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.

I think the top teams used to care, but not quite so much since the Top 8 was introduced. The benefits applied to the higher placed finishers no longer apply to the same degree they once did under the Top 5 or Top 6 system. Leeds two 5th placed titles in 2011 and 2012 merely reinforced the meaningless nature of the regular season to the degree that all the top clubs no longer give a toss about their regular season placement, and in some cases it's deemed advantageous to finish in a lower position on purpose.

League leader's shield when other teams not really trying - poisoned chalice
Grand Final winners from 4th/5th - poisoned chalice

Sydney Roosters, top of the ladder and GF winners - no problem

Win it from first in the table and shut the other feckers up!!

What we need to aim for . . . . . . .

Yes, after the successful "you can't win from 4th" line we've heard for the last 2 years, next year's line will be you can't win the GF if you finish 1st and get the LLS.

At least it will be for those with short memories who don't remember Leeds 2009 & Wigan 2010.

Wane has learnt his lesson from going all out to win the League leader shield and being the 'best team' in SL in the year, just to see them knackered for the playoffs.

Hudds won it this year by default.

Probably the only way to make winning the League leader shield worth anything is to have automatic GF qualification and hence 50.50 chance of being champions.

trouble is, would lead to a several week layoff for that team, could be as much a hindrance?

Top 5 and winners of 1st and 2nd go through to GF

Automatic entry into an expanded 4-club WCC would be my preferred option. Automatic qualification for the GF would do little to enhance the regular season IMO, in so far as once a club pulled away slightly the others would proceed to toss it off in exactly the same way they're alleged to do already as they geared up to compete in the play off for the other finalist's place. So, in many seasons, the LLS winners still wouldn't have prevailed against clubs striving week in week out to displace them at the top.

we changed our minds now that we won

What would have happened if Warrington came top instead of Huddersfield?
Makes a litle bit harder for Wigan finishing 4th ?
Whilst Wigan may well have constructed a 4th place finish ( which I doubt)
I am not sure how they could have guaranteed a top place finish for Huddersfield.
Just a thought!

Hudds were nailled on to win it several weeks before it was confirmed. 3rd / 4th was only decided on the last game. It would have been easy-ish to create

Didn`t Huddersfield only win the league by 1 point?
I think the theory that you can choose which position you finish and who you will play in the first round is a little optimistic IMO.
Next year should be fun.
There`s a good chance HKR and the Bulls will be fighting for top spot.

Since when have the Pie's been known as "the mighty reds"??