Play-offs Week One discussion

[stormtragic]

Catalans smashed warrington....

They really are a series chance for title

 

[deluded pom?]

Catalan back on form by the sound of it, will check out the replay tonight. I think they can do Wigan, escpecially if it's down in France again?

St Helens v Leeds should be a corker of a clash next week too.

Yep, it'll be in France again. I can't believe Lowes was satisfied with Warrington. Unless it's just a show of solidarity for the media.

 

[Johnny_L_O]

Catalans smashed warrington....

They really are a series chance for title

What did you think of the quality of the game? I thought Catalan showed why they are a top 3 team. How good was their defensive line speed! And how about Fakir, Guisset, Croker (at 35! Jeez, that guy is fit) and Carlaw taking them forward. Especially Fakir, he is like a tank. Mogg and Bosc are a great half back partnership too. Bosc is turning into one of the best half backs in the world. Its only taken these French guys 3 years to get up to speed with the "big" boys... what will they be like in 3 more years?

 

[Johnny_L_O]

Yep, it'll be in France again. I can't believe Lowes was satisfied with Warrington. Unless it's just a show of solidarity for the media.

:shock:

He was?

At a 9 try demolishing??

Tough times ahead for the Wolves then if that is his attitude. They may have had a few players out but bar the first 15 mins they were never in the game. Morley got through a lot of work but was smashed nearly every time he took the ball up. Briers and Monoghan went missing and I know they were behind a beaten pack but they never looked to inject themselves at all. Where were King and Gleeson too? IMO Warringtons best performers were the kids. The experianced players needed to stand up. Matty Blyth will be a star of the future too methinks.

 

[JasonE]

:shock:
Briers and Monoghan went missing and I know they were behind a beaten pack but they never looked to inject themselves at all. Where were King and Gleeson too? IMO Warringtons best performers were the kids. The experianced players needed to stand up. Matty Blyth will be a star of the future too methinks.

Agree with all that, King has come in for plenty of criticism this year but Monaghan has been heaps worse imo, he is a hooker not a halfback for starters. Briers is finished.
I hope Matty Blythe puts in a big off season and adds some bulk to his frame. He already has the skills and mobility to become a top player, same with Cooper and Mitchell.

 

[JasonE]

For the Dragons the displays of Fakir, Casty, Bosc and Mounis showed encouraging signs for the WC.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Catalans were good but they're a long way off beating Leeds or Saints. Honestly I'll be happy if they beat Wigan and lose by a reasonable margin the following week. In fact I wouldn't even mind if they lose next week as long as it's not by much and none of the French Test players get hurt.

 

[Calixte]

I wanted to wait until the end of the replay to post this but JasE beat me to it...

Seriously good signs for France in this match (Cats v Warrington).

My French friends are mainly down in the dumps about the RLWC. I am still struggling to see why that is the case when they have some world class players and more exposure to professionalism.

Bosc plays like Terry Campese in some ways. Including the goalkicking.

Fakir is among the best forwards in the world - bar none. Casty looks the goods albeit in an old fashioned way. Mounis is playing better all the time.

Good young wingers in Pelo and Khattabi.

Greseque has been a personal favourite for some years.

Surely some quality performances lie ahead???

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Greenshields is the best fullback in SL too. If he played for Saints or Leeds he'd be MOS I reckon. If he's played 55 games straight or whatever I reckon he'll have been one of the best three players in each one.

 

[jim_57]

Glad I got up early to watch, chucked my Catalans jersey on for the first time to watch them play and enjoyed them smashing wire.

Bosc was great, I have been saying since early in the year that he is in the top 5 halfs in the world and the way he played tonight justified that. Fakir is probably up there with the best back-rowers in the game ATM, actually might be the best. If no French players are selected in the World XVII it will be a joke. Can't wait for WC time to see France play.

I think they're still a good chance of winning the thing, ocourse they have to win 3 very tough games to do that.

Also just on Greenshields, I bet France will be crossing their fingers that he changes nationality next year for the 4 nations. Greenshields at the back would make the French side so much stronger, sh*ts all over Clayton and Taylor.

 

[bartman]

France are a definite shot at winning their group. No reason why they shouldn't be in line to compete for the 4th finals spot.

From there it might be a bit hard, going on previous comparable international results, but the important point is their players are on the improve, as can be seen in the performances for Catalans comapred to a year ago, and with the set-ups now in place for Super League, professionalism, junior development, and hopes of quad nations competition, that should just continue year on year.

 

[stormtragic]

Les Catalans are now IMO 2nd fav behind Saints to win it...they will probably face in elim final? i think and I give them a huge chance to knock them off

Thomas Bosc is a star~!

 

[dogz08]

I hope wigan and saints win then wigan beats leeds. i would'nt mind seeing a saints wigan grand final!!

 

[stormtragic]

I hope wigan and saints win then wigan beats leeds. i would'nt mind seeing a saints wigan grand final!!

derby grand final..how good would it be :crazy:

 

[JasonE]

Agree with ECT, Greenshields has been outstanding for Catalan. He should be the blueprint for every club looking to sign overseas imports, he is young, talented, hungry to succeed and committed to the cause.
I'm more than sick of seeing clubs signing journeyman for the sake of it.

 

[marv]

Les Catalans are now IMO 2nd fav behind Saints to win it...they will probably face in elim final? i think and I give them a huge chance to knock them off

Have you forgotten about leeds who finished eight points ahead of Catalans?

Catalans were superb against Warrington, who limped into the play-offs realistically.
The Dragons never even gave them a chance of getting into the game though, with fantastic defence and kamikaze forward play by the likes of Fakir and Elima.

Bring on wigan and I think the Dragons will beat them but honestly Catalans are still third favourites behind Leeds and Saints, but thats not to say they cant beat them.

Allez!

 

[stormtragic]

Have you forgotten about leeds who finished eight points ahead of Catalans?

Catalans were superb against Warrington, who limped into the play-offs realistically.
The Dragons never even gave them a chance of getting into the game though, with fantastic defence and kamikaze forward play by the likes of Fakir and Elima.

Bring on wigan and I think the Dragons will beat them but honestly Catalans are still third favourites behind Leeds and Saints, but thats not to say they cant beat them.

Allez!

they were guaranteed 3rd for a while..a lull and now there back
Leeds havent been that great in games this year...in CC against saints there edge of ruck defence was poor...Bosc has to dart around more and have greensheilds ready for little chips over the top

 

[marv]

they were guaranteed 3rd for a while..a lull and now there back
Leeds havent been that great in games this year...in CC against saints there edge of ruck defence was poor..

Regardless, Leeds and Saints have been the two best teams all year and obviously we are all hoping that Catalans can do the business but TBH I cant look much further past Leeds or Saints, sorry

 

[stormtragic]

Regardless, Leeds and Saints have been the two best teams all year and obviously we are all hoping that Catalans can do the business but TBH I cant look much further past Leeds or Saints, sorry

leeds will win this week and goto GF...that mean Cats vs Saints...at their best Cats have the attack to test saints..their defence is the main issue for them

 

[roughyedspud]

catalan will not beat st helens @ st helens...or leeds @ leeds for that matter...i get you a bucket of rocking horse sh1t if they do :lol: