From my point of view i think different teams would want different teams

Wire have beaten Wigan on numerous occasions in fact i'd go as far to say probably their bogey side.
Wire have put big games in against Leeds so in big matches i go in with a 50/50 attitude
Wire v Saints emmmm nothing more needs to be said on that

Wire would probably want to play Wigan

Now Wigan
Wigan v Leeds again always feel this game is on the toss of a coin
Wigan v Saints, I'd think the Pies always seem confident against Saints so would probably want them

Wigan would probably want to play Saints

Saints
Always seem to choke against Leeds
Always beat Wire

Saints would want to face Wire

Leeds would want to face Saints

So greatest threat
I'd say
Wigans would be Wire
Leeds would be Wigan
Saints would be Leeds
Wire would be Saints

Just a pity the opening poster has based his thesis on a flawed Play Off table produced on the virtual terrace. Interesting that one of the three incorrect team totals on the overall record belongs to Wigan and the error overstates their win percentage.

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Leeds have won their most recent five play-off games. Good enough for everyone else to think about.

We're talking about Saints. What makes me think they can take it up a notch is the fact that they usually do, having appeared in four consecutive grand Finals. They've earned that respect from opposition supporters and have it from me. Of course, their run may end and yours may be about to start but whilst Wigan have the beating of Leeds on a given day and have shown good form over the first few moths of the season they've done nowt yet and I don't have the same trepidation about facing them as I do Saints. Your lads will have to earn that by doing more than being table toppers in mid June.


Not blinded, guided. because we, more than any other fans, know that league positions and form right now don't really mean anything. Wigan and Wire may have arguable been the best sides up to the end of June but, really, who cares. Wigan are out of one trophy hunt already (courtesy of us) and the best teams are decided between August and October.

perhaps Leeds fans think that because, well, because of what happened in 2007 and 2008?

Two of Leeds last three Grand Finals were won after playing away games in the playoffs so you're completely off the mark there.

I am not saying you can't. But whether you like it or not your team is not "feared" by me yet. Certainly not to the extent Saints are. Like I say above, do more than top the table in June and you might just get there. Wigan have played in one "crunch" game so far this season. They lost and they didn't register a try. They're out of one of the only two meaningful trophies available. These are inescapable facts. You're certainly heading in the right direction but i am not sure you're there just yet. We will see.

Does this rule Bradford out now?

rlhttps://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME

Not good for them.

Pretty much so. Shame eh?!

As for Wigan, I do feel that the way they play whether successful or not is the opposite of what is needed for Rugby League going forwards

Quite clearly this debate doesn't end here but I think we should just both agree to look forward to what should be the best play-off series ever.

It seems to me that with so many different possible outcomes and so many games gone before, either one of us can make up our argument to suit our own side. I am pretty sure I could think of many reasons why Leeds will walk this years play-offs but many of those reasons would be based on individual events.

However, besides everything else if we as a team are good enough to finish top (which we now should) we should be good enough to make it to the final and will hopefully do so. We can still top the table quite comfortably with more points than the top team for the last 3 seasons, we only need 7 more wins I think which is very possible with how good this team has been. I don't really take that loss against you guys into consideration really to be honest, we dominated the game and 1 missed tackle cost us the game. We didn't score a try but neither did Leeds untill the last minute and yet our attack was better all game, thats rugby. I don't think we played as well as we can but thats rugby sometimes. I am more foccused on our consistancy and our responce to defeat.

Once thing we do know which I have now said more than one time is that all of these ins and outs we have discussed only lead to hopefully the best play-off series ever.

We could see loads of derby matches and big games between the biggest clubs. Regardless of whether you think Wigan are the real deal, whoever of this top 5 gets to the final will have to get there in some epic encounters.

So I can understand your argument for saying that Wigan are no more of a threat than anyone else during the play-offs, but I don't understand how you can say a team which has finished 3rd for the last 3 seasons, has one of the deepest squads around, and is now top of the league 4 points clear and 6 or more points clear of last years finalists is - 'not there just yet'
I can't see where you get that from. Like I said I can accept your opinion on the end of the season and how that may pan out but we currently have more points in the table than Leeds did at this time last season and Leeds were not in the challenge cup this time last season either. Add that fact that we have pulled off some quite brilliant results so far this season like wire and saints and Hudds twice away from home, therefore I would have to disagree that we have only played in one 'crunch' game this year although we have only played one tough knock-out game.

Look at our attacking rugby and it is far better than what most of the league is producing, we have the best attack, is that not what is needed? We have scored tries from everywhere. Watch our games which have been on sky and you will find that comment is just silly.

Our defence is probably the most entertaining to watch in the league, the technique and almost perfect execution of it is a joy to watch. All of our forwards put big shots in every game, people cream themselves when people do it in state of origin.

All Odemwhingebags posts have an under tone of Wigan are the best team in Rugby you all must agree, everything about us is supreme end of

Speaking as a Hull fan, the team I fear the least is actually Warrington, I wasn't impressed with them on Easter Monday and we nearly turned them over after playing a derby and with alot of injuries. I think we could take anyone at home but I certainly wouldn't fancy going away to Wigan, Leeds or Saints. It's a big ask but if we managed to kick on and get 3rd I would really fancy our chances of getting to Old Trafford.

We are rightly the underdogs but we have alot of guys who have been there and done it at the very highest level, and some of our lesser lights have really shone recently. Danny Houghton can't be far from an International call up and Sam Moa is imo the best impact prop in the league at this moment, both players who at the start of the season you would have said may struggle to get in the team. We still have to improve if we are going to be a force but equally I think we have alot of improvement in us. I think our first choice half back combination have had about 5 games together. Our pack is monsterous and I can't imagine any side would enjoy facing us. Imagine O'Meley, Berrigan, Moa, Manu, Lauaki and Fitzgibbon on the park at the same time, brutal.

Why do you keep using Leeds' away play off record from 10 years ago but want to ignore this result from this year? you say you dominated us, your attack was better, we had Webb, Burrow & Ali missing yet you still lost and failed to score a try!

TBH at the moment I think Wigan, Saints, Wire & Leeds are all capable of winning the GF, but injuries form etc could change things a lot by October.

Cast your mind back to 2004. Leeds topped SL by a record number of points (?10 I believe), yet Bradford convincingly beat us at home in the first play-off, and we only narrowly beat them in the GF.

I think this is a pertinent analogy to Wigan at present. Back then Leeds had been knocking around the top 4 for a few seasons but had never really made a serious dent in the play-offs (1998 aside). You are placing far too much onus on league performance as a guide to what happens in the play-offs. Based on 2004 SL season Leeds should have walked the play-offs but didn't - because they are a completely different competition.

I agree that's a great pack

Just one thing bothers me, not one British player.

Thats true, but if those players were all on the field you'd have Dowes, Tickle, Houghton and Radford all sat on the bench. We also have a fully English backline and halves too.

You have summed up the reason why I included Hull in this thread in the first place, if any other team was in 4th then I would assume they would drop off but the players Hull can put out are so experienced you could certainly back them in a play-off game. I think it would be better for Hull to finish 5th and have a home game and build some momentum. I would love you guys to play KR at the KC in that first week.