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Semi Finals
- Thread starter Teh Mite
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I think Saints will make the final. Don't want to write off the Giants though, but I think Saints'll take it
Not sure about Leeds/Wigan.
Leeds choked, and hard, in the Challenge Final, but Wigan haven't performed as well in their playoff games as they have done in the main season. It'll be quite a game (hopefully. It'll either be very good, or very boring)
Not sure about Leeds/Wigan.
Leeds choked, and hard, in the Challenge Final, but Wigan haven't performed as well in their playoff games as they have done in the main season. It'll be quite a game (hopefully. It'll either be very good, or very boring)
Friday's teams are up:
St Helens squad: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Soliola, Meli, Eastmond, Cunningham, Graham, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, Roby, Hargreaves, Clough, Dixon, Lomax, Emmitt, Foster, Smith.
Huddersfield squad: B. Hodgson, Cudjoe, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Crabtree, Lunt, Mason, Gilmour, Fa'alogo, Wild, Raleigh, D. Griffin, Kirmond, Lawrence, Faiumu, Grix, Patrick, Brough.
St Helens squad: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Soliola, Meli, Eastmond, Cunningham, Graham, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, Roby, Hargreaves, Clough, Dixon, Lomax, Emmitt, Foster, Smith.
Huddersfield squad: B. Hodgson, Cudjoe, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Crabtree, Lunt, Mason, Gilmour, Fa'alogo, Wild, Raleigh, D. Griffin, Kirmond, Lawrence, Faiumu, Grix, Patrick, Brough.
Super League play-off verdict
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="226"> <tbody><tr><td>
Harris joins the 5 live commentary team this weekend
</td></tr> </tbody></table> The race for a place in the Super League Grand Final reaches its climax this weekend with the qualifying semi-finals.
Ahead of the big weekend games, Harris gives us his verdict on who he thinks will book their place at Old Trafford.
ST HELENS v HUDDERSFIELD (FRIDAY 2000 BST)
There are going to be plenty of emotions on Friday night with a place in the Grand Final at stake in the final game at Knowsley Road.
Huddersfield have grown in confidence over the last few weeks and put in an amazing performance in beating Warrington last week.
They looked very strong and athletic but, most of all, they looked full of confidence and they can still feel confident facing up to St Helens.
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="226"> <tbody><tr><td>
Friday's game will be the last after 120 years of action at Knowsley Road
</td></tr> </tbody></table> Danny Brough was probably their star last weekend but Huddersfield have other match-winners in the likes of Kevin Brown, Luke Robinson, Eorl Crabtree and Brett Hodgson.
Saints have that experience of winning big games and it will also be in the back of their minds that the last time they lost to Huddersfield at Knowsley Road was 1978. If that stat ****les the Giants, Saints will spot it quickly and exploit it.
Personally, I won't be sorry to see the back of Knowsley Road. I didn't win too many games there during my playing days!
It is a place where the crowd can be very intimidating and get on the opposition's back and rattle them and Huddersfield will have to handle that type of pressure.
The Saints fans know that this is their last game at Knowsley Road and will want to send the team away in style.
Nathan Brown is a good coach and he might spring a few surprises early on but the Giants will need to go in with confidence or they will get swept aside.
LEEDS v WIGAN (SATURDAY 1715 BST)
Although Wigan have been exceptional for the majority of this season and have set the standard in finishing top of the table, they have struggled against Leeds in big games.
The Rhinos won in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals and then in the first round of the play-offs and the winning mentality that Leeds have when it really matters means they go in as slight favourites, especially with home advantage.
Leeds have turned a corner from their Challenge Cup final defeat and are looking strong and confident.
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="226"> <tbody><tr><td>
Sam Tomkins will be a key figure for Wigan
</td></tr> </tbody></table> We could see some fireworks in the first quarter after the controversy at the end of the last game between the teams and the injury to Danny McGuire. There has been a lot said since then and I think there is some bad blood lingering.
Both forward packs will try to exert their authority early on and I think it could spill over, which will add to the spice of the occasion.
Although McGuire and Jamie Peacock will both miss the game with injuries, Leeds have got enough talent to overcome that, even though Wigan will be more or less at full strength.
Both sides can score points and defend well but the team who attacks best will be the one who wins.
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="226"> <tbody><tr><td>
</td></tr> </tbody></table> The race for a place in the Super League Grand Final reaches its climax this weekend with the qualifying semi-finals.
Ahead of the big weekend games, Harris gives us his verdict on who he thinks will book their place at Old Trafford.
ST HELENS v HUDDERSFIELD (FRIDAY 2000 BST)
There are going to be plenty of emotions on Friday night with a place in the Grand Final at stake in the final game at Knowsley Road.
Huddersfield have grown in confidence over the last few weeks and put in an amazing performance in beating Warrington last week.
They looked very strong and athletic but, most of all, they looked full of confidence and they can still feel confident facing up to St Helens.
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="226"> <tbody><tr><td>
</td></tr> </tbody></table> Danny Brough was probably their star last weekend but Huddersfield have other match-winners in the likes of Kevin Brown, Luke Robinson, Eorl Crabtree and Brett Hodgson.
Saints have that experience of winning big games and it will also be in the back of their minds that the last time they lost to Huddersfield at Knowsley Road was 1978. If that stat ****les the Giants, Saints will spot it quickly and exploit it.
Personally, I won't be sorry to see the back of Knowsley Road. I didn't win too many games there during my playing days!
It is a place where the crowd can be very intimidating and get on the opposition's back and rattle them and Huddersfield will have to handle that type of pressure.
The Saints fans know that this is their last game at Knowsley Road and will want to send the team away in style.
Nathan Brown is a good coach and he might spring a few surprises early on but the Giants will need to go in with confidence or they will get swept aside.
LEEDS v WIGAN (SATURDAY 1715 BST)
Although Wigan have been exceptional for the majority of this season and have set the standard in finishing top of the table, they have struggled against Leeds in big games.
The Rhinos won in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals and then in the first round of the play-offs and the winning mentality that Leeds have when it really matters means they go in as slight favourites, especially with home advantage.
Leeds have turned a corner from their Challenge Cup final defeat and are looking strong and confident.
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="226"> <tbody><tr><td>
</td></tr> </tbody></table> We could see some fireworks in the first quarter after the controversy at the end of the last game between the teams and the injury to Danny McGuire. There has been a lot said since then and I think there is some bad blood lingering.
Both forward packs will try to exert their authority early on and I think it could spill over, which will add to the spice of the occasion.
Although McGuire and Jamie Peacock will both miss the game with injuries, Leeds have got enough talent to overcome that, even though Wigan will be more or less at full strength.
Both sides can score points and defend well but the team who attacks best will be the one who wins.
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Good game this, so far
Saints 18 - 16 Giants at Halftime (Giants' Lawrence got a try 15seconds from time with a lovely little kick which he then collected/touched down, missed conversion by Hodgson though, but it was a horrible angle)
Saints 18 - 16 Giants at Halftime (Giants' Lawrence got a try 15seconds from time with a lovely little kick which he then collected/touched down, missed conversion by Hodgson though, but it was a horrible angle)
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Cunningham gets the last ever Super League try and the last ever Play Off try at Knowsley Rd.
Fitting end for the stadium
St Helens 42 - 22 Huddersfield Giants
Fitting end for the stadium
St Helens 42 - 22 Huddersfield Giants
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