v Wire

Hopefully there will be a decent away turnout. I can’t make it and will have to watch it in a bar in enemy territory (Leeds). Watching on TV makes me ten times more nervous but looking forward to it as well.

Wire squad. I’m saying nothing for fear of tempting fate.

I don’t buy into this about them being tired and not up for it after celebrating the win.
They will be on a total high for this game.
There was no celebrating after the game and although it was hot I think the form on the day of St Helens gave them a pretty easy game.
They will come at Salford all guns blazing on Thursday.
Just hope there’s the form at Hull on show and not that against Huddersfield

I’ll be there tomorrow night... driving up tomorrow afternoon and have managed to wangle Friday as WFH... albeit 275 miles from home! Weird but this feels like a banana skin game.. haven’t said that many times before a Wire game!

Saturday to Thursday is a fairly common turnaround these days so I do think that can be overplayed. But I think playing in the final must leave you more tired than a normal game - even if only mentally.

Warrington have also changed a fair few players so they will be fresh. I think, as in many games, if Warrington get an early lead their confidence will build and they can continue where they left off on Saturday. But if we can build a lead then those that played might start to feel their aching limbs a bit more and we should be in a strong position.

There’s no doubt that Warrington will be up for this. They will want to back up the cup win. They will want to stop their losing run in the league. They will want revenge for us doing them twice at their place.

I’m sure Watto will have drilled all this into the players and that we will be just as keen to put in a decent performance on TV after our last outing. Should be a cracker. But I’m already tense 😊

On form and with Austin out our back line should be too much for them. Ratchford is quality and they have pace out wide but he can’t do it all himself and he was struggling at the end on Saturday. Attacking at 6 and defending at fullback must take it out of him as well.

The forwards is where we could have struggled as they were excellent against Saints but with their two front line props out and our full pack fit we have absolutely no excuses.

They will be full of confidence which will balance out the fatigue but we are at home, on form, have plenty to play for and on paper have the stronger team. We are favourites and rightly so - we just need to be mentally prepared. After the improved mental toughness we have shown lately I’m more confident than I normally would be but there is always that nagging doubt that comes with being a Salford fan. Looking forward to the game even though I have to watch it on TV.