He probably has been for the past month so we'll have to see how creative we can be with our reason for him not turning out at Catalans (if he doesn't).

Last week- bad back
Previous week- Ill

This week- lost passport/fear of flying developed.

Wembley- He found his passport, got a ferry to France, went to Lourdes, cured his fear of flying, bad back and sickness and got a flight back in time for the game, scores a hatrick and lifts the cup.

Easy.

they will only find his ingrowing big toenail on sat morning.

Funnily enough. Just got another text, they are still there and he's now 'limping'.

He will be limping he carries the Wigan team

Did Sam ever fully recover from the knee injury he sustained at the end of last season? He missed the warm up games at the start of the season and seems to have missed games on a regular basis throughout the season, culminating in the current situation where he has only played in the CC games since playing Warrington at the end of June. He has also had strapping on his knee most of the games this season and although he has had his usual pace for some games for others he has not. Could there be a chronic knee problem which flares up after he has played several consecutive games? Will he need an operation at the end of the season and are Wigan trying to keep the lid on this until the transfer fee has been agreed and paid? Or is this the reason the move to NZ has still not been confirmed......?!!

Yeah sod that we have a load of nothing games this year, lets leave Hampshire and Tierney in the under 19s every week, then expect one of them to be our full time full back next year. Then if they mess up in a big game I'm sure no one will get on their backs about it and their confidence definitely won't be shattered. Also, what would happen if we got a repeat of last year where Sam got injured for the semi final, and his deputy had a total of one game under his belt? We would be screwed, again. Wane's doing the right thing trying out Tierney and Hampshire in the games we can afford to experiment in now that we have a top 4 position secured. I don't think that's what happened v Hull KR or Hudds anyway though.

Last Friday mattered!

To who? Huddersfield yeah.

We could have gone top of the league and been in with a very good shout of the LLS. Are you [ihonestly[/i saying that didn't matter?

Yes, I honestly do not care that we aren't going to finish 1st.

I honestly don't know how you can say that. We could have had an extra piece of silver wear and the accolade of being most consistent. I'd sure as hell prefer to achieve that than not.

Everyone would prefer to win the LLS rather then not but it isn't a priority for me. If we win the CC next week with a fresh Tomkins, Smith and Lockers running riot it will have proved to be a very wise decision.

If I had to rank in percentage terms how important I deem the three trophies I'd go GF- 70%, CC-29% and LLS-1%.

I buy two season tickets which cost around £400 for the home league matches. I see quite a few away games too which cost extra dosh.
The Super League weekly rounds matter to me.
If the LLS is only a 1% issue why do you watch the games?
The C Cup is just that, different but great!
As for the play offs and GF. The crowds for the play offs are going down each year so fans are losing interest. Everyone loves a final that's why the C Cup and GF are so popular.
I just don't get it that we watch the league all year then say it isn't important.
I don't get that, I really don't!

The regular rounds are qualifiers for the playoffs. No more. No less.

Agree with that. LLS means very little under present set up. Last season we were burnt out at the business end so this season resting players we will see. The Cc and GF double is a very big ask, lets get the 1st one done and dusted. We can all see Sam has not been %100 for weeks we need him %100 big time

But those are the rules of the competition. All teams play to them.

I take your point that the fact that the regular rounds are meaningless does not sit well with you, but that's a consequence of the structure of the competition I'm afraid.

I have to agree with NK.

In terms of importance 66% GF, 33% CC, 1% LLS

I too pay for a season ticket and go to pretty much every away game and even friendlies but I seriously see it as 1% of our overall aim.

I watch the league fixtures because I'd watch any rugby tbh and they do mean something in the sense that they're all part of deciding your eventual position for the stuff that actually matters, which is the play offs and ultimately the grand final at the end if the season.

They certainly don't mean what they used to especially with this ridiculous top 8 play off system though.

That's not quite true though is it? "No more" would only be accurate if the league didn't come with its own piece of silver wear and title.

Silverware. And it was worthless all lose years Saints won it, funny how it's suddenly seen as something to shout about.

No offence but EGW only joined this forum in 2009.

Not sure how you know what his opinion was on Saints winning the LLS the year before?

Unless you are making a sweeping generalisation in order to be petulant?

Petulant,no. Sweeping generalisation, guilty as charged.

Suddenly? Not sure why you've directed that at me.

I was wrong to aim it at you, fair enough. It was more a general statement with regards to the apparent change in recognition of the LLS in recent times.

This debate about the LLS comes up every year amoungst fans of teams who are in with a shout of winning it.

Luckily for you, your speccies don't need to get involved anymore

Haha, not this year anyway. But seriously, it's amazing how many Wigan fans I know used to play it down during the 4 or 5 years we finished top consecutively and then last season it was deemed on par with winning a grand final.