I was annoyed when I left the stadium, what a prospect gone to waste, with the correct marketing; heritage day (I'll discuss that later) top v second with the winners taking the top spot, lancs v yorks, even a non-rugby sports fan has to take notice and watch what has to be a mouth watering clash between two top teams...

This sadly was not to be.

Due to the nature of the playoff system, all in all this game means very little, what should have been a 'do or die' fixture was merely a pointless showcase which doesn't stop either team finishing the league as Champions, regardless of the outcome.

This once upon a time would have beat a fixture every player wanted to play in, teams rushing their star players back as they had to win at all costs, instead what we witness was quite the opposite, some of our star players (arguably our two best players) rested.

Suddenly the mouth watering 'do or die' clash seems a little less appealing. No doubt sports fans would have quickly realised the lack of importance of the game and not bought into the great game we all love. The lack of RL's golden boy no doubt set alarm bells ringing as fans decided to switch over or worst, watch on to that game was an example of Rugby League.

I long for the 'good old days' when winning the league actually means something.


I will be back watching the sport, I'm a born and raised Wiganer, but maybe the fan who decided to give RL a chance...won't.

I also personally thought the heritage day missed a beat. A retro shirt made by ISC with sales going to a charity would have been superb, similar to how the club supported Joining Jack last year.

Hull have had 2 extra kits this season, I believe this was a missed chance to raise money for a charity with a unique shirt tied into the heritage theme.

It was also an oxymoron .

The club was offering 'discount' tickets to raise the gate, and then 'rest' top players.

You couldn't make it up.

Well said that man.

I assume you've not read any of the other posts from your fellow fans with regard to last nights game?, you know, all those others posters expressing their obvious disappointment at Wigans' performance last night?

It appears your in denial.

Brilliant post.

Good post LSOW.

I looked at Wanes post match comments expecting an apology for that pathetic performance and he just blames it on injuries. This from a man who consistently says we can field a competitive team with a raft of injuries.

The clubs marketing team did a great job to get over 19000 fans to watch a team who couldn't give a stuff!

Another nail in the coffin of RL in this country.

Well me personally, I very much enjoyed the game as I'm sure the rest of the neutral viewers did also. It was evident by the atmosphere in the ground and early jitters that both sides were 100% committed.

Wigan losing a game doesn't necessarily mean the end of RL.

We have no shortage of posters who are willing to see nothing but the bad in things...

problem with having a heritage shirt that would of tied in with the theme of it being the 1983 seaon is that it would be exactly the same as the kit we wear anyway or atleast as last seasons. its pretty difficult to make a heritage shirt when we are wear the traditional cherry and white hoops anyway the last two seasons. this may be possible next season, if i remember correctly we are having a non traditional kit next season in a 3 year cycle that was spoken about when the 2011 kit was released.

Get a grip.

I'm sure that if you'd won it would be a different story.

Read his post. Its nothing to do with us losing, its about the sport in general and how last night should have been a huge occasion.

When exactly were these 'good old days'? I've been watching RL since 1965 and I don't remember them. Before SL, no-one cared about the league, all the glamour, fame and money were in the Challenge Cup. Also, as many others have pointed out repeatedly, RL has, for the vast majority of its history, decided the Champions by a play-off system of one kind or another. Nothing new at all in the SL play-offs.

Last night was a great game between two fully committed sides which the better team won.

Well we certainly thought it was ......massive occasion for us , but i guess it depends on which team you support

And there others who stay positive to the point of delusion

19000 people obviously thought it was a big enough occasion to show up for. If your thick-as-pig coach didn't think it worth putting out a full-strength side then perhaps that's where you should point the finger. As ever a game that Wigan lose is meaningless, and not like the halcyon days where Wigan won.

I have just started the same debate on the Warrington board.

I will love to hear the teeth gnashing if St Helens end up winning the Grand Final after being utterly rank for most of 2013. They appear to be behaving rather 'Leeds like' at the minute....

Thing is though that Saints aren't being "Leeds like" at the minute. Leeds finished fifth because in the seasons in question they had other matters to concentrate during the regular season. Both years they peaked massively early in the season for the World Club Championship and reached the Challenge Cup Final in both seasons. Inevitably when you have games like those to play in you focus on them and if players are carrying knocks prior to them they will be rested (nothing new in that clubs have been doing that for years on end around the CC Final). Warrington have lost the game the week before their all their recent CC Finals, including a 50+ point drubbing by London and a home defeat to Wakefield, both those defeats potentially sacrificing the lead leaders shield, there were few complaints when the Challenge Cup was being lifted.

Saints are fifth because that where they deserve to be on performances (if not lower) either way they won't being winning anything and if anybody thinks different I've got plenty of money that I would be willing to back my assertion with.


The league leaders shield is ranked third of the three available trophies - that's a fact. However when Warrington won it is was massive for the players and the club. Nobody has accused Warrington of being in-consistent since then. The same as it will be massive for the Huddersfield club and fans if the they go on (as they should) and seal the top position. It will be no less important to them just because its easy for the fans of teams like Wigan and Saints (and unbelievably arrogant Warrington fans given our previous 50 years before the last 3) to talk down the importance of one of only three available trophies just because this year their team won't be winning it.

It was a full strength side. Both Lockers and Sam are injured.

Nice of you to be offensive, whilst i merely pointed out a fact... If the cap fits buddy.

There have plenty of occasions over that period. I remember well the Wigan v Widnes top of the table do or die clash in 1991? when 30,000 locked into Central Park for a sizzling match which had everybody on the edge of their seats for the whole game. That was the year Wigan played several games in just over a week and went into the Widnes game with most of the team carrying injuries. I remember that Andy Gregory was very doubtful but he was given several injections before the game and played! That was because it was vital to win the game. With the current SL set up there was absolutely no way Wigan were going to give ST injections and risk him before the CC final. How times have changed.

I think Hudds are a really good team and I enjoy watching their attacking flair. It will be great for them and the game if they can now go on and seal the LLS and possibly make the GF. Maybe a Wigan v Hudds GF would be an interesting end to the season but it would certainly have even more intensity than last nights game.

I think the old top 6 SL system was better because there was a real advantage finishing top and I feel sure that last night's game would have had even more intensity. Wigan are clearly aiming for the CC cup and GF this year having only won the LLS last season. Its such a shame that the current SL system, media and fans take some shine off finishing top because it is much harder than winning the CC and deserves much more credit. Having said that I take absolutely nothing away from Hudds who absolutely deserved to win last night.

Excellent post !!

Completely agree. Others who don't are either to hung up on when they've missed out previously or worried that they aren't good enough to win it in future.

My post wasn't about Wigan, or the game, they are simply an example, a part of the bigger picture which is an ongoing problem, how the RFL is ran managed.
As much as I hate to say it, I see why Wane rested Sam and Lockers, winning the league used to mean something, now it doesn't.
Sadly fans are the ones who miss out, i'm pleased if some enjoyed the game (I'm thinking of it from a neutral perspective) but let's face it, it's never the game it should be if our two best players aren't playing.

If the league meant everything, they would have certainly played.

Wasn't that the year that Wigan rested 12 of their CC Final starting 13 for the game the week before the final?