I'm sure we had a load of Wigan fans last year saying we wernt the real champions as we won it from 5th?

Anyway, wonder how they feel now.

Given that winning from 4th is a more difficult assignment for genuine SL contenders than winning from 5th, then perhaps they feel superior?

They've shown themselves to have double standards. Bad losers, even worse winners.

The league leaders shield still needs more respect but you made it obvious with the current format it doesn't really matter where u are on the ladder as long as your fresh and good enough. This season i don't think wigan, warrington or leeds really pushed to finish top (i think you tried harder than seasons before). But still won the double so wont be complaining.

People will say Wigan were helped by switching off during the latter part of the season,. But look at the team they beat, did Warrington really give it their all at any point in the season? Didn't they too rotate? They didn't have a CC final to play either.

Wigan, like Leeds the last 2 years, simply won because they were the best team come playoff time, under any format the form team will still probably come up trumps.

Spot on.

No it isn't.

grand final winners, challenge cup winners, the double, well done to the mighty reds.

Reds???
Thought Salford weren't winning it until next season?

Beat all three of the top 3 in the play offs. Credit to them, will earned title

What he said!

The difference is Wigan showed in the first half of the season they were capable of finishing top if they chose to do so, they simply decided not to. Leeds on the other hand are only capable of turning up for three or four games.

HTH

Seriously though what is the opinion on Leeds finishing position and challenge cup record since 2004. Is it that they figured out there was no need to finish top or the way they train throughout the season or something to do with the world club challenge? It just seems odd that they are so adept at winning in the playoffs but not at wembley or especially consistently throughout the season.

Wigan simply adopted the same policy Leeds have adopted in previous seasons but they made it to 4th rather than 5th.

Blindingly obvious wasn't it?

They were 1st with room to spare two-thirds of the way through the season and then suddenly realised... this doesn't work... why are we expending energy being top of the league? Have we learn't nothing from what happened last year and the way Leeds do things?

Cue a truckload of rested players, alleged injuries, the academy side being selected at Widnes and at home to Hull KR and the hit-out against Leeds in order to ensure 4th and the easier path away at Huddersfield followed by a week off.

My only surprise is that Leeds forgot the script. Perhaps they had too much time on their hands and not a lot of excuses for finishing 5th again given their early exit from the CC.

Sort of agree, my only disagreement is that I don't think the top teams care when they finish.