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St Helens coach Daniel Anderson has revealed that his players have urged him not to rest them for Friday's derby with Wigan, when they hope to be presented with the engage Super League leaders' shield.

Anderson had considered resting some of his Challenge Cup-winning team for the last match of the regular season in order to have them fresh for the play-offs but has agreed to their requests.

He said: "If we were playing almost anyone but Wigan it might be different but yesterday when I saw the players I asked if they were right to back up and did anyone want a rest and every single bloke was into me, saying to not rest them.

"That's the state of mind of the players - not one of them wanted to sit out this week, with it being Wigan, a derby game and the last premiership game of the year.

"We've got 16 of the 17 available at this stage and all want to play so they will play."

The obvious absentee will be club captain Paul Sculthorpe, who is almost certain to have played his last match for the club after dislocating a shoulder in the opening moments of the Cup final.

Sculthorpe, who was too upset to collect his winners' medal at Wembley, is to undergo a hospital scan to determine the extent of the injury.

"I can't tell you what the specifics are but he's out this weekend," said Anderson.

Kiwi prop Jason Cayless is still sidelined with a knee injury but England front rower Maurie Fa'asavalu experienced no reaction from his return from a hamstring problem and another prop, Nick Fozzard, will be back to push for a place in the Grand Final after missing out on Wembley.

Winger Ade Gardner, who has the chance to finish the season as the League's leading tryscorer, has recovered from a severe case of heatstroke.

"Ade was in a bad way and stayed in bed after the game but he perked up on Sunday," added Anderson.

St Helens are hoping to break their club record run of 21 successive Cup and League wins against Wigan, who need the points to keep alive their hopes of a home play-off.

Saints go into Friday's game two points ahead of Leeds with a superior points difference of 51.

The RFL today confirmed that the League leaders' shield will be taken to Knowsley Road ready to present to Saints if they avoid defeat.

If St Helens lose and Leeds snatch top spot with a big win at Wakefield on Friday night, they will be presented with the trophy at the end of the qualifying semi-final on September 19.


http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... elens.html

josie andrews wrote:

St Helens coach Daniel Anderson has revealed that his players have urged him not to rest them for Friday's derby with Wigan, when they hope to be presented with the engage Super League leaders' shield.

Anderson had considered resting some of his Challenge Cup-winning team for the last match of the regular season in order to have them fresh for the play-offs but has agreed to their requests.

He said: "If we were playing almost anyone but Wigan it might be different but yesterday when I saw the players I asked if they were right to back up and did anyone want a rest and every single bloke was into me, saying to not rest them.

"That's the state of mind of the players - not one of them wanted to sit out this week, with it being Wigan, a derby game and the last premiership game of the year.

"We've got 16 of the 17 available at this stage and all want to play so they will play."

The obvious absentee will be club captain Paul Sculthorpe, who is almost certain to have played his last match for the club after dislocating a shoulder in the opening moments of the Cup final.

Sculthorpe, who was too upset to collect his winners' medal at Wembley, is to undergo a hospital scan to determine the extent of the injury.

"I can't tell you what the specifics are but he's out this weekend," said Anderson.

Kiwi prop Jason Cayless is still sidelined with a knee injury but England front rower Maurie Fa'asavalu experienced no reaction from his return from a hamstring problem and another prop, Nick Fozzard, will be back to push for a place in the Grand Final after missing out on Wembley.

Winger Ade Gardner, who has the chance to finish the season as the League's leading tryscorer, has recovered from a severe case of heatstroke.

"Ade was in a bad way and stayed in bed after the game but he perked up on Sunday," added Anderson.

St Helens are hoping to break their club record run of 21 successive Cup and League wins against Wigan, who need the points to keep alive their hopes of a home play-off.

Saints go into Friday's game two points ahead of Leeds with a superior points difference of 51.

The RFL today confirmed that the League leaders' shield will be taken to Knowsley Road ready to present to Saints if they avoid defeat.

If St Helens lose and Leeds snatch top spot with a big win at Wakefield on Friday night, they will be presented with the trophy at the end of the qualifying semi-final on September 19.


http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... elens.html

Would you expect anything else from them :exc:

Nope & should this & all the other Threads for Friday not be MERGED

Only joking honest :eusa18:

josie andrews wrote:

Nope & should this & all the other Threads for Friday not be MERGED

Only joking honest :eusa18:

I put it in here cos no way do I deem them worthy to be on the main warriors forum

St Helens are hoping to break their club record run of 21 successive Cup and League wins against Wigan, who need the points to keep alive their hopes of a home play-off.

Matthew wrote:

St Helens are hoping to break their club record run of 21 successive Cup and League wins against Wigan, who need the points to keep alive their hopes of a home play-off.

This must be at KR - as we beat them in the last regular game of last season (or did I dream that?)

I know the RFL have tried to make things hard by making us play them a lot - however I am pretty sure that we haven't played them 21 times this season!