Those games were ages ago now. I just don't think that they can be used to excuse the poor form compared to how Leeds have reacted.

I agree with you, but is there not a case for it being mind over matter for Leeds?

They suffered a massive disappointment in losing at Wembley, again, and clearly don't want that to be the defining 80 minutes of their season.

The Rhinos have taken a lot out the Wembley defeat; the motivation from that game must be a factor; they have done well to fight to the end of the season and will not bow out of the play offs easily.

I'm left speechless that anyone could argue losing at Wembley and winning at Wembley should have the same effect on a team. There is no comparison between the two at all, in any shape or form.

You lose at Wembley, you should be galvanised to get what you can from the rest of the season.

You win at Wembley, it's very tempting to think the season is over (which is obviously wrong, but it's human nature).

It's that simple.

Rugby League is the most physically demanding sport; players need to be mentally at the races to have a chance of competing againts players who may not match up skill wise but will put their bodies on the line to win games.

Wire showed it and the Saints have now shown that Wigan need to be as hungry if not hungrier than their competition and having won a major trophy the mindset of the players needs to change or there will not be a second chance against Saints.

Why is noboby giving saints any credit for their performance? If we would have controlled the ball more early doors in the first half, we could have been 20+ in front.

Our defence was spot on, and we deserved our win. End of. Wigan played aswell as we let them.

We now have the week off, so next week, I would expect Fannery to replace Dixon, Pryce to replace Armstong, and we be fresh and ready to go.

I've said all season we had a win over Wigan comiong, take away the games at widnes, we should have won the other 3.

Where as there is no guarantee that Wigan will beat Catalan, remind me how the 2 games have gone this season?, I'm not saying that Wigan will lose, but it will be one hell of a test. Hopefully a draw then you'll play on until midnight palying golden point.

Saints know how to get to Old Trafford, we just can't win there!!!!!

we'll see anyway, not bad for a team who has played away every week and still hasn't played there first choice 17 in any game this season.

COYS!!!

I take it you've missed this - [urlhttp://viewtopic.php?f=28&t=508698[/url

and plenty of other posts that do.

Lets just hope yesterdays performance against Saints was the wake up call that the wire games obviously wasn't.

Sam needs to get his head back on and start playing again. IMO his head has been slightly in the clouds since the "V" incident.

We need to get back to flooding forward with dummy runners in attack and creating doubt because against wire and saints our attack has looked blunt.

Nonsense.

Saints played well but Wigan have looked lethargic since Wembley and maybe even before Wembley.

I cant help but feel if the season ended now most of the team would be happy about it. Definitely a disappointing end to the season. Wire to win it, deservedly IMO.

I respectfully disagree.

From experience, it can be tremendously hard to bounce back from a CC defeat. You bodies knackered and you came up with nothing. It's going to be hard to pick yourself up for another mammoth effort.

Win or lose, the CC generally makes it hard for the 2 competing teams to hit their best form for the playoffs.

Saints deserved their win but you are getting rather carried away.

A certain team did it in 2006.

And 2003.

They won an August CC final and then the SL crown?

Challenge Cup Final - August 26, 2006
Super League Grand Final - 14 October, 2006

I'm sure the mighty 'S' already have...oh and Bradford too....

Difference is though that last year Leeds cheated us to win. They played dirty and then broke the rules to stop us taking it at the end (remember McGuire injuring himself and Clarke saying "gods of rugby" etc and Peacock coming out claiming that Carmont stamped on him despite the fact that he actually just got tackled off the ball and McGuire fell awkwardly like the cheating scumbag he is).

This year, however, Saints outplayed us you didnt cheat to win you just plain beat us fair and square. Maybe the Charnley decision was wrong. After all if the ref says he was tackled then dragged over then its Saints fault and the try should have been given or we should have had the penalty (I'd say penalty tbh) we still would have lost anyway.

Those blaming the CC are having a laugh it was almost a month ago now. If professional sportsmen playing one match a week havent recovered from that then they shouldnt be professional sportsmen simple as that.

I think they have recovered physically I think the problem is a mental problem and I think that being beaten on Sunday may sort them out and bring them back fighting. If it doesn't then we will be punished by a Catalans side playing to their potential and beyond.

I suspect it is probably the combination on the Wembley win (which took a lot out of the team - especially 2nd half) and the mental switch off that goes with it (even with the best will in the world players will be celebrating etc) but for me the following weeks match at Warrington took a huge amount out of the team.

Having to play Warrington - getting well beaten, losing top spot and the leaders shield I think has given the squad's confidence a knock which is shown as looking tired/lethargic. I also suspect quite a few of the players are not 100% fit (why more were not rested against Crusaders I will never understand surely a mistake).

The Saints game could not have started worse either - Wigan usually like to get on top from the start - the knock on from the ko and then letting Saints score so early put Wigan on the back foot right from the start.

Wigan must get off to a good start against Cats - because I really do fear if they do not then they will get well beaten.

In all the time Madge has been here the only thing I can fault him on is not resting most of the players against Crusaders, if they would have had a rest I think we would have beat Saints and had the week off and gone on and won the GF, now I'd be suprised if we even got there TBH