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Clubcall 2010

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  • 20-09-2010 2:33pm
    #1
    couerdelion
    Registered Users Posts: 2,910 ✭✭✭


    No surprise really...
    From the [URL="http://www.rfl.co.uk"]www.rfl.co.uk[/URL] website wrote:

    Surprise semi-finalists Huddersfield Giants have been chosen as St Helens' opposition for the last competitive match to be played at Knowsley Road.

    Saints, who are aiming to reach a fifth consecutive Engage Super League Grand Final, picked out the Giants as their opponents in Friday's Engage Super League elimination semi-final (8.00pm) in today's Club Call announcement.

    St Helens opted not to select arch rivals Wigan Warriors, who will play defending champions Leeds Rhinos at Headingley in Saturday's second semi-final (5.15pm).

    Saints are leaving Knowsley Road after 120 years to ground-share with Widnes in 2011 until their new stadium is ready and a derby with the Warriors would have provided a fitting farewell before the bulldozers move in.

    That could yet happen if Knowsley Road is still available for a Boxing Day friendly but outgoing St Helens coach Mick Potter believes a semi-final against the 8-1 outsiders presents his best chance of leaving the club with a trophy.

    "It's the logical choice," said Potter, who consulted with his senior players before making the decision.

    "You pick the lowest-ranked team and, whichever team won at the weekend, it would probably have gone down to that.

    "It was a tough choice but the deciding factor was the position on the table. Wigan finished top of the tree and Huddersfield have lost quite a few more games than Wigan.

    "I went to the games at the weekend and both Huddersfield and Wigan played very well.

    "I am sure it will fire Huddersfield up but we'll deal with that as it comes. They are a quality team and they're hard to beat, as they showed last night. I thought they were very professional in what they did."

    St Helens still have a worry over scrum-half Kyle Eastmond, who missed the opening play-off win over Warrington with a hip injury, but utility back Jonny Lomax is set to return after shaking off a quad problem.

    "Eastmond is not quite in full training yet," said Potter. "We'll see how he pulls up in training this week. I haven't ruled him out but I haven't ruled him in either. Lomax is probably closer to playing."

    Huddersfield have not won at Knowsley Road since 1978 but they go into Friday's game on the back of a seven-match winning run, culminating in a 34-22 victory over Carnegie Challenge Cup winners Warrington at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

    "Everywhere is tough to win in finals football, you've just got to play well," said Giants coach Nathan Brown.

    "We went to Warrington and won and last year we beat St Helens at Warrington, so there is no reason why we can't come here with plenty of confidence and get a result."

    St Helens got the chance to choose their opponents after League leaders Wigan slipped up against the Rhinos, but Warriors coach Michael Maguire is happy at the outcome, particularly after watching his side return to form in Friday's 42-18 win over Hull KR.

    "I'm glad I didn't have to make that choice," he said. "It's a good concept which adds a bit of excitement to what goes on.

    "At the end of the day, you've got to beat what's in front of you to get an opportunity to play at Old Trafford. The last game showed what we're capable of."

    Leeds had the Club Call choice a year ago on their way to a third successive win over St Helens at Old Trafford and coach Brian McClennan anticipated today's outcome.

    "There's no surprise there," he said. "They looked the rankings, which was very similar to how we did it last year with Catalans.

    "The whole finals series so far has been outstanding. Any one of the four are in with a good chance. It's going to be two cracking matches."

    Wigan have been made 15-8 second favourites to win at Old Trafford for the first time since they beat the Rhinos in the inaugural Grand Final of 1998.

    I fancy a Saints vs Wigan final.
    Narrow win by Saints and Wigan to blow Leeds away.


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