...is that merely papering over the cracks again?

There can be no doubt that winning the Grand Final last year well and truly papered over a rumber of cracks in the squad/tactics that had been exposed in a number of poor performances throughout the regular season. Having said that - I was more than happy to see those cracks papered over to bask in the glory of victory once again!

If we do the same again this year is it simply a matter of papering over cracks again or the best proof that, at the end of the day, cracks dont need to be papered over because you can still win the league with them firmly on show?

If so, what does that say about the standard of the competition in general OR is this simply the excitement and unpredictability that knock out rugby brings and for the good of the game?

Apologies if the Catalans render this whole topic academic tonight...

29 meaningless rounds of crap to determine what we all knew was going to eventuate all along - Wigan, Saints, Warrington and Leeds facing off in the semi finals. It's really not so much an achievement for the Top 4 clubs reaching the last 4 when the rest of the teams are rubbish.

Wigan will pick leeds and theres not a cat in hells chance of leeds pulling it off.

The wigan fans will be rabid, every split second too long at the play the ball by us will be penalised. Their fans will have to be held back from running onto the pitch and assaulting the leeds players, they;ve pretty much wished death on them anyway.

Me? I hope st helens beat those sons 'o' bitches in the final

I knew you were Lycra James all along

Like they did in the CC semi? Wigan will be praying Hull do them a favour tonight. They will be pricking it at the thought of club calling Leeds.