Aside from the two predictable week one blow outs, this must surely go down as the best play off series in years. Since those two games, the only one that has been won by more than one score was Cas V Wires, and even that only had two points in it midway through the second half. To some extent it's a shame that it's changing, but those two week one blow outs do highlight the need to reduce the format a bit and get rid of the second chances, and at least next year's 1v4 and 2v3 semi finals will be straightforward and hopefully competitive.

Surely there has never been a season when league position has been so tight though. On Thursday night it's 1v7, and although Saints are clear favourites, I don't think anyone is writing Catalan off anywhere near as much as they ordinarily might in that scenario. Everyone seems to think Wigan are the strongest team left in the competition, but we had them on the ropes three weeks ago and if we had managed to hang on 'til the final bell it would have been them that finished fifth and us second. It really was that close. As it is though, we're now ultimately in the same position. Yes, Wigan have had a stroll in the park and then a rest week so they should be less bruised than us, but we've had two must win games and got the job done so we should be battle hardened and ready. We will also have had a full eight days to rest and prepare by the time Friday night comes which really should be enough.

If that Wigan away result had gone the other way I have no doubt that we would have beaten Hudds and Wigan would have beaten Widnes and Cas. Saints wouldn't have chosen Wigan so we would be playing them this Friday, with the only difference being home advantage. Both teams have proved they can win on the other's ground in the last few seasons though. Wigan are favourites, yes, but they're not this big scary team some people seem to think. They very nearly finished fifth. Now let's get the job done that we really should have for the last three years and here's hoping for a 5v7 Grand Final with the Champions coming from fifth for the third and last time.

NOW THE WIRE

come on the wolves !

COTMW!

Yes, Tiocfaidh ár lá , as you would probably say Murphy.

more importantly DM, what will you be wearing for the match?

Last time I posted about that it got deleted and I got threatened with the ban hammer. If we lose I'll post a clobber update in a sulk on the train home because I won't want to come on here for months then anway.

Isn't it a different game when there's something to play for and intensity something we've all been crying out for, let's hope it continues all through next season as that is what the new format is intending to create, plus we get better value for our season tickets.

Hopefully it will. I don't think that it's a coincidence that the best play-off games have been the sudden death ones. at least every game next year will mean something.

So its a great playoff series because its exciting and unpredictable?

Great, that will address the low falling crowd attendances that we have seen all year because fans are voting with their feet and are switched off because SL has become a meaningless competition with a lottery at the end.

I've got an idea for an exciting format. Top 8 teams qualify and then all teams draw a number out of the hat from 1 to 8, the team that draws the number 1 is crowned champions. That would keep everyone on the edge of their seats till the final act of the season.

I am sure that if Catalans beat us in the Grand Final everybody will accept how wonderful it is for the game that a team that finishes 7th can be crowned champions.

Surely the rounds of the Challenge Cup are just as sudden death as the play offs so should be just as tense. We all know why the gates are down for the play offs & the CC .....lack of money on the fans part & the constant fixture changes. May be an all inclusive season ticket would work wonders to cover every game.

Maybe fans should save money by not buying a season ticket and watching meaningless games and instaed just go to the exciting and unpredictable CC and Play off games

Those aren't the true fans.

True fans turn up through thick and thin, through meaningless fixtures and sudden death.

If we make it to the Grand Final and 30,000 Warrington fans decide to buy tickets for Old Trafford I have one question: where were you when we were smashing London by 70 odd points in the sunshine?

Quite true but they won't be reading this forum

Warrington haven't got 30,000 fans. I don't think any English RL club has.

That's why these games don't pick up loads of casual supporters who whatever reason don't go regularly throughout the year, but then view the big play off games as unmissable. That happens in Australia which is why their play off attendances go up. There are very very few casual rugby league fans in this country. Yes, the Grand Final and Challenge Cup Final themselves attract more fans of each club than any of them ever get for home games, but loads of those people are going along with friends or family for the big occassion.

None of the clubs are really all that well supported, and all extra games - play offs, cups, Magic, and indeed internationals - all count on the same pool of "customers" turning up. Only a certain percentage will attend absolutely everything, and there is no one else to fill the gaps they occassionally leave.

Firstly if 30,000 had turned up to watch us batter London in the sunshine a lot would have been disappointed
Secondly if just the die hards turn up at Old Trafford if we're lucky enough to get there it'll make for a sorry sight
I have no intention of going to the game tomorrow night but I will be the first to claim my ticket for the GF if we get there
I have my reasons for selecting my games as do a lot of fans and nobody whether they go to one game a year or never miss one need to justify themselves to anyone.
Am I a true fan?........who knows?
I hardly missed a Warrington game from the mid 1970s to the late 1990s. In that time I've had my car stolen in Huddersfield been involved in a pile up in a blizzard on the Pennines been arrested in Workington and had my head kicked in at Salford. I've followed my team to the south of France and I probably have more replica Warrington tops than most. Am I a true fan?....who knows?
I'll be a bag of nerves tomorrow and if the game is close towards the end I'll be hiding behind the sofa or turning over and watching Knots Landing. I'll be absolutely over the moon and will get bladdered if we win and I'll be despondent and downhearted and will get bladdered if we lose!! Am I a true fan?.........Who knows?
What I do know is that we should embrace anyone who turns up and cheers us on at any game. If you want to attend every game we play well bully for you!! I turn up when I can or more so when I want to. I'm a massive fan of Warrington and couldn't care two hoots if anyone thinks that by not turning up ay every game I'm not!!

What a hero!

People make the effort for finals too, I'm working next Saturday, if Wire don't make it I'll miss the final completely as I'll have no access to it.
If Wire make it I'll move heaven and earth to get there.
If this was just a normal game for Wire then again I would miss it, it's way to much hassle and currently I am bare bones in my current account.
People just make the effort.

I also wonder if you only counted someone once, how many individual Wire fans would walk in the HJ in one season, 20k?

Obviously there's no way to know, but it will be less than that I reckon. About 15-16,000 if that.

We only get big crowds (14-15,000) at games with big away supports there too.

Lol...no more! I used to be young!! I do have one signed by the great Murph himself, I have one that was worn by John Dalgreen and I've got a bobble hat signed by Geoff Clarkson and Wilf Briggs!!

Well I think you have to look on the bright side, Salford don't have enough fans to beat you up these days.

I was just thinking what do you have to do in Workington to get arrested. When I was last up there, (last 90's granted) it was a cross between the Wild West and The Hill's Have Eyes!

Urinating in a litter bin swung it for me!! Mind you that was in the late 70's I think it'd probably be ok now!!

Surely a true fan is one who still cringes when he hears Wire being referred to as 'Wolves'??......