I appreciate your point and thanks, but seeing a team in recent weeks playing nothing like they have been all season is disheartening, particularly when it's come to the business end of the season.

Another outsider's POV here, so feel free to ignore. But the way your season seems to be going reminds me of how Wigan's went in 2011 and 2012. In 2011 we had an incredibly tough run to Wembley and still managed to stay pretty consistent in the league, finishing 2nd. By the time the POs came round we were shot and the season petered out in a bit of a disappointment. In 2012 it was a similar story, however a very consistent league campaign was blighted by two poor semi-final performances, which meant we ended up with the LLS and nothing else.

You may still turn it round, but as others have mentioned your lack of experience in winning 'big' games may ultimately be your downfall. You play your best rugby at home to Warrington and you've every chance of winning, and you've already been to the DW and beat us in the CCQF.

I think Cas have had a brilliant season, one the presumably way above most of your fans expectations at the start of the season. You were one game away from the LLS and runners up in the CC and you still in the mix for the GF. What ever happens in the remainder of this season you have put a marker down to build on.

I think this is a bit harsh. This is a team that was expected to be scrapping it out around the relegation places this season and has undoubtedly been hitting above its weight to be 4th in the table and get to the CC final. Sure there are weaknesses - Dorn, Dixon, Sneyd, Finn have never been world beaters and have never played at this level, so the criticism is valid but a little pointless given they are in a squad designed to survive - not challenge for the top honours as it has done.

It's clear that the team is shattered from playing more games than usual and more high intensity games than usual. Being hammered by a Saints team that didn't have a particularly long cup run and has players who have played at the highest level is hardly surprising when they're both fresher and designed to play at this level.

Sure it's a bit disappointing but you have to be realistic - this isn't a team that is full of stars or players who have playoff experience. We still have a chance to turn it around but if we don't, it's still been an incredible year and I just hope we can build on it next year.

Dare I says that all season people have been waiting for Castleford to implode (but were riding along with them whilst the going was good). Maybe they just imploded ?

Don't think we have imploded at all.
Yes we played poor in the CC final but came back and won 2 games on the trot.
Followed by 2 loses, nothing new there as we have lost 2 on the trot a couple of times this season.

Its how we now respond on Thursday v warrington.

One thing for sure is that Thursdays game is setting up to be a cracker.

Hey Cas fans. It's like the Giants first season with Nathan Brown. Cup final, high league standing but dropped away at the end. I blamed it on the lack of experience, the mental drainess of trying to back up a good performance every week to shock the RL world.
I loved every minute of that season... And looking back was proud of our Wembley visit despite losing.
This season could be the start of a positive journey for you guys.

You could well be right, despite the recent dip this season has been fantastic and will remember it for years

have you just run out of steam (seen it in FC too many times), 4th and a CC run, not bad for one of the "small" clubs outside Wigan/Wire/Leeds/St's eh!

I look forward to the day we play in the CC Final and Grand final in the same season!

I think the OP is looking at Cas' season the wrong way. You need to be looking at the positives rather than the negatives. It's going to be a change for many of your players to be playing more than 27 games in a season and perhaps your coaching team can look at stamina and fitness in the off-season.

But you finished 4th AND got to the Cup final as well as coming with in a hair of finishing top of the table. That's a damn impressive season for any team. There's a lot of talk about players putting themselves in the shop window when looking for new clubs, but I think this season has certainly put your club in the window in regards to attracting new players and hopefully you can kick on next season and improve on this one.

As a Salford fan, Cas have been a joy to watch this season for me up until the challenge cup final i think they possibly played the best rugby league out of any team! Good luck in 2015.

No such thing.It is impossible for a team to achieve something of which they are not capable.Perhaps the long season finally caught up with Cas and they didn't quite have the stamina against opponents who do it every year but that is not the same thing.

As a Wigan fan I feel you went wrong by trying to win every game especially when the season comes to an end. Sometimes you have to lose a battle to win a war and due to the lack of strength of depth in your squad your players were looking tired before the Challenge Cup final. Its brutal for players to play week in week out and then have the CC games especially given the closeness of the Semi and the final. After that your straight into the last 2 play offs games which you went out to win for finishing as high as possible. Even Leeds suffered having to go out and win every game if possible from the start of August to the play offs.

Last season Wigan were if i recall 5-7 points ahead of the Giants in July and guaranteed top 4. So we had the luxury of resting players during Super League games. But by losing a few games we did the double. But we ended up in 4th place.

Not only did you get to a final but you play some very good Rugby and have in place a great coach. If i told you that this time last year you would have laughed at me and if i told you that you will finish in the top 4 well you would have thought i had lost the plot. Inside a year Powell has turned you from laughing stock to a very good side and a side that's good to watch.