in English conditions.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:08 pm  

I agree that them being based at Man City and having an opposed session against Warrington tells us absolutely zero about their desire to take the game as seriously as they would a Grand Final or even a standard NRL game. Unless we found out they were coming over and doing a week on the ale in Blackpool, I don't think we could read much in to anything regards their plans. Them resting Luai would give us some insight in to the value they place on the WCC in general (he has had pretty major surgery mind) and I think many Wigan fans would be happy to admit that but unless I've missed it, I'm yet to see a single Saints fan admit Penrith might not have taken last years WCC quite as seriously as they should have.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:19 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I agree that them being based at Man City and having an opposed session against Warrington tells us absolutely zero about their desire to take the game as seriously as they would a Grand Final or even a standard NRL game. Unless we found out they were coming over and doing a week on the ale in Blackpool, I don't think we could read much in to anything regards their plans. Them resting Luai would give us some insight in to the value they place on the WCC in general (he has had pretty major surgery mind) and I think many Wigan fans would be happy to admit that but unless I've missed it, I'm yet to see a single Saints fan admit Penrith might not have taken last years WCC quite as seriously as they should have.

Because its difficult to know who to believe. I don't doubt that they expected to win easily backed up by Gould's ridiculous "declare by half time" comments.

On the one hand you have Ivan Cleary quoted as saying that they prepared well, no excuses etc (however admittedly he's not going to say they weren't bothered) and then on the other hand you have the local Penrith journalist who says that they didn't really bother. No quotes mind however this didn't stop fans of all sides jumping on the article to use against us.

I am under no illusions that they would beat us probably 9 times out of 10 in Aussie conditions and I also know that we would probably finish mid-table at best if we played a season in the NRL.

However that is the same for other English teams too and there are lots of reasons for that.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:43 pm  

Stu M wrote:

Because its difficult to know who to believe. I don't doubt that they expected to win easily backed up by Gould's ridiculous "declare by half time" comments.

On the one hand you have Ivan Cleary quoted as saying that they prepared well, no excuses etc (however admittedly he's not going to say they weren't bothered) and then on the other hand you have the local Penrith journalist who says that they didn't really bother. No quotes mind however this didn't stop fans of all sides jumping on the article to use against us.

I am under no illusions that they would beat us probably 9 times out of 10 in Aussie conditions and I also know that we would probably finish mid-table at best if we played a season in the NRL.

However that is the same for other English teams too and there are lots of reasons for that.

And that is why I'll go back to what I keep saying- It was an absolutely amazing achievement by Saints.

Thinking Penrith took it lightly and that Saints achieved an incredible victory can go hand in hand and don't need to sit separately or be seen as trying to belittle Saints victory.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:48 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

And that is why I'll go back to what I keep saying- It was an absolutely amazing achievement by Saints.

Thinking Penrith took it lightly and that Saints achieved an incredible victory can go hand in hand and don't need to sit separately or be seen as trying to belittle Saints victory.

Personally I think they will be desperate to win as they won't want to lose twice to English teams and its a trophy they've never won.

My annoyance is that if Wigan win their fans will deem it as a bigger achievement (as clearly they didn't take it as serious last year) however being at home in English conditions is a huge advantage. This seems to be overlooked with comments that I've read.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:59 pm  

Stu M wrote:

Personally I think they will be desperate to win as they won't want to lose twice to English teams and its a trophy they've never won.

My annoyance is that if Wigan win their fans will deem it as a bigger achievement (as clearly they didn't take it as serious last year) however being at home in English conditions is a huge advantage. This seems to be overlooked with comments that I've read.

No it really hasn't been overlooked. It's just not as big of a factor as you make it out to be. As I've said many a time, you winning is the equivalent of Buster Douglas beating Tyson. You've poked the bear and we'll (probably) get bitten. It doesn't matter where the game is played, they'll be up for it.

I'm actually flabbergasted that you somehow believe that Penrith took it serious as they could last year too. Madness