This is a proper my dad’s bigger than your dad thread. In a way it’s great because it shows we are back up there.
For me there is only one metric to determine who is the better team and that’s the league table so St Helens have that one (for now). There are things we do better, things they do better.
We are a more dynamic side with more pace and flair. St Helens are more structured, dominant and powerful side. It’s a bit weird, the tables have completely turned. We are taking over the entertainers tag and they are playing in a far more ‘Wigan’ way.
We should all agree that we are both very good sides playing completely contrasting styles. History does tend to favour the St Helens way of playing when it comes to October though.
Joined: Jan 20 2013 Posts: 4470 Location: Watching Rugby League
NickyKiss wrote:The styles of the two sides currently makes for an intriguing match up. Saints will always dominate territory IMO because of how they play in getting off the line and trying to pin you down at your end. There aren’t many team that can try and play to a plan that we can and that’s to not panic, try to soak it up and be confident that at some point we can trouble them with our pace, as the intensity drops a touch. The issue we face with Saints though is that intensity never drops significantly and they seem to lift it and have a 2nd/3rd wind as the game goes on. Where we’ve hurt ourselves badly in games against them is adding to that pressure they apply by keep making basic errors, down at our end of the field. Clean those up and we’ll be a far better chance in future games against them.
Ultimately they’re still favourites at the moment because like it or not, they’re the better side. It’s not tough or embarrassing to admit that, I just think it’s a fact. We’re getting there but there is still work to do yet. I’m chuffed we’ve closed the gap as much as we have because we’re probably a year in front of where I thought/hoped we’d be. To think back to last season, I wouldn’t have believed you had you said we’d have a cup win in the bag, beating Saints in the process and would be sat 2nd in the table (even after basically giving up a couple of losses for the Cup win).
Trainman wrote: We should all agree that we are both very good sides playing completely contrasting styles. History does tend to favour the St Helens way of playing when it comes to October though.
Very good point and is one of the main reasons why Leeds beat us 4 times in 07,08, 09 and 11. Invariably wet conditions and Sinfield kicking us to death, them completing their sets and piling pressure on us to come out of our own 20.
Stu M wrote:How is admitting you are closing the gap, the coach doing a great job and you being able to score from anywhere belittling??
Because "closing the gap" implies there is a gap to be closed and that remains to be proven. As it stands, we are the ones with the trophy in the cabinet so, if any gap needs to be closed, it's you winning something to close the gap on us. Until then, any comments about "closing the gap" are condescending.
Phuzzy wrote:No, it's his opinion and he's entitled to it. You grading posters on whether they agree with you or not is what needs a word! Utterly condescending.
Thats not what I am doing. He's just not being swept away by cherry and white tinted glasses. There is still a gap to be closed. We've beaten you 2 out of 3 and are 4 points clear of you ergo we have won more games over the season. So does the fact that you won one particular game now mean that you are a better team?
So any team that knocks out City or Liverpool in a Cup competition are a better team? Ok.
Phuzzy wrote:Because "closing the gap" implies there is a gap to be closed and that remains to be proven. As it stands, we are the ones with the trophy in the cabinet so, if any gap needs to be closed, it's you winning something to close the gap on us. Until then, any comments about "closing the gap" are condescending.
Your own coach says there is and we are still the benchmark! Its absolutely laughable that you now don't think there is.
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