We probably won't be playing Catalans anyway. Assuming Wigan beat Saints, if Catalan win we play Saints but if Catalans lose we will probably play Leeds who I think will beat Hudds who have nothing to play for. I don't think Bradford will beat Catalans because I expect Wakefield to already have secured 8th spot by the time they play. So the most likely outcome is we play Saints in the first round of the play-off.

Unless we lose to Saints in which case we will play Catalans or Leeds, which is the reason behind this thread I believe.

Think the fact there are less than 400 seats available in the 3 home stands tells you that it isn't a meaningless game. There will be a sea of cherry and white baying for Saints blood. Beat them this week, beat them next week, beat them every week is how we should going about the game.

i think that's more to do with the LLS presentation, but playing 'them' is still a factor, however i do agree, we need a win to put a marker down and get some momentum going into the play off's

Going off the playoff crowd last year I would totally agree.

and it wasn't on season tickets

but for me, no game against them is a dead rubber, even if others say it is

That too



Take the ST holders off the crowd expected though and you have the crowd from the playoff game near enough.

or pretty much how many will be in the boston on Friday, think the JCL's should pay extra for only coming to see the hubcap

Good call

I can see the logic in that. I also hate that I do!

Why would you want to give your rivals an easier game?

That could put Wigan against the reigning SL champions who are dangerous in knock out rugby as you found out in the Challenge Cup.

Meanwhile in the highly unlikely event that Warrington bottle it in the playoffs, Saints will be the main beneficiaries and then start to pick up momentum themselves...?

hope i'm right this time now the first part of plan has worked,catalan beat bradford today and i think we will beat them easy in first play off game,we did win 47-0 last year in play off then we pick the lowest team to get to grand final

We wont beat Catalans "easy" at all, they are getting all there players back for the play offs.

Agreed. With Robinson leaving as well to go to the Roosters I can see them being fired up for the play-offs. Would have preferred Stains. They needed us to play over 3/4 of the game with a man down to be able to win.

If we get the club call I can see the choice being two out of Stains/Whinos and Catalans and I would pick Stains every day of the week. Close down Roby and Puletua and there's nothing there.

Plus we will want revenge for last night - great motivator that!

No chance. Bring Catalans over here with the travel and what not (they sometimes crack away from home) and send Saints to Wire for a derby game.

If Wire don’t bottle it, and I don’t think they would at this early stage, then that would mean a Saints loss, so why would Saint have any confidence to build any momentum when they would have at best good psychological image of another GF defeat. Saints can take little from Fridays win for a start, and as for Leeds, I think it unlikely that lightening will strike twice. Wigan, though out of form has nothing to fear from them. No, though there’s many a slip twixt the cup and lip and all that, Wire is the side that ALL must think of as favourites.

Hope you do: you haven't been playing well recently and I think I'd prefer us to play you than Wire.

was not there tonight as i was working but it sounded like an easy win

Surprisingly so given the positional changes with MM banned and Hock out and I think Les Cats were pretty much at full strength. They were just not at the races and we played the best we have done for several weeks.

Even early on in the game there were quite often 3 or 4 Les Cats players behind our defensive line walking back slowly as if they were knackered.

Wigan were awesome tonight, Cats were nowhere in it, it was a rugby lesson to the French, to show them who is boss when it comes to rugby league, the biggest club in the game.

I think you are slipping. Soon to lose your WUM crown.

Ah well, nothing lasts for ever.

My worry is that we didn't have to do anything particularly special, just got the basics right. That wouldn't be enough against one of the top sides. Even Josh's try was largely down to their poor tackling and lack of pace.

I don't think we should get carried away but we have been our own worst enemies in recent weeks and that wasn't the case tonight. However much they underachieved (and I think they did) should not take away from the fact we saw some improved play from us. Won't have done the confidence any harm either.

Spot on, you got it right. It's a no-brainer for me, let the W&S biff it out and drain the tank for the final, where hopefully we'll be.