i thought defensively Wire were superb and carvell had a cracking game. but i have to agree with the wire fans that it wasnt their best performance of the season from what i have seen of them. if you look at the tries that were scored more often than not they were gifted field position due to our appalling handling skills and inablity to complete sets from within our own third. im confident we can still win super league and i hope it is against wire at OT.

We lost it in the pack, pure and simple. We let their forward be tackled on their own terms, to allow a quick play the ball. Whenever we ran the ball in, it was one man rugby at an angle with no aggression. It actually looked like we were playing in concrete boots.

Wigan need to get their heads together, get Wane on the forwards back all week and tear Crusaders an absolute new one.

Smith said before the game we need to take early chances and we did just that.

Think we did a number on Wigan

Was a risk by Smith given how light we was, be interesting to see how we go for it against Hull who are blowing teams away right now.

We'll be in it, but dont think our opponents will be Warrington!

Looking at it i do think you have a tougher game this weekend but i do think you will finish top. Though as we found out last season finishing top means sod all if you dont win your first play off game.

In terms of the play off, of course you are correct. However, IMO finishing top proves you have been the best team in the league. If Warrington beat Hull I will be acknowledging them as such through gritted teeth whilst hoping the pressure that accompanies the achievement brings them down.

OFC if Wire finishes top makes them the best side this season. But its no gurantee of winning the GF especially if you lose the first play off game.

when briers plays wire will win no matter who the opposition is. you guys need to pray he does not play against you in the GF (if you get there).

IF wire lose on friday, and we win, then does that mean we have been better than warrington all season? I don't think it does.

I'd agree!

putting bias and our rivalry to one side id say there hasnt been much to choose between us all season, theres definitely a gap opening up between us and the rest though

Not really, no. Right from the botched kickoff, it was obvious that we were mentally and physically a long way below par. Most of the important handling errors were unforced, both in attack and defence.

It would be theft of the highest order, Warrington have been the best in the league this season by a reasonable distance for me.

I would be immensely happy if it happened though, the trolls might go quiet, for a few days at least!

I'd disagree with that. We (Wire) have been very very good for most of the year, but if we lose on Friday and Wigan win, then even though we will have won most games, Wigan will have lost two games fewer than us. We were soft in more games, whereas you picked up the results you needed.

There is an argument that we have won more games in style, but ultimately that is only relevant if we draw now.

If you finish top, you have deserved it and are the best team (up to that point of the comp). The League table doesn't really lie.

Agreed, the team who finishes top will have been the best over the course of the season, be that wigan or wire.

Whilt I know where you are coming from. If this does happen and we beat Crusaders Wire will have lost 2 more games than Wigan this season. Part of being a good side is not having the stinkers that they throw in from time to time.

Thats fair enough, and finishing top should get some kind of reward, BUT, at the start of the season all clubs know the format we are playing under, the SL Champions will be the team that wins the Grand Final, thats the target.....Old Trafford, 8th October.

this seems to be the case everysingle time wigan ever lose a game oh we were off the ball and our heads wernt in the game why dont u accept you were beaten by a good side, our defense was tremendous apart from the little jip that led to deacon getting over and he did well, wire just came into this game wanting to win more and morley coming back gave such a boost and he was at the top of his game along with king and monas we had a good day you were bad but you cant just blame it on your own teams bad performance if u would of played a different side u would of beat them we just new how to handle every single situation which is why tomkins had a bad game we just contained him well

you have also drawn 3 games which is really unusual plus wires point difference is phenominal and they have broken so many records this year that you cant say it like that, if wire lose on friday it will be there own fault but i cant really say wigan have been better all season with wire average score being 40-14

You do get a reward, the LLS. I would say that anybody who is happy to win that and not then win the GF is lacking ambition, but finishing top is a major achievement and shows that that team have delivered the best resukts over the 27 regular rounds.

Nobody is arguing that they should be champions.

I would have thought it was bleeding obvious Wigan played badly, you only need to look at the amount of unforced errors.

2 wire tries were gifts that puts the score at 27 -12

Tomkins fluffs 2 try scoring opportunities otherwise 27-24 with conversions

Still think it was going to be a wire win but wigan were as bad as wire were good

This. It took us 9 pages but we finally go there.

Exactly!

The problem is though mate, this approach can be taken to every game of RL ever. Most tries are on the back of the odd mistake, whether it is something minor like a penalty getting the attack on your line, or something shocking like Hansen's error to Monaghan.

If we are going to take Yed's approach of removing some of our tries due to luck, and adding your half chances, surely we need to add our half chances in too?

The simple fact is, the best team won on the day, just like they did at the DW earlier in the season, and just like the cup game at our place.

Discussions about hangovers, luck, outclassed are, tbh irrellevant, only the result counts. I understand why people do this, as often it is in defense of criticism of their team's performance, but I find it pretty worthless, and would rather we look forward to tomorrow night when 1st place is up for grabs.

Hopefully, we'll meet again at Old Trafford (and I hope it won't be my turn to offer excuses!!!!

)