This notion carried around by some that we should consider ourselves champions because we finished top is complete nonsense.

Everyone knows the structure of the competition before a ball is kicked and the team who plays in the best way to suit the structure will be the champions.

Finishing top is a great achievement and the hubcap will be a nice token gesture but no-one remembers who finishes top and rightly so in my opinion. The awarding of the League Leaders Shield should not be classed as the end of our trophy drought, only one of the two major trophies will do that.

Saints I believe finished top twice but went on to lose to Leeds at Old Trafford. How many people care that they were league leaders? Zilch - Leeds went on to lift the league championship.

It is both unfair and wrong to claim that finishing 1st now means far more than it does in reality purely because this is the year that Wigan are there.

We have given ourselves a terrific chance of making Old Trafford with our league position. That's what I'm celebrating and that's all I'm celebrating.

I agree, but I am loving the fact that Wire have lost.

Agreed. In an ideal world though, the season (before play-offs) would be longer and the rightful winners would be those sat at the top, and I'm not just saying that because we're top at the moment.

In my eyes the team who's been best for the longest period should be the champions. I'm not totally against the play-offs, but would prefer the league without them.

Anyway, onwards and upwards to Old Trafford!

Every team knows the score at the start of the year. Being top means very little in reality and we all know it.

I have a bad feeling Wire will be champions in 2010 despite not finishing top, but at the end of the day that is the rules and we all know it so fair play.

Really hope I am wrong by the way!

Probably not the time for a debate of the relative merits/demerits of the play off system (for the record, I'm all for the play offs) but I agree to an extent with the comments of the OP.

In so much that the champions are those lifting the Super League trophy in October at Old Trafford, there can be no argument, but regardless of our play off performance this year, we shouldn't let that cloud what has been a fabulous season for Wigan RL.

When Lenagan said a couple of years ago "judge us from 2010 onwards" he wasn't lying! A big well done to all the hard work that has gone on at this club especially this season, but also in the couple of seasons before hand.

I must admit that I predicted a Leeds vs Warrington GF a few weeks back.

Wigan are unfortunate that their reward for finishing top will be a tie with the champions. Leeds were playing poorly early in the year, had a shocking pitch to contend with and a lot of key injuries. Come the playoffs though, all of that will be out the window and we'll likely get the 2009 champions all guns blazing in the first round of the playoffs.

Wigan have every chance though don't get me wrong - there's just that nagging doubt that we may not quite have enough to get over the line in the critical games against the very top clubs, especially in respect of size in the forwards.

I feel this year will be a year too early.

Next year I really think we will take some stopping.

I think the past has shown that you can't just flick a switch and start playing top class rugby at a high level week in week out. Wire have shown they can't back up a top quality performance with another probably due to the size and age of their forwards and key players and despite the quality they've got the cup probably suits them better than the playoffs as it allows them to concentrate on raising themselves for the big games. Leeds players are all capable of putting in match winning performances but even since their squad situation improved they've been up and down and when hull have lost, giving them a chance to seize the chance of a top 4 spot they too have gone on to play poorly and lost. If they finish in the top 4 they are capable of beating us and going all the way but if they lose they could even lose to the team they play in the next round who will be playing with more confidence following their opening round win, they've lost far too many games against average sides but are still capable of beating the top sides on their day. After a poor start to the year Saints are going to be the ones to beat imo but they'll miss Eastmond and are reliant on some hold heads who will struggle to keep up the momentum required to win the GF. In top matches things have a tendency to even themselves out and we have had some narrow defeats against the top 4 due to injuries, a bit of rub of the green with decisions and bounce of the ball along with weather conditions and injuries to key players at bad times. With a full squad out and plenty of the free-flowing rugby we are capable of we are good enough to win the Grand Final and having seen how the wigan game affected Warrington I think we'll get to the final which could well come down to what happens on the day.

The main simple reason that RL can't even consider removing the playoff system is the lack of incentive that would arise for around 3/4 of the teams.

In the football premiership there is the title, CL, Europa League to aim for plus relegation to try and avoid. Not to mention the huge financial difference that exists in that sport for finishing just one place higher in the table.

This is why the top 8 exists and I have no problem with it - its just the format of the playoffs that I think could be better.

The play offs are here and here to stay we know the rules at the start of the season.

Some of you pies really are reading too much into last week and this week.

They need to change the play-offs from top 8 to top 6.

It is an impressive achievement to top the table after the regular season especially with almost the same set of players that could not find that level of consistency under noble.

I would actually change the top 8 to a top 7 and give the champs the first week off.

It would mean that every game is pure knockout rather than the top 4 playing for position and makes the season one week shorter.

The champions will be the team running around OT in October. Being League Leaders gets us an advantage in the play-offs and that's all.

I think we will make the gf this year will we win it? mabye not

I want leeds to finish 4th so we get them at home think about the rest time we will have over them it has shown over the last 3 seasons what a big advantage it is and this year it's a turn around

Plus the fact we get to choose who we want in the eliminator if one of the bottom 4 get through it's such a big advantage and will be snapped up but i do agree this season is a learning curve and madge knows it next season we are going to be scary

Fully agree with the OP and have had this discussion several times.

If we finish top and fail to win the GF then yes it will have been a successful season but we won't be the champions. Those are the rules unfortunately. Saints have finished top the last 4 years but have won the GF once.

To finish top will be a great boost and should give the whole club huge confidence but I agree that without the grand final win it'll be quickly forgotten. It's a shame in a way that the play off system has changed because we won't quite get the same advantages for it that we would have a couple of years back. We still may have to play 3 games to get to the final and thats always a tough ask in play offs as we've found out before.

Still we can't complain too much. We look like having at least 2 huge nights to come at the DW stadium and i'm looking forward to those. To get to Old Trafford would be awesome but it will be tough.

Whoever finishes top should win the Superleague trophy, whoever finishes in the top 4 should face the top 4 from the NRL in a World Club Challenge two weeks after the grand final with both grand finals on the same day, whoever finishes bottom should be relagated.

There should be no rewards for mid table mediocre teams such as Hull Kr, Salford, Wakefield in getting into the play offs after being rubbish all year.

Looking at Hulls run in......

Harlequins (A)
Crusaders (H)
Warrington Wolves (A)
Leeds Rhinos (H)

You would have to assume they'd win the first two then lose to Wire, assume Leeds win all their remaining games (except against us) that last match becomes the decider for 4th spot.

Much rather face Hull, and I dont think its a foregone conclusion that they won't finish 4th.

Given the excellent signings we have made, Hock coming back into the side and our young players maturing, every other club will be in fear of what Wigan will do next season. We're top of the league and in great shape for the play-offs but I almost can't wait for next season!

There is nothing wrong with us knowing we are the best team in the league, like we have been so far. I still remember saints of 08 and 07 being better than Leeds even thought they were not champions. Anyone claiming to be champions though is just silly.

course we are, might as well milk it while we can we've got Leeds next week

In an ideal world we'll get Hull at home then a choice of who we play to get to the final. I really dont want Wire in the final if we get there as I think there pack is superior to ours, as is the bench. However if Wire end up playing Saints I have a feeling Saints still have the indian sign over Wire and id back us to win it providing Wire get knocked out.

I agree with about Saints still having the indian sign over Wire. Hull at home is wishful thinking it will be Leeds but you will win that one. Who will take final any one of the four for me hope its Wire but as said before Saints still have the indian sign over us. At least you have won some thing this year as last year with us it will help you kick on.

I actualy think we might win it this year. were as good and better than the teams around us . fingers crossed hey