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.

Nothing amazing about it. It's called attempting to belittle your rivals. Which is exactly what you're doing on this thread, and what you do regularly when you visit this board.

Yellow Giraffe is entirely right though. When it comes down to it, the only people that place any importance whatsoever on the LLS are those who either win it, or might do. Once it's won, it has no importance whatsoever to any other team. It shouldn't be like this, but it is. It's nothing to do with belittling your rivals, simply that the sad fact is that the LLS only matters to those who win it. We learnt that many times.

Funnily enough I've known Saints fans over the same period of time who celebrated the LLS like it was the GF itself (just to rub the Wiganers nose in it).
Then played it down when we won it in 2010 & 2012 and looked to win it this season (to the point its been very quiet up until the last month where I received a 'top of the league, you're having a laugh' text.

Strange that!

I genuinely don't recall Saints fans making a big fuss over the LLS, ever.

Stop crying and have an adult conversation like everyone else.

It SHOULD mean something. It doesn't. Yes I want to win it because I want to win everything but I don't lose sleep if we don't.

Aww ... have you just been outed again?

I think that is roughly where I stand on it. It's nice to win it obviously, but I wouldn't class it as major silverware or count it in trophies won.

I agree it should mean more though. I'd like to see whoever finishes top go straight to the grand final and everyone else has to fight for the right to play them.

Yes mate, you have figured me out all by yourself. Good boy.

You'd need the top 5 for that to work though I think otherwise the top team spend 4 weeks doing nothing.

1st to GF
2nd v 5th - 3rd v 4th winners meet the week after

Personally I like the RU format. Means you have to finish top 4 which puts a bigger emphasis on the league program.

The last time the play off format was introduced the clubs voted on a top 8 system,that resulted in Sky offering a TV deal that reflected that amount of games throughout the season and in the play offs

If we went to a top 4 play off series what deal would Sky offer?
Would our clubs accept a smaller amount or would they prefer a top 6 with more play off games?

I like it. 1st to GF would defo give more meaning to winning the league. I would look at a top 6/7 though instead of 5.

But did the clubs vote on the top 8 system as it guaranteed clubs more matches/revenue throughout the season, as well as clubs not likely to be in the top 4 having a potential shot at the Grand Final?

Big rumour flying around that Sam is staying at Wigan.