So he got off the spear tackle then. Hardly a shock

That's because it WASN'T a spear tackle.

I've got a couple of Wigan supporting friends and they are very confident that they reckon their gonna beat Leeds by over 20 points(from a Saints fan).

I've got a couple of Saints supporting friends who think Wellens is a great fullback. They too are idiots

It was certainly a dangerous tackle which should have been punished

is there a problem with the server tonite or is it my machine

is there a problem with the server tonite or is it my machine

Deeefence will be the key. It'll be interesting to see whether Leeds can up the intensity enough and try to do what Wigan have been doing, choke the life out of the opposition. This game will certainly show whether Wigan are genuine title contenders this year. If Leeds lose it'll be very interesting to see how the side reacts. It's no coincidence that our form has picked up during the cup, as I suspect its a major goal for the side this year.

I blame the Ninjas.

But leaking in victory. Might prove to be a concern that but I'd be more concerned if we conceding that many in defeat. It shows we are scoring plenty in attack. But Good Friday proved we can win on defence. Not many sides will have kept Saints to just 10 that day, in fact they only scored during a sin bin period.




Interesting. Why's that?



Maybe. But the difference is you'll probably have to win play off games away from Headingley this time. Even your recent record in Qualfying Games at St Helens suggests that might be difficult. In fact I don't think Leeds have ever won an away play off game? Being a Wigan fan I can tell you how much tougher it is trying to win play off games away from home.

Thats why I was desperate for a home cup tie in this round. Sadly an elusive big cup draw (against a Leeds, Saints, Warrington or Bradford) at DW Stadium eludes us for an 11th season, despite only missing out on three out of 33 draws that could reward a home tie in those seasons. Bit galling that considering this is our third cup draw to Leeds in four years. Can't say you don't get cup draw luck!



Anyway my view is it could come down to goal kicking and in a few recent clashes at Headingley that department has ended up giving Wigan victory. Hope it continues. We've a good record at Headingley, even when we were a poor team under Noble, so I'm not going to be travelling over full of fear.

We won at Saints in 2005 during the play-offs,do you not remember Ali "Jack Lightening" Lauitiiti out-stripping the Saints defence to go full length?

Last year when there was a clash with the cricket, the stewards kept you away from the cricket (unless you had a ticket for the cricket too. I suspect they'll do the same on saturday.

Being voted the best player in an all conquering treble winning team suggests that you may be the idiot.

And what about in 2010?

You still think he's great? Or spent?

Almost spent, certainly not as good as he was in 06.

He wouldn't get walked over by Ade Gardner twice though, like the current England incumbent did on Friday.

True, that was pretty funny.

I'm not sure about that, he got walked over, under, round and through in Australia 2008.
And just to prove it wasn't an off day, he repeated it at Salford two weeks ago.

Let's all roll back the clock 4 years and hang on to distant memories........

He also went under the sticks in a rare GB victory over Australia in Sydney. Don't remember many other GB fullbacks doing that?

Radlinski shipped a few tries against Australia, wouldn't you agree? He may even, shock horror, have had a bad game against a poor team at some point in his career. Was he a great fullback?

Wellens certainly isn't a great player in 2010, I don't think any Saints fan would argue that.

Now you mention it I do remember that. Saints died in the play offs that year though.

We've won one, at saints, in 2005. But to be fair, since we started winning titles we've never been in a situation where we've played in a must win away playoff game. All our knockout games have been at home, and the way we've played in some of them, i don't think home advantage would have made a difference. If leeds finish in 3rd or 4th, they will only need to win one away game to get to old trafford.

Wigans recent record at leeds is decent, in the league. But bar 2007, when it's been knockout leeds have tended to win.

You're right, he would have been five yards away chugging across the field at the pace of a canal barge...

To say that any team will run away with it is daft. That will only happen if one team really doesn't show up on another hot day and throw in the towel at the end.

I just want a close, exciting game more than anything. If we (Wigan) can pull it off then that lays down a serious marker on our part for the GF. Leeds win and they will get a huge confidence lift. Winner of this may well be up against Warrington for the cup imo.

See you Saturday, can't wait
Head says Leeds by 10
Heart says Wigan by 4....

Anyone know what the likely Leeds team will be for Saturday, injuries permitting?

From a Wigan perspective, we will be without Hansen, Roberts (still a couple of weeks away according to a recent interview), Mossop and probably Prescott.