Harrigan I think saints did it as well in 06. Theyare the rules and agree never complained but 2005'was gutting!

No I don't think its a travesty that he has been allowed a brief rest. The modern hookers role is the most physically demanding position in any team and most sides try to play 2 hookers.

Buderus is coming to the end of an outstanding career and rotation has allowed him a rest and to come on with impact in the important closing stages of the game. It has also allowed some needed game time for McShane and the use of Burrow as an impact player has been an important part in our recent successes.

Last night was different as it was knock out time and Big Mac got it right to play him the full 80 as it was worth the risk.

Ok you might be right....let's hope he gets the full 80 at Old Trafford

Oooooh Mr Swiftcorn, you do make me smile sometimes

All ap has and ever will do is base his predictions on past results.

It's why in 2004 he said they'd win nothing, because they won nothing in 2003.

I think he might keep to the same team and plan for the GF as it will be Buderus's last game and he will not want to come off.

I have a feeling that it will be Saints in the Final who could be a greater challenge for us than Wigan.

Here we agree

the craft , guile and leadership looked great last night. I cannot see the tactics being changed and keep him on fo the full 80.
With Rob to come off the bench to take on the tired forwards can cause problems.

i just hope Liam and Paul learnt a lot from him

According to some Wire fans we have now completely invalidated the playoff system by daring to reach the final from 5th.

Awesome.

You see, I dont buy that theory at all. When we all set out in February, every club knows the format for our season, and the initial aim is always to "make the eight", not to win the League Leaders Shield. Because it is the Play-offs where our competition comes alive. The 27 weekly rounds are almost a qualifier for being one of the eight clubs that then are presented with a chance to become champions. Once that begins we are into a completely different competiton, where each club has a chance to become champions, and surely those that have a harder route to Old Trafford than others are even more deserving champions if they defy the odds and pull it off. Try telling NZ Warriors supporters tommorow that if they win their GF they wont have deserved it!

I agree I prefer the playoffs to be honest. RL has had a playoff system for most of its history...if you finish lower down the league you have to have a heroic run to get to the final like Leeds have done this year (and Bradford did in 2005). I would like to reform our playoff system, IMO the club call is a load of crap, I like the top 8 McIntyre system from the NRL. There's an argument for going to 6 teams not 8 but I like the 8.

I agree with what you are saying, but it doesn't make it right.....Why should the champions be decided in a month long competition, basically devoiding the efforts of the previous 6 months of rugby?....Why not just do away with the 27 rounds of pointless rugby and have a restructured Cup competition involving all 14 teams lasting 5 or 6 weeks...It's certainly save us all a lot of money and having to put up with watching pointless rugby in anticipation of the true competition?

The present system is a joke and demeans our sport....Imagine trying to do this in football, having to convince everybody that after a full season of football, a lesser side like Spurs or Liverpool could get lucky and sneak the championship despite being miles behind Man Utd in the league table.

You make very good points there, but as I said everyone knows the format before we start, and I have always felt that one day a club from outside the top two would eventually defy the odds and get to the GF from lower down the order. In the NRL it has happened twice in the last two years, Parramatta from 8th in 2009, NZ Warriors from 6th this year. I wonder if Aussie supporters are having the same debate we are, about the rights and wrongs of our play-off systems.