The big game mentality? Do we have it?

In recent years we have choked in major semi finals. In the last few months we have lost most of our major games, Leeds in the cup, saints home, wire home, hudds home.

In recent years we have choked in 5 semi finals.

The question is, do we have what it takes to win 3 more games.

It all starts on Sunday in the preliminary semi

It only takes one win to turn the tide - look at Wire.

Wigan certainly have it in them to make the GF. I don't think you'll win it, but that's because I think Wire are a better and healthier team, not because you're chokers.

but we'll never have to play Wire

I certainly hope not

IMO yes we do, but over the next three weeks we'll find out.

i bloody hope we have

I'll say this much - if Wigan lose to a weakened and struggling Leeds side this weekend, it will constitute a choke for sure.

I don't think we choked in any of those big games recently, we just didn't have the pressure on us to win them because we've been four points clear pretty much since mid April. I don't think the cup tie loss was a choke either, that was just a weird game settled by an accidental offside call in the last couple of minutes.

The difference this year is a, we should have the big games at home (a massive advantage I think even if we've performed better away than home) and b, being 4 points clear means we've been able to keep pretty fresh. Chasing and chasing in mid table leaves you tired. Just look at Leeds this year, they look physically battered.

Thats the theory anyway. Whether it happens remains to be seen. We have to draw confidence from 12 away wins out of 13. That takes immense bottle! And I would never, ever back against a Shaun Wane motivated Wigan team. I've seen it at the academy levels.

Definetly. Looking at Leeds last few games it'll be an immense effort from them to do it though.

Warrington look very strong, especially in the pack. I think they're favourites but if we play to potential we've got every chance. I just hope we do ourselves justice.

Btw I think the term 'choked' is a bit harsh. In my opinion that's only applicable to the Catalans semi. 2007 final eliminator half the team were injured and we had nothing left in the tank anyway (physically or emotionally) after 3 awesome games.

2008, 2009 final eliminator we went close. Didn't get the job done but certainly wouldn't say choked. 2009 CC Semi we just got blown off the park in an absolutely white hot 20 minute Warrington spell.

Absolutely - don't think it will happen for a second, which is why it would be a choke I suppose!

I can see Wigan winning by 20+

Anyone else's guts squirming about this match? It's six days away FFS !!!!

It wouldn't surprise me. A fit and fresh Leeds and its close to call but I think we'll have to have a error ridden night to lose. Our defence looked sharp last Friday.

I think we've got plenty of bottle it's just wire seem to be riding on the crest of a wave for the last 12 months, are brimming with confidence and have a great team ethic. However, they still haven't got the saints monkey off their back.

If Leeds win on Sunday then i'm purley putting it down to we didn't turn up. Hopefully both do turn up and its a cracker.

How do you make out that they're a "better" team than the one that finished top of the league with more wins and a massively better points difference?

Straight answer ..... [size=150YES[/size

All season I have fancied Wire up to this week I have thought they would win it. I have now had a change if heart and actually think now we will win it. Other teams shut down a couple of key players they struggle, when we have lost this year we have played poorly across the park or used the wrong tactics trying to deffend the team.

We have improved significantly in our mental strength under MM and Wane, I think this is the major improvement from Noble. If we stay fit, I expect us to win the thing.

I can see us 'choking' somewhere down the line

We need our big players to stand up and be counted for the next few weeks thats for sure

Would it be a choke or would it just be being beaten by a better side on the night?

There isn't much in it between Wigan, Wire and Saints.

I do agree that losing to Leeds would be a choke, as they are walking wounded at the moment.

If Leeds play like they did last week and we lose it will constitute a 'choke' in my books

If Leeds turn up playing like 3 times champions and we lose its not a 'choke'

I personally cannot see the second option happening at the moment though, they look badly out of sorts

Yes.

It depends if Bentham is the ref for any of them.
It depends if Coley drops the ball at an important time and field position.
It depends on the stupid penalty given away in a crucial position.
It depends on that lazy missed tackle that leads to a try just after a bout of substitutions.

Anyone nervous yet?

No. against Weeds, Why? only reason the are playing us is cos ref screwed up and gave them an unfair advantage had it stayed 13v13 Hull would have won that comfortably. imo

Quietly confident with nervous excitement, expecting a week of then choose weeds as our sf opponents and let dire and stains fight it out and batter each other in the other semi and give Piggy, Feka and Bails a cracking send off by winning at OT and giving us something to crow about over the close season.



no disaster if we dont win the gf this year considering the turn around, but at the mo. just think we are to strong even for dire who i dont think will get past saints in the play offs. time will tell

not half. stomach knots when i think about it.
just think its because the last time we played them in the play offs we've lost....eeek