I've never known a Wembley week like this before. Very few flags in windows, same with ribbons on car aerials. No mention of how many tickets we have sold (which is probably a bad sign), and expectation at an all time low. We certainly need a moral boost.

A total contrast to 10 years ago. We were like kids before Christmas

This feels more like going back to work after a fortnights break

To be honest nobody thinks we're gonna win, even most of our fans so i think that's playing a part in it.

No ribbons on car aerials? That may be down to the fact that not many cars have aerials these days. Nevertheless, I get your point, even this forum is surprisinhly quiet wrt to the final. Back in 1974, the whole town centre appeared to be dressed in P&B - today it's only a handful of locally owned shops. I'm just hoping to see more enthusiasm and more P&B on the journey down on Saturday.

2009 was crazy.

Relentless disappointment (6 final losses) takes its emotional toll. Hard to get up for it when all you're thinking about it the likely pain.

No one is daring to dream, no one wants to let down the defences and suffer the seemingly inevitable pain of defeat.

Everyone is trying to play it cool. "We won't win". "It's the GF that matters". "We've had it without Austin". But come kick off time the little flame of hope and belief that we all have will flicker into life, but for how long?

Wires have let me down on plenty of occasions, but they've also surprised me often too, producing performances and results that defied logic, form and the skills of those in the P&B.

Predictably unpredictable, ragged, down but not out and with nothing to lose on the greatest stage of all. I smell blood.

Great post

"Alexa, define Warringtonian"

I reckon I am a bit saturated and non plussed about Wembley this time, just wanting it over with, hopefully positively, but wanting to move on into the GF play offs.

Last year the coach journey was awful as Euston was closed, and there was an accident on the M1 going down.
Then all the coaches stopped at the same services resulting in chaos and queues for the gents of 100m long.
I said I would never coach it again after that, but just as the inkling was twitching a health flare up means I cannot go anyway.

Believe Euston is open this year, so hope you all get a good journey.

Like it

Love it, great summary.

The days in which both finalists would take 30,000 plus to the Final are long gone. We at Wigan used to take half the town to Wembley and win

and the town would be full of cherry and white! Nobody wants to know now.

Can’t beat a good Hovis loaf

Thing is with wembley visits - you never know how long you will need to wait for the next one. Imagine going in '74 then '75 then having to wait 15 years then another 19. Make the most of it.

I for one am well up for it.
I'm convinced we will win.

2016 & 2018 we were favourites to win it. This year given how we’ve been playing, the results, the injury doubts and the fact we are playing the best team in the league...this week has very anticlimactic feel about it compared to previous years..

Which is a shame but I suppose you have to be realistic as to where we are as a team at the minute, which currently is a rather nervy slippery slope.

I don't live in the town so can't judge the local enthusiasm. Let's not forget, though, that in 1974 we were going to Wembley for the first time in 20 years, and in 2009 we were going to Wembley for the first time in 19 years, with a chance to win the cup for the first time in 34 years. Then we were on a roll for 2010 and 2012, arguably the best team in the comp for those three years. Defeats in 16 and 18 still meant we were going back to Wembley. So Saturday means six cup finals in eleven years. When you add our slump in form I can understand why excitement is low.
As someone whose first cup final was 1974, so I feel those 34 years, I will be there on Saturday because ( including the Wigan final in 1990 when we did not expext to win) after such a long spell away you start to think your club will never go to Wembley again. Win or lose on Saturday, I think most fans probably can't conceive of a new 34 year gap between cup wins, so what's wrong with missing one final when there will be many others? I don't take this view, so I will support the Wire in the final and come away win or lose knowing that, at the very least, reaching the final gives the club a financial boost. Most important: after my experience 74-2009 I would rather get to finals and lose them than not get to finals at all.

As neutrals its probably the final that we all wanted to see. However Warrington's remarkable slump in form has taken the edge off it slightly and I imagine most of us are now anticipating a comfortable Saints victory...…..er just as we anticipated a comfortable Wire victory last year!!
I remember how many people (me included) wrote you off before last years play off semi final!

Come on you Saints !

I'll enjoy the day, enjoy cheering the lads on, hope for a miracle but expect to lose.
I actually won't be that disappointed if we lose because ive seen absolutely nothing to suggest we can win - Austin or no Austin.
Nevertheless I'll really be rooting and cheering for them.

Perhaps an outbreak of van aerial disease.



This Hull fan is shouting for the underdogs good luck on Saturday.

I didn't know Northampton had a game this weekend, or that you had more than a passing interest in kick and clap (which I fear is what we shall be doing).

I think the fact that its Saints for me, their fans are the epitome of arrogance and are already insufferable on Twitter before a ball is even kicked. Team wise they are all healthy and in form and key players are fresh after numerous rests in the last few weeks.
We however are busted and in our form is awful..!

BUT imagine the Saints meltdown if we did nick this one ???

That's sport for you.

I remember going to murryfield. Saints were dead certs to win. Some Wigan fans did not bother to turn up leaving gaps in the Wigan end.

The pies were desperate many players out injured, even bringing a retiree back to play.

Saints have a stinker and lazurus radlinski turns a blinder.

It can happen, although clearly I'm hoping for a comfortable saints victory.

Also hoping on a GF this year is not a certainty at all. Warrington could still miss the playoffs

This mahoosive, hopeless underdog narrative does make me smile.

Looking through the squad Wire have released in order on the BBC website:

Ratchford - international and one of the best players in SL
Lineham - England Knights, scored the winner between the sides in the play-off semi
Goodwin - Top NRL player
Charnley - International, top 3 wingers in SL
Hill - International
D Clark - International
Cooper - International and NRL
Currie - Excellent young player Hughes - One of the best back rowers in SL for me
Murdoch-Masila - Very damaging player on his day
J Clark - NRL quality player
Patton - Weak link
Philbin - Destructive player, ripped Wigan apart last week
King - Decent player, nothing special
Akauola - International and NRL Livett - Good young player
Mamo - Very dangerous player
Davis - Doubt he'll play
Westwood - Spent force

Added to the fact Wire clearly have a strong side, they are playing a team who has done nothing but choke in big games in recent years.

I'm certain the game will be a close one - can't wait.