From a personal POV, losing to Warrington would be horrendous. Alot of my mates are Wire fans (and bitter ones at that). They cannot stand Saints and despite winning the Cup 2 years on the bounce, the fact they can't beat us plays on their minds constantly. They are obsessed by us and they did their upmost to wind me up after the last 2 Challenge Cup Finals and Grand Finals, because they finally got one over on me.

Whilst losing to Wigan is painful and last year's Grand Final was awfully difficult to take, at least the Wiganers didn't rub it in that much. If Warrington beat us in a knock out game or a final, my life wouldn't be worth living for a few days / weeks. I'd have to turn off my phone and bury myself in a cave.

You mean Blob that when they rolled away that big rock from the tomb, it wasn't you had been resurrected?
And here's me believing all those years that you were the one to worship.

No, that was him. That was the last time Warrington beat us.

I'd agree with that. But then I wasn't an active fan when the Pies were giving us a drubbing on a regular basis in the 80s and early 90s so my overriding memory of Wigan has been in Superleague and for most of that time Wigan have been poor to crap. By contrast, Warrington -v- Saints has taken on a life of its own as a fixture and those two last minute drop goal endings by Longy are up there with my favourite matches.

I'm not sure how I will feel when we do finally lose to Warrington - as I suspect we will in 2011, now that Cunningham has gone - other than it was fun while it lasted! It can't last much longer, surely? (Not that I will mind if it does, you understand, as the ongoing hoodoo is definitely part of the attraction!)

I felt extremely bad when Wigan beat us at the Grand Final in 2010 but not as bad as I would have felt had it been Leeds for a fourth time. That would have been humiliating beyond words (it was humiliating enough anyway) and would have also given our fiercest rivals of recent times a record to rub in our wounds, which Leeds fans would have gladly done. However, that doesn't mean I want Wigan to win in 2011. I don't. And if the two of us turn up in a final again, I would hate it very much if they beat us.

Loving it.

Beating Wigan is always satisfying. Even when the Pies were really at their worst, and Saints were completely dominant, there was still some pleasure to be had there. But the real passion for it had faded. Back in 1996-2002, beating Wigan was as sweet as nectar each time, after the miserable previous decade. After 2002, it seemed less important, and less relevant than beating Leeds or Bradford. Then Bradford declined, and only Leeds were left who I really cared about beating. I could never motivate myself to care as much about beating Wire. So it's good to have the Pies back to a place where beating them means something, rather than is just a pleasant expectation.

On the other hand, the sensation of losing to them has never changed - I hate it. Always hate it. I'm in a foul temper for at least 48 hours after each loss. The wife and kids know to avoid giving me an excuse to be stroppy at those times. Losing to any other club pales by comparison. I recover from defeats by other teams much faster.

Could not have put it better myself.

I'll be worried about Wigan again in 2022 as they win the Grand Final only once every 12 years. And that's with salary cap breaches. (Saints breaches were entirely honourable and forgiveable of course).

Prior to last season, getting beaten by Wigan in the SL was like being called names by a 3-year old: you take with good humour because they don't understand what they're saying. Last year, it was more like being beaten at chess by a 6-year old: embarrassing, but then you know that will probably be their high point in their lives.

I[m joking of course because the bite has never left the fixture. I remember pre-SL Wigan-Saints games in detail I don't for other fixtures. I even remember the weather for flip's sake!

So, what's it like to get beaten by Wigan? It's like a scream that echoes down your years and never quite goes away, even when you win.

LOL

You need to get your facts right. There were no salary cap breaches by Wigan in 1998 and 2010.

Wigan finished top in 2000 with Saints 2nd. Saints went to win the GF. Two challenge cup finals since 1996. Not since the start of super league ............ mmm you have a selective memory.

Exactly! Even when Wigan breached the salary cap - ie in years other than 1998 and 2010 - they STILL didn't win the GF.

What was it I said about being name-called by 3-year olds....

The nice thing about winning is, Rogues goes on holiday


The worst thing about losing is, Rogues cancels his pre-booked holiday

I'm missing the forthcoming one in Cardiff as we're in Tenerife.
However the last two I've missed whilst on holiday were 1996 at Central Park (when Boston & Voll) led the teams out and 1998 at Swansea (didn't Bobby(ie) Goulding get sacked after that after an altercation with a fan at the team hotel?)

Wigan won both those games, a good omen for Cardiff.

Many thanks for all your help. Best responses will hopefully go into the Millennium Magic programme.

Have missed your blog, Chris!

when they were good and cheated in the olden days, it used to mean everything.

in recent times it's still been great, but didn't mean as much, because they were rubbish.

this year I suppose it will be good again as they have got a bit better.

Not sure, but I remember Karl Hammond playing out of position in the centres and Connolly eating him for breakfast. There was no chance of McCrae getting a new contract after that day IIRC.

Some really top replies on here, and the same on the Wigan board.

Nice to see (apart from the odd few) agree that Warrington are just trying to pretend there both our main rivals when really, there is only one real derby in SL.

Hope for a good un in Cardiff.