I've been saying this for a few seasons now. Bet your life if finishing first means you are champions, Tomkins, Lockers etc would have played and maybe we'd have given it a better go. As the format stands, this is what we get. Wire are good at rotating players, we have rested lots this year and only time will tell if it was worth it.
SW seems to be playing the system better this year and hopefully we'll not fizzle out in the playoffs.

I'd love to go back to the days when every game matters!

Neither are you getting lads playing with each other week in week out- that's paid dividends for us this year- the understanding between brough ferres and Wardle and leroy and jerry has been a strength of our side in attack. And our defensive structure has been sound because everyone knows their role- especially against sides with structured attack. Leroy has played in every game this season and had a shorter preseason due to england duty- he gets better and better- hes made 450 tackles this season- Tomkins is a young lad who runs about a bit, and makes the odd tackle, why on earth would you need to rest him- and why for more than one game!
Either - Sam really is injured or wane knows without him you have no chance so is preventing him getting injured.

I would put Tomkins, Charnley and O'L as better than their opposites at Hudds. I would put Hudds better in every other position. You are clearly mad.

But that's my point. When was that? Even when Wigan were winning it every year in the 1980s the press didnn't bother with it. the only thing that counted was the Challenge Cup.

So changing two players out of 17 will make a 68 point difference?

Winning the league used to mean finishing as Champions. That's it. Now it doesn't, being champions is still it, but now you can finish lower down in the table and finish champions.
Being champions is what every team aspires to be.

I find this a little ridiculous and petulant, surely you can see how the league use to crown the champs, now it doesn't, it doesn't mean anything finishing top. end of.

I wish I hadn't had said the exact points, it's given you a free licence to be pedantic.

Point is I don't particularly rate Hudds, lots of dropped ball, slow movement on passing movements etc. Truth is, neither are Wigan minus Lockers and Sam, however like i'd once said, with the two missing players we're pretty much the best side in the league, Wigan didn't care about the Hudds game, Hudds did, if Wigan did Hudds wouldn't stand a chance.

Leeds, Wire are up their when all is fit, but not Hudds...

You might win the league leaders shield, but only cos no one cares about it. Friday proved that.

Not taking me up on that then last son of Wigan? With sam and sean youll not outscire us by 40-50 points put your money where your mouth is.

The sad thing is that no one particularly rates Wigan this season. They are a one trick pony with one move and maybe five decent players. It works against the lower teams but no wins against the top four says everything. I fear for next season because without Sam Wigan will not be near the top four.

Look at the Leeds and Warrington boards they are rubbing their hands together about playing Wigan

I'm actually tempted. For gone conclusion that we'll beat you, just by how much...

We beat you 22-10 early on in the season before injuries and early enough that teams are still looking to pick up points to make the playoffs, (so none of that it doesn't matter BS) o' loughlin was playing but no Sam. If you are really convinced that Sam is worth the extra 52 points to beat us by 40 then say so and we will have a deal. Or perhaps you were just shooting your mouth off.

Does the Magic Weekend not count??

If there was a prize for the most bull in a post, You my friend have just nailed it.

Lots of people, especially our own fan's, wrote us off for this season.... But, we have a Wembley appearance guaranteed, and who knows what will happen in the lottery of the play offs.... We have got to the final in one "Cup knockout", why not the other...?

Cue doom and gloom...............

Most of the time, it didn't. Nowt new in the current arrangement.

Hardly pedantic to use simple arithmetic to point out the difference.

That’s just bravado, I’d guess it would be squeaky bum time for them too when the time comes.

Too true. The current top are all capable of beating each other...

...even if Leeds have yet to show it against this years Huddersfield team.

We'll save Hudds for when it matters



And as for us fans, of course we'd be nervous if we got you. No cup final for us so our entire season might well hang on that one win or loss.

I seem to recall that most posters were predicting - and saying they would be satisfied with - a top 4 finish plus a final appearance. How do you define "wrote us off"? Oh, and the possible reason "why not another" is that you have to play the better teams. Consecutively. And we aren't playing well at the moment.

For me though it's all OK ATM, primarily because I'm clinging to the belief that all will turn out well in the end. We burned out last year, Wane is doing things differently as a result (hopefully that's the reason) and should only be judged if and when we fail. However, if we have now peaked I expect IL will judge him harshly.

"Cup football" will always throw up results you don't expect, and in a knockout situation who knows, I don't think we will be out of the mix. If you think that other teams will be looking forward to playing Wigan, i think you are mistaken. We have an experienced team who have been there before, we are also younger and fitter than those many would consider the main contenders, Wire/Leeds. Hudds, "could do a Wire" and fold, but who knows...

You sit and "Cling" if you wish, i choose to be as positive, as i'm sure the players are...

Where did I mention other teams looking forward to playing us? All I gave were my recollections of people's expectations for this year as I don't agree that lots of Wigan fans wrote the team off (I won't ask you to prove it). Also, isn't clinging to my belief a demonstration of positivity?

Gladdens my heart....

I'll bet.....

Absolutely correct.

This sport is on its a**e right now as a result of the playoffs and no relegation.

I wouldn't sponsor it with somebody else's money.