Other than the 7 years in a row:

89/90 - 4 points over Leeds
90/91 - 2 points over Widnes - mission impossible season
91/92 - 8 points over Saints
92/93 - PD over Saints
93/94 - PD over Bradford
94/95 - 7 points over Leeds
95 - 6 points over Leeds

So that's 4 different challengers for the league. We played 5 different teams at Wembley. There were 4 different winners of the Regal Trophy (7 different finalists), 4 different winners of the Premiership (7 different finalists) and 4 different winners of the Lancashire Cup (7 different finalists).

Compare that to the last 7 years.

3 winners of Super League. 4 finalists.
3 winners of Challenge Cup. 7 finalists.

There's no change. In fact, it's probably worse.

I'm more than happy if this is indeed the case (and aren't we all second guessing SW from the comfy of our armchairs, anyway?). I'm more concerned about the Hock situation than not giving the 1st team a run-out, so long as they turn up on the 8th what's the problem? (although if they don't, this'll start all over again

).

Around the end of Wigan's golden era - mid 1990s, attendances began to noticeably tail off for Wigan's league games.

This didn't happen straight away, because up until around 1985 Wigan had been in the doldrums for so long that to see them winning every match and lifting loads of trophies was a massive novelty. But even the Wigan crowd started to think it was boring after a while.

That said, there still good teams around then who could spring surprises. The Aussie and Kiwis still toured on a fairly regular basis, so interest was constantly kindled on the international front. There was also the marquee player thing that was always good to add a few thousand bums to seats. When Wigan made major signings - the likes of Martin Offiah, Gene Miles, Inga, even Nigel Wright who was the golden boy of Yorkshire at the time etc - that was always going to bring the crowds in.

Its worse... No question, and the Aussies are still better than us.

So where does this leave SL and the Cap in its present form.. I don't know if anybody knows where this is, but i'm sure i saw Stevo, on TV when the cap was brought it saying "We have to find a way to stop this lot!!", and i'm sure he was refering to us...

Sorry to drift O/T

I was about to post exactly the same thing. Apart from Manfreddi, Hampshire, Burgess and Lever the rest can't play at U19's this year. Wane will certainly know his strongest 13, 15, maybe 17 but he needs to make sure of who he keeps around the squad and who goes out on loan, and maybe who leaves the club.

Double post...

If anyone seriously thinks that you can 'not try' throughout the season like Leeds apparently did, which we didn't and it's as easy as that to reach finals then you are deluded. What this current Leeds team did in my opinion cannot be emulated by any other team in the league, it was a unique achievement by a unique set of players who are by far the best in the league when it comes down to the crunch games. Any teams which try to replicate what Leeds did I'm almost certain will find themselves with a low league position followed by an early exit in the play-offs. The delusion that any club can treat the main season as friendlys and turn it on when it matters is wrong, that's been proven throughout Superleague, bar the obvious exception of this unique Leeds team.

Aye, they're brilliant in crunch Challenge Cup Finals.
Although I do agree teams can't just coast through a season and hope it works out at the back end.

I think most would agree with you on this RG, but, does it reduce the importance/intensity of games in the regular season?

Leeds ability to win in the GF's and lose numerous Cup Finals shows that they can pick themselves up for the last four weeks at the end of the season but can't maintain good form throughout the season.
The Cup Finals are August Bank Holiday with the distraction of SL games weeks before and after. They can't maintain that consistency.
Come play offs and there is no SL distraction. It's all knock out rugby at which they are good at. They play well, far better than in SL and have their fair share of luck, hence they win the four week play off.
What Leeds can't do now is maintain form and consistency for the whole of SL as Wigan did this year and 2010 just as Wire did 2011. They were top in 2009
The League Leaders Trophy is played down due to SKY and the RFL wanting a great end to the season which the GF is. To top the league after 27 matches is a great achievement. SW did that in his first season as head coach, you cannot underestimate that.
His selection for the first two trial games is right. He will know his first 13.
have a very good idea on his 17 and 20. What he does know is that we will have injuries throughout the season and when they occur knowing the best player to bring in is essential. This is what he is now doing.
Hock is out and Faz will replace him. He needs to know who will take Faz's spot and that can only be done first in trial games then as the season progresses.
There will be far stronger Wigan squads for the Salford and Wire trial games.

Fair enough, but to even make 3 challenge cup finals in a row, and win 2 superleagues in those times in 3 years is pretty impressive. Do you think any other side in the league would be capable of replicating what this Leeds side have done, 2 years on the trot?

Well, sadly, that squad has cost the game 2 more supporters.

There's no way that I'm driving over 200 miles to watch just 4 first-teamers, especially as it's live on Wigan TV.

Just hope Salford has more of a first-team feel.

I'm pleased. The Hull KR match is on 13th January. The World Cup Final is on 30 November. That's one hell of a season for some of our boys.

Your posts might have a bit more '[igravitas[/i' if you didn't have that clogger Bremner as your avatar. Well it looks like Bremner to me.

We don't have any Aussie or Kiwi internationals do we?

Was thinking the same. But RL does have "Sir Kev"... And i hope this comes back to bite me on the booty... lol

Im that confident im going away when the final is on

Now i REALLY hope it bites my booty!!! lol

Well they have put a few more 1st team players in there so im happy not enough to justify me travelign to hull though, at least the game is on wigantv

It's set up for an England / NZ semi. Our home record against the Kiwis is very good.

In fairness to you all I wouldn't be travelling all that way on a cold, wet and possibly snowy Sunday in early January to watch a side not to different to that of last weeks playing against a better opposition than Leigh (no offence meant by this).

Have to agree also, you guys are aiming for the Grand Final and while I'd like to think HKR are too at this stage of the season, realistically you are more likely to get there and to have your lads playing early January all the way through to October it is a long 10 months.

It will be interesting to see how your youngsters go against a pretty strong HKR line-up. Not our first team by a long way IMO but still much stronger than the squad you're sending over the M62.

Safe journey to those coming, credit to you hard core! Those not coming, just remember it isn't about the result but about progressing your youngsters experiences in the game. They'll all be better for it.

It's a strange squad really. I can't see how you can assess these fringe players properly when they're on the end of a stuffing. For example if you were judging them on how they played against Leigh you'd be worried! You need to see how they would fit into the first team and how they play alongside the regulars.

Would have liked to have seen a few more first teamers involved and rotate it a bit. Similar to the squad that travelled to KR last year.

Hopefully this week they show at least half an ounce of enthusiasm and a desire to stand out and get into the first team.

I agree with that. I really don't see how any worthwhile judgements can be made of the players involved in the Leigh game and if the HKR one goes the same way that also.

The other thing is we have almost got a new first 13 given the number of players who left in 2012. I'd have thought the more games together our "new" team had the better. Doesn't need to be the full 80 but I just hope Matty Smith and Blake Green aren't reduced to sending post cards to each other to get an understanding before the season kicks off.

We have three more friendlies but I think realistically only two (i.e. excluding South Wales) can be used to get the team up and running. I hope to see Smith and Green in particular in both.

I was going to go to this but I think I'll give it a miss looking at that team, long way to go to watch the reserves