It's very tight at the top and points difference could be crucial as far as the final positions of the top 3 are concerned.



We've now scored the most points in SL, but are still third best on points difference:



Wigan - scored 506, difference +270

Wire - scored 486, difference +258

Saints - scored 518, difference +236



Putting the quarter final aside for now, we have some absolutely massive games coming up in SL and the next 6 weeks will probably define our season with:



Hull away - June 4

Huddersfield home - June 11

Wigan away - June 18

Salford home - June 25

Leeds away - July 3



I think the Hull, Hudds and Salford games are very winnable, but wigan and Leeds away will be real struggles. Can't see us making up any ground points difference wise with that little lot to come.



If we want to remain in with a shout of top spot I think we need to win at least 4, including the wigan game. 3 wins is a minimum to stay in top 2 contention I reckon.



Really looking forward to the coming weeks, some titanic battles await!

We have some very hard away games coming up -



We have 12 games left this season, every single one of our away matches we have remaining, except 1, is against current, top 8 opposition.



Hull away

Wigan away

Leeds away

Wakefield away

Warrington away.



Those will be very tough away games, we do have a very difficult 'run in' of away games between now and the end of the season.

Be nice to get a consisten team out on the paddock for the run in. Instead of chop N change like it has been all year. The lads know how to do it, they know how to ramp it up when called on, and also know that the waire away is 2 points in the bag, as per the last 100 years !

How many players have Saints used this season?

Wigan have used 28.

In Super League?

Twenty Five

Yes, according to Super Bilkos stats.

surely when considering injury problems it make more sense to consider how many games have been played by players outside of the "first choice 17" rather than just how many different players have appeared?



It may be that the stats are still in Wigan's favour, I've no idea and no inclination to add it all up!

How would you define the first choice 17?

If you did it by squad numbers then at Wigan Deacon would be included when I don't think he should, and at Saints Maurie Fa'asavalu would be excluded which I don't think he should.



And I have no inclination to work it out either.

Truce called then.

Just had a look at our outside backs this season - I can't remember the side ever being so unsettled:



Soliola/Meli - never

Soliola/Wheeler - 1 game

Dean/Meli - 3 games

Dean/Lomax - 1 game

Dean/Gardner - 3 games

Wheeler/Meli - 6 games

Wheeler/Foster - 2 games

Gidley/Lomax - 3 games

Gidley/Gardner - 9 games

Flannery/Gardner - 2 games

Flannery/Meli - 1 game

Flannery/Foster - 1 game

Armstrong/Foster - 1 game

Foster/Lomax - 1 game



Crazy.



With Wellens missing games, Wilkin/Moore playing in the halves, long term injuries to Soliola, Maurie and Wilkin, Meli not being in the country etc etc it's a mystery how we have scored the most points in SL and are sitting joint second, 4 points off top spot.

Young guys want to prove they can make the grade. There's nothing better for our chances than feisty young guys!



And to think, if we hadn't wasted two points at Salford - totally needlessly IMO - then we would have had the best points difference as well. Grr. Stupid boys.