Sorry I meant to post in the Hardaker - Ratchford thread but wrote in the wrong tab. I've responded in there if you'd like to continue discussing this.

At the moment I'd agree, but he is at a more advanced stage in his career.

I want the Wolves to win as the lesser of two evils.
Gidley to be MoM

I try to be neutral ,but it's hard I keep having a look at last years GF and seeing some of Wigans niggling and I still like Tony Smith ,I would like Wire to win for him and put a new name on the SL trophy .I hope it's a good game and good crowd

70k - Warrington 21 -Wigan 14 - mom - Clark

As long as it goes down in the books as a good game and not a lie-on-a-thon I couldnt care less.

I think that Wigan will edge a close game and big games recently have been refereed to be close games. If the game opens up i think Wire run away with it.

If Wigan dont win it, surely that must be it for Wane. The last 3 years have seen a Leeds and Saints team in transition and a Wire team in fluctuation there has been opportunity for a period of dominance but they miss their window. I think Saints and Leeds will be much better next year, les Catalans are desperate to make that next step and Wire will be a different proposition if they get this monkey off their back.

But surely Wigan will also be very different with Burgess, Manfredi (at least by the end of the year), O'Loughlin and Tomkins? Particularly if Tomkins gets properly fit. That's just the ones I can remember.

Not fussed who wins the GF but I think Warrington will finally end their long wait, surely?

Great effort by Wigan just to reach the GF with all the injuries they've had this season. Or perhaps their GF appearance is more a comment on the weakness of the rest of the SL competition? Still, a mighty fine effort by Wigan when one considers another SL club faced with a similar injury situation were humiliated and temporarily relegated instead.

Im not sure how mych O'loughlin has left in the tank and Tomkins seems to have peaked. It was always going to happen and for him to hit the heights he has his game was always going to need to change. How much that has happened im not sure. I also don't think you will see a huge pick up in bringing Burgess and Manfredi back, though they are good players.

Regardless, its less about Wigan, and more about other sides. Saints and Wire seem to be on an upswing, Leeds will come again and Les Catalans will make that breakthrough eventually. Im not saying Wigan won't win things and be there or thereabouts but they had an opportunity to win possibly the last 5 in a row, and to win only 1 would be a hugely missed opportunity in my opinion.

And possibly the most important and strangely forgotten Mcilorum

Think Catalans need a change of coach first, Frayssinous had a great chance to compete this year and they managed to blow a top 4 from a strong position with several weeks to go.

The Grand Final result can be said for both sides and their coaches in terms of missed opportunity. Either it's 3 GF losses on the trot for Wane and Wigan against their 3 big rivals or Smith and Warrington will have lost a 3rd GF and he'll be without a single GF win in 8 seasons there which would be an underachievement for the recruitment they've made in the time he's been there. Both came under heavy criticism from their fans after recent losses (Wire vs Wigan and Wigan when they lost to Widnes) and whoever loses this Saturday will face further heavy scrutiny about if they've taken their club as far as they can.

I'm not sure about Saints, think they caught a number of teams at a good time towards the end of the regular season/Super 8's. Jordan Turner is leaving and Roby was starting to look like age was catching up with him last week so their spine might be lacking to get them trophies.

And Tommy Leuluai. Some strong attacking options will be back next year. Unfortunately I don't think Manfredi will.

Want wire to win but think wigan's defence and aggression may unsettle them. Plus wire carry the burden of their last title being won when Shaun Edwards old man was playing for them.

Think Wigan will be v strong next year with Tommy L and metal mickey back in.

A friend in suntelens is still adamant that Matty Smith will be wearing the red v next year despite the coach protesting to the contrary. God knows what Catalan need for next year but a top coach must be top of list.

But who can they attract?

They really lucked out when they got Robinson a few years ago who dragged the team up by its braces. Since then they seem to be backsliding down to mid-table fodder again. With the climate over there and a chairman who isn't afraid to ruffle a few feathers you would think they could bag a decent up-and-comer from the NRL.