We have won the league though. There is no argument to be had there.

DAMN YOU! I'm starving now!

This argument is just getting ridiculous now.

The simple fact is, we have finished top of the league. Now, the point to make here is that the league CHAMPIONSHIP is not based on first past the post right now. We have won a piece of silverware for finishing top, but it is not the [ileague championship[/i, under the current competition rules that is decided by a playoff series.

Trying to argue that we're league champions for finishing top will gain a lot of sympathy from generic sports fans in this country (most of our top line sports, particularly football, wouldn't dream of deciding a league championship on a knock-out basis after having 27 rounds of hard slog), but ultimately, the competition layout is simple and easy to understand, and I've got to say I'm genuinely embarrassed by some of the arguments being put forward on here.

In addition to the point above, I can already predict, probably almost word for word, the discussion I'll be having with the people I share an office with on Monday morning. I gather it will go something like:

Them: So you've finished top then, but you've not won the championship?
Me: No, it's decided on a playoff system, it's a time honoured tradition in Rugby League - we only had FPTP from the 1974 season onwards and in 1998 we reverted back to a playoff system to decide who the champions are
Them: That's utterly ridiculous!
Me: I agree, originally we used a playoff system because logistically it was incredibly difficult for teams to play each other home and away, transport between the pennines before the motorways was slow, costly and you ended up with a disjointed season where it wasn't a true home/away fixture list, so a playoff system was the only fair way to decide who were champions at the end of the season
Them: But that's no excuse to have it layed out that way now
Me: I agree. I'd prefer FPTP but I can't argue that it provides an absolutely excellent end of season show piece. The season ends with a climax, instead of the championship being decided with weeks or maybe even month(s) still left in the fixture list.
Them: But that's what cup competitions are for.
Me: Yes, but unfortunately historically the challenge cup final was on the "jewel in the crown" protected events, which left Sky unable to bid for exclusive rights to screen it. Also, it was and perhaps still is extremely difficult for the RFL to try and schedule the cup competition in a way that it culminates in September, because the early-participants from BARLA and so on still play their seasons in winter.
Them: Bloody sky at it again!

And so on and so forth.

Not forgetting another memorable try assist from Sean O'loughlin to hand Richie Myler a try at the DW.

this thread just shows why some wire fans cant be taken serious in the rugby league world!

firstly, well done on winning the hub cap, youve been the most consistant team over the regular season and played some very good rugby! however the league is only won on the 8th october... anybody who thinks different is clearly talking out their backsides!

Wonder if Wigan fans will sing that song if we don't win Grand Final? Can see them getting laughed at if they do.

The league is just that the league.

Grand Final is the Grand Final

The 1980-1981 season was one that I will never forget. We went to Leigh just requiring a win. Dessie scored the winning try for Leigh. The score ended at 7-11. The league winners went to Bradford.
We did win 2 cups that year though. The Lancs cup & the John Player.

Some people are embarrassing themselves on here. The Superleague Champions will be crowned at OT on 8th October. The competition is split between a 27 round league, where the team finishing top win the League Leaders Shield, and a Play off competition involving the top 8 teams. The winners of this are the Superleague Champions.

Warrington have finished top of the table after the 27 round league phase and will collect a trophy for winning it. There are no more points awarded in this part of the competition. It's over, finito, terminado.

Simples.

i agree... you would think we had finished top of the table or something... i mean 'wire winning the league'.... what an absurd suggestion.

Correct mate and for some Wire fans saying other teams fans are having a go is ridiculous.

We won the LLS three times but we wasn't Champions as Bradford and then Leeds won the league/Grand Final.

History will say whoever wins the GF on Oct 8th will be Champions.

There are plenty of non Wire fans trying to say that we have won nothing which is obviously wrong.

I agree mate and they are wrong.

Wininng the LLS is a fantastic achievement and should be applauded.



I would say it should be the be all and end all but it isn't,which for me is wrong.

I agree. I have no problem with a Play off competition either but after using the top 4/8 teams from the League table I would have no further link between them. It would also 'tidy' things up as well.

I think the issue of dispute is the word "Champions".

When we won the two Challenge Cups there were a lot of Wiganers/Saints fans objecting to people saying "Challenge Cup Champions" (which is why I put it in my signature all year, to annoy them every time they saw me post on the forum), because you couldn't call yourselves champions just through winning a competition where you have to win 2 or 3 games against credible opposition and it just comes down to who can play well on a one off game, champions mean you have to prove yourself as the best over the league season.

Thats what we have now done, become league champions.

Of course we now have a formidably tough competition, where the draw is rigged in our favour so we get Huddersfield at home, then if we win that, we get to CHOOSE our next opponents, also at home, and then go straight to the final if we win. A daunting task...worthy of CHAMPIONS.

I hope that one day, if we're not involved, the team win that finish 8th go on to win the Grand Final. It'll make a mockery of the whole competition if a team who win 13 games in the season lift the trophy at the expense of a team who have won 22.

No doubt Sky will lap it up.

In Australia Canterbury Bulldogs won it from 6th one year, back when they had Brett Dallas, Simon Gillies, Darren Britt and those guys. They knocked out 7th placed St George, 3rd placed Canberra and 2nd placed Brisbane in the playoffs then beat 1st placed Manly (coached by Bobby Fulton) in the final.

From what I remember the press didn't whinge about it being a mockery, the Bulldogs got a lot of credit for winning one game after another against the odds. They dominated Manly in the GF.

not as devistated as you when you got bums well and truely slapped by us the other week...

love this thread!!!



Congrats on winning the shield wire and for what its worth I was made up when we won it last year and do think that the team who's better throughout the season and wins more games should win the league but sadly that's nit the rules anymore.

no one is saying it isnt... we're just saying we have won the league... which we obviously have.

If you mean '95 then the regular season wasn't as we would have one over here. 20 teams playing 22 games each. I'm sure in the scenario I mentioned, the English press wouldn't say anything either, but they have their own agenda.

Congratulations on winning the league leaders shield. Well deserved with the fantastic rugby that you have played all year and also having the best defence means that you were the best team in the regular rounds.

I have read this thread and for all those who insist that Warrington have won the league

For the past 12 years which team has been crowned the Super League champions, the team that finished first or the Grand Final winners?

For the past 12 years which team has been presented with the Super League trophy in recognition of being Super League champions, the team that finished first or the Grand Final winners?

Which team, as a reward of having the title of Super League champions, then goes on to play in the World Club Challenge, the team that finished first or the Grand Final winners?

We won the league get over it.

And am well aware "Super League champions" means winning the Grand Final.

Just like winning the league means finishing top after 27 rounds.

Its not hard.

It is to some,depending on which team you follow ie Wigan or Saints.

Am off to the club shop to buy my We have won the league Tee shirt..