They play great well rehed rugby which is drilled in to them by a very very good coach.

The way they move it wide with all the runners as options causes the defence all sort of problems.

Both sides showed that they are vulnerable today. Wire are starting to pick up a run of injuries, so missing the semi and the final, will help them there getting players back.

I still say 2nd is not out of the question if we win all our games.

Wire's last 3 Catalan away, then Wigan, then Hull

Cat's away is tricky at the best of times, with them aiming for 4th spot all the more tricky.

Wigan have shown today they can beat Wire when it counts.

If they lose those 2 games, we will be 1 point off the Wire and well it's squeaky bum time and we all know what happened last year.

It's not probable. But it is possible. We need to be consistent and then wait and see if the Wheels fall off the Wire. It's a bit much to ask but far from impossible to imagine.

I think we saw today a Wigan side that will comfortably do the double.

Wire are an excellent side, but struggled to live with Wigan.

In the big games this year that have mattered, Wigan have had the ability to turn the notch upto 11 in both defence and offence. The main challengers to Wigan be it Warrington or Saints just havent been able to live with them.

I know my fellow Saints fans will make the excuse about losing to Wigan because we have had injuries, however in all those matches and throughout the season our defence has been awful. Unless we can somehow work out how to defend in the manner of Wigan, then i fear an absolute thrashing by the pies, if we meet in the cup or playoffs.

An interesting point to note is that with Briers and Morley missing Wire looked directionless for much of the match.
They are both veteran players and this does not bode well for Wires long term future as a top team. Especially when you consider Hodgson is also abut 34 years old.
I have a sneaky feeling this match will be seen as a watershed moment for the Wire. It would not surprise me if their moment in the spotlight is now over, and they will go back to being a decent but ultimately unsuccessful club.

How wire react to this will also be interesting. They have a few tough fixtures coming up, and if Saints can get on a run, then who knows we could end up finishing second. That would be an amazing achievement if it happened, and would be very unexpected.

I agree CM, Wigan have gone up a gear in the big games and their attack and defence is head and shoulders above the rest of us.

They do look like a team capable of doing the treble.

I'd love a day out at Wembley watching saints in a challenge cup final but I hope to god it's not against the pies!

Agree with you that wire were leaderless. Mon did his best but the rest didn't look convinced.

Where I really disagree is the goons being on for the double. This is the wigoon team that really struggled in the last round against bratfud?
They looked very vunerable at times today around the middle and around the edges. The solomona injury was a defining moment when the momentum of the game went back to wigoon.

I think a better analysis is that neither team were much good in defence - some of the tries were absolutely awful from a defensive point of view.
I've no problem meeting the goons in the semi (providing we bear the dobbids) as they don't look unbeatable.

How richards got MOM is beyond belief - it was surely bambi's by a mile!!

I also can't agree that dire are a spent force - the league decider is against the goons the week after wembley so if the goons get there they will get the traditional thrshing that finalists get especially if the goons win the cup; by that stage the two leaders / old timers will prob be back to put some steel into their side.

Wigan's defence was 'head and shoulders above' but they conceeded 24 points ? I think some people are getting carried away.They are a very good side but I would love another crack at them with something like a full strength team to pick from.

Agreed.

And Warrington blew lots of chances not to mention forgot how to tackle. Hodgson had a mare as well and couldn't remember how to convert tries at the time doing so would have made a real difference.

Bring it on

Are we an excellent or "decent but ultimately unsuccessful club"?

You don't seem to know.

Do you know anything about RL or do you close your eyes when Wigan play??

Wigan are just too structured for me, that's all. Even though Wire lost today - in part due to their woeful defence - I prefer their less structured attacking play, especially when Briers is on the field. Wigan just do the same things every match! And Tomkins invariably does his jinking run. Mind you, without him doing his jinking runs, you wouldn't have won the number of matches you have. Him and Pat Richards must have a hand in most of your tries. It seems that way anyway.

Personal preference, that's all. Warrington at their best beat Wigan at their best hands down for me.

Mate you won't win any arguments on here from the Saints myopia association. I am with you - Wigan were awesome today and are a very very effective side. They are tough and effective in every aspect of the game and even as a Saints fan, but more so a fan of RL when it's played well, I take my hat off to them. Well coached, good players and an ethic that works.

Any team will have their work cut out to stop them winning the lot this year. If they win it in the manner they displayed today they'll deserve it.

Totally agree!

Wane got some big shoes to fill.

Translation: I feel deeply inadequate.

Will you can be decent and excellent but unsuccessful, a good example being Saints who have an excellent side that has played decent rugby but hasnt won anything this last few years.

Looking at Wire
King is going at the end of the season, Briers, Hodgson and Morley will soon be picking up a pension.
Michael Monaghan and Gareth Carvell are also the wrong side of 30 as is Mickey Higham
Thats pretty much the core of your side gone within 2 -3 years.

Do you have the depth and quality of youngsters coming through that can slot in, as has been shown at Wigan and Saints?