Quote ="Cruncher"There are various possibilities here.
Wire could get beaten by the Cats, and we could all have a good laugh at them, as they had a good laugh at us in 2008. But that would mean the Cats getting to Wembley, and gifting the Cup to either Leeds or Saints. So, loathe though I am to want Wire there a second year on the trot, I think it would be a better final.
As for the other draw, it could obviously go either way. It's one of those 'who do you hate least' scenarios - and that can change from week to week. Hetherington, Lee Smith, Keith Senior et al are the w****rs of the moment, so possibly I'd rather it was Saints. But knowing Saints, they'll probably have annoyed us in some way before the semis. Granted there's no Sean Long any more, so that cuts down the chances, but Potter is a whinger and an excuse-maker, so he's a potential fly-in-the-ointment for them, and of course Eddie and Stevo could scupper their chances of staying in our good gooks if they keep creaming the ceiling every time Saints play.
At the end of the day, I think a Saints v Wire final would be very interesting. It would be Wire's best ever chance to finally dispose of yesterday's heroes on a world stage. But if they take it, that means Wire have won two on the trot! Bloody hell, there really is no way to win.'"
Even as a Wire fan I can raise a rather large smile at that assessmemt.... There really isn't many positives for you with this draw is there?
Trying to be as impartial as possible, I think even the most anti-Wire person would agree that a Wire v Leeds/Saints final would provide the best spectacle for RL in regards to wanting to impress a watching national, and possibly international audience....A decent crowd, coupled with an entertaining, probably close match, which would be much needed after the last few finals, which have been a bit one-sided and lacklustre, might finally liven up a competition which is dying on its ar$e.
Catalans shouldn't be discounted though. As many have already pointed out, there is a long time before the semi's, and injuries and form can change things drastically before then.
As a Wire fan, I'll be particularly interested in how Tony Smith treats the next few weeks in the build up to this....Last year he undoubtedly aimed at the Cup, sacrificing whatever small chance we had of making the play-offs in doing so. I'll be curious to see if he believes we have the squad to go 100% at both competitions, especially as the League & the Play-offs look as wide open as they have ever done.
