The fact Smith has sort of washed his hands of it suggests to me that it's already been agreed with the board that they will just pick the lowest placed team in the club call. Could be wrong though!

Smith isn't getting involved, he doesn't like it, he said he'll leave it to the board and let them pick what's commercially right for the club. He'll play whoever they pick.

Commercially i don't know what they'll think best, only Wigan is a guaranteed sell out but they might take a hit on not having a sell out v Hudds or Leeds and look to the cash an OT appearance would bring in, who knows?

If we pick you though i'd fancy our chances, when both teams are at peak with no injuries it's a game in which a touch of bad luck or a 50/50 call goes against you that is the difference, very evenly matched BUT we have a FULL team to choose from all injured players back and a week off to prepare against your 5 actually really more like 4 days to prepare, last 20 minutes of that game would see you really struggle to keep up.

It's exciting no matter which way you look at it.

I think they will definitely pick the lowest ranked side left in the competition. They will be scared to death of picking us and losing!

Club call is in my view a disaster and our play off system is vastly inferior to the NRL system which does actually give a better advantage to the top two sides.

Week One

1 v 8
2 v 7
3 v 6
4 v 5

Two highest ranked winners straight to qualifying semi

two lowest ranked losers automatically eliminated

Week Two

Two highest ranked winners get home ties

highest ranked winner v lowest ranked loser

2nd highest ranked winner v lowest ranked loser

Losers eliminated

Week 3

Highest ranked winner week 1 v lowest ranked winner week 3

lowest ranked winner week 1 v highest ranked winner week 3

week 4 Grand Final

Seems a lot fairer system no club call and the top ranked side always gets to plat the lowest ranked team thus giving proper reward for their finishing position in the regular season.

It does make more sense than having teams playing each other twice. Crowds are poor for the playoffs and repeating fixtures does not do a lot to improve matters. Then if you get teams that do not have away followings thrown into the play off mix it does the game a disservice

Does anyone know which day the games will be played on? Are Warrington confirmed for playing Friday?

Yes.

Stains Saturday.

Talking of crowds there was never over 10k on wire on friday against huddersfield

They will go for the lowest ranked team. Wire won't see much of the sales for a Wigan game anyway, the play-off games produce the prize money.

The club will be wanting to get to OT for the big payout. They do that by going for the lowest ranked team IMO.

Commercially it is best to do everything you can to get to Old Trafford. It is a huge payout.

Were you working on the turnstiles?

That wouldn't matter.

Attendances are based on tickets issued, not how many people turn up.

If we win, Warrington will pick us - I feel absolutely certain of that.

I'd be bloody amazed if they do.

They've battered Leeds twice this season, they've also battered us twice, but the key is we've beaten them soundly also at the HJ, in knockout competition.

They pick the winners of Leeds/Hudds, of that I am very confident

If our game is a battle then imo they will take us.

I'd take Wigan even if you stuck 60 on Cats, makes it more interesting.

Wire v Wigan
Saints v Leeds

There is absolutely no way the Dire will choose us, no matter what the scenario.

How would you react if they did?

Would rather get beat in a semi-final than the final.

I would question the sanity and future job prospects of the person who made the final decision. Imagine what would happen if we were chosen and won, when the percentage is to choose the lowest ranked team.

They'll choose the lowest ranked team. Unless it's a potential major derby (i.e. Wigan never pick Saints or visa versa) then everyone should always pick lowest ranked.

I think we would win. Can't see us beating you at Old Trafford though.

Whats your logic behind that?

We've done rather well in knock out games under Maguire.

Personally, I get the feeling we've got 1 big performance left in us this year, which would fit in nicely with a Semi Final. I'd not be too confident of backing that up the week later though.

I'd like my chairman to have a huge pair of stones and pick the hardest possible team personally, hate limp games always want the hardest possible tie in cup games too, i must be sick

You must have found Wire winning the cup two years running boring as hell then, didn't play any difficult sides!

The away game at your place a week after the GF is the only time we have been well beaten away from home under Maguire. I am confident we would turn up well and put in a huge performance. We would bring huge away support and it would be a very different atmosphere to the Saints game at the weekend. We would not put in a performance like we did in the league.

At Old Trafford I would not be confident, Warringtons first super league final, we would have just had a real tough game against Saints the week before and we would run out of steam.

Obviously its all theory but its just how I feel.