dont take too much notice of the minority of wigan fans winding you up its only banter. what ever happend last year means nothing this year huddersfield are genuine contenders and everyone knows it. im expecting a very tough game friday and both teams will want to win wane will not allow players to take it easy the best team on the night will win see you all there.

God post at least 15 bites. Thank God we only play you twice a season so we dont have to put up with such a wit as yourself more often. In fact if you doubled your wit you would probably qualify as a half wit.

I'd play Broughton. He's likely to be a match winner, especially with Charnley out and no Richards.

Will be interesting to see how Wigan get on this season now that they done have the player that carried them last season

Joe Burgess has had a lot of hype and would be very wary of his threat and doubt he has Charnleys power but pace wise we do not want to be leaving our wingers exposed which is why I myself would go Murphy as he may not score 2 match winning tries (though he did there last season) but his saving tackles or putting off the player receiving the final pass could be more important than a bit of magic from Broughton.

Eh? Lockers didn't leave. If anyone carried us through our important games last season it was him, Flower, Green, Smith and McIlorum. Come to think of it, no one carried us, it was a team effort!

I'd go Murphy over Broughton, simply because he was superb last season and it would be unfair to drop him straight away for a new guy, as good a player Broughton is it should be Smurphs shirt to lose...

As a Wigan fan, when I read posts like this it just makes me cringe. Two seasons ago Wigan piled everything into finishing top and then ran out of steam come the play offs, if Hudds have learned the lessons Wigan did, you'll definitely be a threat, some of our fans just make me want to go AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH

Only some .!

Cant have a decent debate most of the time before the my dad is bigger than your dad brigade step in



See you all Friday

Regards , EW

Exactly. Opposition teams shouldn't pin their hopes on Tomkins not being in our side. He was very quiet all the way through the play offs and the grand final last year yet we still found ways to win. His presence was still valuable to us in those games as teams pay close attention to him (leaving space for others) but Bowen will come in and preform a similar role. Also when Hampshire gets a shot he'll take the league by storm.

As for Huddersfield, you've made some more solid signings and will again be very consistent. It's all about taking that next step now and winning one of the two big trophies. This year will be a good opportunity because I don't think Wigan or Wire will be quite as strong as they have been and you have a good record against Leeds.

Think i'd start with Big Eorl and Koppy for this game, we don't want to run the risk of Wigan dominating us from the off, going to be very interesting to see who Anderson starts with, Broughton, Smurf, Bailey etc and who's selected for the bench. Whether or not we win anything this season it's still a good time to be a Fartown fan, for the first time in my lifetime we've got the luxury of having quality players scrapping just to make the bench, and a fair few youngsters who should be knocking at the door for a starting spot in the not too distant future, who'd have thought this after watching us in the dark days at Arena 84 or whatever they called it, I'm enjoying every moment of it and long may it last, just wish my father was still around to share it with. If last seasons league games are anything to go by this is going to be another cracking game between two well matched teams.
It could and should be a humdinger of a game to start the new season, can't wait







Come on you [size=150GIANTS[/size

Well that's a new tactic.

I do, but because of the structure of the league it sadly means very little. You simply have to get into the playoffs and win. Doesn't matter where you finish as long as you get into the playoffs.

out of the 19 think wood and broughton will miss out last week mullally played long minutes with koppy if lunty needs a break always luke and move bailey when wood was on last week everything slowed down round the play the ball and he runs sideways too often

Well winning the league doesn't matter, be realistic everyone knows that. You just have to win enough games to get into the playoffs then begin your genuine form.

If you win the WCC you're regarded as the best club team in the world. Doesn't really get any bigger.

If the players were happy to lose as it didn't matter where you finished then hull would be top if the league every year!
If a team takes it like that then they must know they dont have the quality to play at the top level of RL for a full season.

I agree actually. However it is the way it is, and thats what we teams need to do to become champions in our sport.

Leeds really highlighted the weakness of the structure winning it from 5th.

Poeple might like the unpredictable nature of the playoffs, personally I'd sooner have a league where whoever wins is crowded champs. Then possibly a playoff system for another trophy like we had the premiership years back.

Or at least give the league winners a bye to the final.

Is this post for real?

I've never said a team's happy to lose. You're read into that. And no I don't think any team is happy to lose. But teams can rotate squads, players resting players to ensure the best players are fit and fresh for the 'business end' of the season. At times top players will be rested whereas if winning the league was the be all and end all they'd play.

You must be able to see that.

No need for name calling this is a place for discussion. And that's right you didn't I was highlighting that Wigan didn't need any excuses in that comp, as they won it.
Hudds didn't make it to the final. Wigan did, and won it.

I do actually. And you need to learn to expand on your responses to pinpoint your area of discussion, otherwise it's pointless.

Not being arrogant at all, just sticking to the facts. When it matters Wigan will beat Hudds. Because they can. We ended the season winning both comps, was this a fluke? Obviously not.
You did beat Wigan at home and all it got you was a contribution to the LLS, a comp which the top teams don't care about.
Hudds were always the team Wigan wanted in the playoffs, home or away as they're weaker than Leeds and Wire. (Which didn't matter anyway as we beat said teams to become champs)

Everything can be proven or disproven in isolation. Was Wigan's double a fluke??? Not really but Hull had the most inept Wembley showing in living memory and the Cherry and Whites were little better. They hit form in the play offs and were the best side for last September but most years that mantle goes to Leeds and doubt many Wigan fans would bow down to them year on year. If anything last season gave hope to any stuttering side with injuries as Wigan needed no excuses when the odds were against them but momentum is key in sport and once on a roll Wigan hit the jackpot. If circumstances are similar and they repeat the feat is a totally different matter but their youngsters might make success breed success and they might not stutter into the play offs at all.

This is the same nonsense that Leeds fans were spouting up until 2013 about not caring about the league and peaking for the playoffs.

In reality the playoffs are a cup competition and as such any team in them can win, albeit that they are supposed to be stacked towards the higher finishing teams.

Was Wigan's winning of both Trophies a fluke. No but equally there were plenty of moments where fate was on their side.

In the CC Wigan played Leigh, Hull KR, Widnes,London and Hull. The easiest path to a Challenge cup victory ever. The games may not have been flukes but the draw was.

In the Playoffs they peaked at the right time. Everyone was trying to do this and Wigan did it best it. But did Shaun Wane want to go into the playoffs in the shocking form Wigan were in. of course he didn't.

In any event all that is history. let's see who has bragging rights at the end of the season.

Most intelligent people can follow the thread of a debate without needing the obvious pointing out.

So if you do know the difference between fact and opinion

You must just be a big fat troll then.