So after last night's brilliant intense encounter, do people still think that the game meant nothing? Those who stayed at home for said reason, how gutted were you not to have been there?

Just think how good it would have been if it mattered! No seriously, it was as good a game as I've seen in the past few years. Wigan and Wire are the new 'big 2' in terms if producing the best spectacles in the last few seasons.

You cannot combine the two.

The quality of the game has very little to do with it's importance to the season.

It was a good game but it still means sweet FA come the end of the season.

You could argue if we'd have won or lost, either way it wouldn't have mattered come the end of the season, which is a shame

Really? In that case, why not lose all the games as they don't matter?

Silly comment.

It's a bit like saying "I don't need lot's of money"

"Oh in that case why not give all your money away"

It was a great game and a great atmosphere but really it is what I expect given I pay good money for a season ticket.

The debate will rumble on about what the league means but it is necessary that all clubs respect the league competition to give the fans their monies worth. I will spend far more time watching league games than play off games and the idea I should be content with under strength sides being put out so the team can save itself for the play offs is nuts.

If the clubs approach the season like Wigan and Wire did last night and don't play the percentages then they will have done right by the fans. It will also reinforce my opinion that if they do so that the LLS and a pat on the back is insufficient reward for so much effort over so many games given finishing high up the ladder is such scant reward in itself.

I wouldn't have thought this would need explaining but....the games between the top teams don't really matter as they are just jockeying for what position they will be in come the end of the qualifying rounds. The rest of the competition is that poor we should still finish comfortably within the top 4 or 5 and as has been evidenced from the last 2 seasons it doesn't really matter where you finish as you're still in with a chance.

Just out of interest, if Wigan finish fourth or fifth this season - and still don't win the Grand Final, will that put a big question-mark against this new pet-theory?

Simple, just give the winners of the LLS a place in an extended 4 team WCC, something to actually play for.

Not for me, I don't think this squad is good enough regardless. As for "new pet-theory", I've always been against the play-offs but the last two years have really shown them up for the joke that they are. However that is just my opinion.

But it seems that this is trying to have the cake as well as eat it.

If we finish top and fail to win the Grand Final, the explanation is that the play-offs dictate against teams who work hard all season.

But if we finish fifth (in other words we don't work hard all season) and still fail to win the Grand Final, the explanation is that the squad is not good enough!!!

I agree that the play-offs, in their current form, are nonsense. But I simply can't accept that the solution to Wigan's recent non-title run is to take it easy for a third of the season.

The thing is though if we win finish top as daft as it sounds it doesn't necessarily mean we are the best team as the play-off format allows teams to throw games eg Wire prior to challenge cup final last year so it's not a true reflection. I would never want Wigan to do this and want us to win every game.

I could see an argument 15 years ago for the play-offs as only a couple of teams could win the league but I think there are enough teams now capable to make a fight to finish top a true contest and be crowned worthy champions rather than giving it to the form side in September.

Could you imagine if they had play-offs in football. That Aguero goal would have meant nothing! They will stay though because I accept I'm in a minority with this view and the RFL make too much money out of it.

That was a superb game last night and a great advert for the sport. That advert is then ruined when you explain the top 8 format.

If we played under a top 5 system then that game WOULD have mattered because each position counts in the old top 5 far more than it does now.

Surely the objective of the season from Wane will be to be finish top (or as close to it as possible) whilst keeping the squad fresh towards the back end of the season through smarter player rotation?

Or is that just too simple?

No because the two things are not mutually dependent.

You are missing the point.

The finishing position is irrelevant (assuming a top 8 finish). It's the state and form of the team at that particular point in time that is the issue.

Really, the game is either meaningless or has meaning. It's nothing like your random analogy, the point lost/gained yesterday could mean a difference in position come the end of the season, imagine if it's the difference between 1st and 2nd, I know which I would prefer regardless of the devaluation of the LLS.

So, points don't matter against the top teams. Assuming the top 6 I guess that's 10-12 points in 2012 that could have been thrown away rather than compete for them putting Wigan in 6th at best.

I would much rather see the team come out of the blocks winning games as this then allows for a bad patch, or a less frantic build up to the end of the season.

I think there's a good few who take position for granted as in their minds Wigan are so much better than the rest, but it doesn't take much to see doom and gloom around the props/half backs/centre and not that long ago doubt that Wigan would do well at all this season.

As far as the "doesn't matter where you finish", what's been proven over the last 10 years is that top two or fifth are the places to be. Not competing isn't going to magically deliver these places.

Even the top 6 system we had where 1st and 2nd got a week off then played each other in the semi final to get to the final, with the losers still getting a chance the week after. Back then, it was a challenge for even 3rd to get the the final, let alone win it!! Now, it's easier to get to the final from 5th than 1st or 2nd.

See my post immediately above this.

Saying games are meaningless is a crap excuse for not attending.

Do you really think if the premiership had play offs that liverpool And Manchester United fans would say "ah well, doesn't matter if they beat us, we"ll play em again at the end of the season". Where has the passion and rivalry gone in this sport at all!!! As long as 17 lads represent Wigan against 17 lads representing Warrington/saints/leeds IT MATTERS.

I'd go to this game if we were in 13th and 14th respectively, last game of the season with nothing riding on it and still look forward to it like i did on Friday.

Excellent. Thanks for that information, I'm pleased for you.

Now what exactly does it have to do with the topic?

For what exactly? It's very clear that 3rd/4th positions are a disadvantage as the teams there are immediately into playing the top two away. Below 5th is also a disadvantage, 5th has the advantage of home against the weakest of the top 8 and then onto playing the top 4 after they have just had a few battles.

Do you really think a really well prepared 6th-8th team would defeat a similarly well prepared top two?

How would not bothering in the first few games of the season impact the teams ramp up to the GF? With the exception of the 5th place finish which seems to carry an advantage over 3rd/4th the placing in the tables there is clear advantage to completing the season higher up the rankings:

2012 - 2nd v 5th
2011 - 3rd v 5th
2010 - 1st v 2nd
2009 - 1st v 2nd

Looking at the protagonists for the history of the eight team system would suggest that entry to the GF is best when in 2nd place, then first and fifth. Winning the GF is a tie between the first place team and the fifth place team, oh and the first placed team get the LLS which is somewhat devalued but worth more than not getting it.

So, on the whole from what the results and rewards are a placement of first in the league has an equal change of a GF win as fifth but also carries the additional prize of the LLS.