Royce Simmons plans to counter Wigan's wrestling tactics!!!

[josie andrews]

ROYCE Simmons will instruct his players to attack in numbers in Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final in an attempt to break the shackles of Wigan’s swarming defence.

The Australian is acutely aware that dictating the speed of the play-the-ball will be a decisive battleground in Saints’ quest to reach Wembley.

He will order his team to employ tactics aimed at preventing their opponents from choking the life out of Saints’ attack.

Simmons, who is confident joint captain James Graham will overcome a troublesome back injury to take his place in the starting line-up at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, was dismayed at the one-man rugby evident in his side’s attack during the 10-32 defeat to Wigan in June.

He insists Saints must ask questions of their opponents around the ruck if they are to disrupt the gang tackling and wrestling methods that have underpinned the success of Michael Maguire’s side.

Looking ahead to what is unquestionably the biggest game of his Saints reign, Simmons said: “They are extremely good at getting that third man in (to the tackle) and squeezing and slowing you down.

“There is no doubt they will try to slow down Graham and Roby, so what we have to do is put heads in motion around the play-the-ball.

“We cannot afford to carry the ball one out – you do that and they make good contact with you and then they hold you, get the third man in – then that all takes time (slowing down the play-the-ball).

“For some reason last time we wanted to get one-out running at them instead of moving them to the edges and keeping them guessing what we are doing. So we will speak a lot about that in the build up to the game – about putting heads in motion and putting plays on.”

Simmons revealed Graham, whose back has been going into spasm because of a disc problem, will be given until the final preparations on Friday to prove his fitness.

He said: “He had a scan that showed there was a bit of a bulging disc that had gone back into place but apparently you could see a bit of a problem from that.

“He has got the power back in his legs – so that is some sort of a good sign – but his back is still in spasm. We will monitor him through the week, give him the Captain’s Run and then do some squeezing and wrestling techniques and see how it affects him.”

Simmons is hopeful the prop’s fierce determination will drive him towards fitness.

“I’m confident he will be okay. He is more than 50/50,” said Simmons.

“He has (also) had a little bit of concussion lately so we will rest him right up this week. I wouldn’t want to be going into the semi-final without him – he leads from the front.”

James Roby, who has escaped a suspension after pleading guilty to a dangerous throw against Castleford, is expected to shrug off a hand injury to start, while Jonny Lomax and Jon Wilkin should also recover from knocks. Shaun Magennis is ruled out with the groin tear he suffered at the weekend.

Simmons admitted seven players who he hopes to include in his 19-man squad, including Francis Meli and Sia Soliola, did not train on Tuesday but the coach appears confident they will be passed fit.

Meanwhile, the former Kangaroos hooker is mindful that his side will need to be wary of the elusive Wigan full back Sam Tomkins, who has been in destructive form in recent weeks.

He said: “He is a fantastic footballer so when you give him the ball it has to be on your terms – in controlled situations.

“If someone decides to have a kick and doesn’t tell the rest of the side you are in trouble.”

Gary Wheeler is expected to return from injury in the under 20s at the weekend against Hull. Paul Clough stepped up his return in the academy match at Castleford.

http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/saints/ne ... _tactics/?

[cpwigan]

Strikes me all several Saints players have been able to do this week is talk and not train. If Graham plays will he be that effective or will a few solid contacts reduce him to a bit part player (perhaps he will be needled up to high heaven but they wear off after so long)

[Kittwazzer]

Just thinking the same myself. Have ANY of their players done any contact training or have they just been running around witches hats!

[gpartin]

Funny thing was it was the pace of the ruck in both directions that killed them when we last played. Our fitness is too much for them and they can't just change to defending like us overnight it won't work! We are gonna spank them.

[AdamMac]

If the penalty count is fairly even then we'll win. If we give the saints team cheap field position then there isn't a better team in the league than saints from 10 meters out IMO.

[Wigan_forever1985]

They may try and rely on grahams passing game to get around the injury make him take it to the line 3 wigan defenders to him looking to put on the bit hit before he shifts it out wide. never actually hitting the line

[jobo]

Why does Simmons say "For some reason we played one up rugby"

He's the coach who dictates the game plan.

Sounds like he's getting his excuses ready to me.

[KOOCH]

Strikes me all several Saints players have been able to do this week is talk and not train. If Graham plays will he be that effective or will a few solid contacts reduce him to a bit part player (perhaps he will be needled up to high heaven but they wear off after so long)

I sincerely hope that Graham does play against us so we can send him back to the dugout a quivering shadow of a man.The Wigan wrecking ball must steam roll right over him and the stains team.We must ensure that they always remember we are the MIGHTY WIGAN WARRIORS.And that we have a divine right as Wembley is( as the winkey one quite rightly states)our spiritual home so *U*K O**

[the winky one]

Strikes me all several Saints players have been able to do this week is talk and not train. If Graham plays will he be that effective or will a few solid contacts reduce him to a bit part player (perhaps he will be needled up to high heaven but they wear off after so long)

I sincerely hope that Graham does play against us so we can send him back to the dugout a quivering shadow of a man.The Wigan wrecking ball must steam roll right over him and the stains team.We must ensure that they always remember we are the MIGHTY WIGAN WARRIORS.And that we have a divine right as Wembley is( as the winkey one quite rightly states)our spiritual home so *U*K O**

Also if we can nicely wind him up it will put him right off his game :eusa1:

[josie andrews]

Royce Simmons knows St Helens must focus to beat Wigan

St Helens coach Royce Simmons is urging his players not to allow themselves to become distracted by the hype surrounding Sam Tomkins in Sunday’s Challenge Cup semi-final with Wigan Warriors.

Many observers have been hailing Tomkins, with many, including Wigan team-mate Ben Cross, asserting that the full-back is good enough to make the grade in the NRL.

But Simmons insists that only by being fully-focused on their jobs can Saints gain a measure of revenge for recent reverses at the hands of their local rivals.

“If you get yourself ready for the game and play towards your best then that can see you though,” he told his club’s official website.

“You can worry too much about the opposition. We should worry about what we are doing instead.

“We know that Wigan are hard to combat when they slow you up in the tackle. They are extremely good at getting that third man in and squeezing in and slowing you down. They will target Graham and Roby.

“What we need to do is get heads in motion around the play the ball because we can’t afford to play one out.

“We didn’t do that last time. We played too much one out stuff and they stood us up in the tackle and we struggled. We know what we need to do.”

Simmons is still waiting on whether several players will be fit enough for the game, but he was optimistic that the talismanic James Graham would be taking to the field.

“James Graham had a scan that revealed a bulging disk which has done back into place. But he has power back in his legs – and that is a good sign,” the coach explained.

“We will give him until late in the week and then do a bit of work with him to make sure he is fine.

“I am confident he will be okay though.

“He’s had some concussion too as he has been taking a few little shots recently. He has a bit of footwork on him and he gets a swinging arm now and again.

“Seven players who I hope to play this week couldn’t train on Tuesday and that involves Francis Meli and Sia Soliola too who didn’t play last week.

“But in the next couple of weeks I probably won’t have that problem. Gary Wheeler will probably have a hit out in the 20s this week and Paul Clough came through his run in the 20s too.

“But I am confident the players will be okay and good to go.”

http://www.code13rugbyleague.com/2011/0 ... eat-wigan/