I honestly dont think you played as bad as you think you did. You had good ball security until you started to havbe to chase the game. Like any side under pressure you had to push it and mistakes happened. I think the big difference is we have learnt over a season that you have to brave that first twenty minute on slaught. I watched the game back on the Tv last night and I the shaun Mcree spotted it before we score. For the first fifteen minute saints had not one play the ball in wigans half but after twenty minutes the wiganforwards were walking. In most games it would not matter as wigan would be twenty points ahead and the other side would be out on their feet.

Without a front row of graham TP and roby who are tackle and run machines I dont think we could have stuck with you either.

At the end of the 1st half I'd have backed Wigan to grind a slim victory. I don't know what the stats were for the 2nd half but our completion rate seemed to drop through the floor whilst our penalty rate went through the roof. Seemed we had about a 20 min period when we didn't get past 3rd or 4th tackle without dropping it or throwing a forward pass, then minutes later we'd give a stupid penalty away (Hoffman's foot grab ffs!) to gift you 30m. You also seemed to have a purple patch were you broke (or at least half-broke) at will, making our defense in the 3/4 look very uncomfortable, whilst our "attack" seemed to totally run out of ideas. I feel we were outclassed in the 2nd half.

that penalty was a gift. fifth tackle too

Well done. You'll be getting the Hull support at the GF .

congratulations from a wigan fan. I feel you as a group of fans deserve it after your injury crisis for most of this season. Youve got men back at the right end of the season and your young lads have matured all the way through this season and are now producing the goods, gaskell and lomax in particular are a brilliant combo.

Just one more thing, havent we had some battles this year? drawing at cardiff, a thriller on good friday, both semis, the game at widnes and the game two weeks ago!

I guess as a wigan fan I'm a bit gutted this morning but I know we've given our all this year I'm always hungry for more success and the league last year and challenge cup this year makes me chuffed to bit with what madge has done with our club, can't wait for next years derbys and again I predict that wigan and saints will be the two sides to beat next year.

Enjoy next week

I think you are right, many people love to see Wigan lose, possibly because they dominated rugby for so long and partly because the current set up although populated by some great players is populated by some dodgy characters with an ethos of gamesmanship.

I like Warrington, Saints and Leeds. The thought of the likes of Lima not being able to tarnish a final with his forward pass tries and his knee-attacking fills me with joy.
But then you'd disagree.

good luck nexy week,you will have all fc fans cheering you on ,because of the rapport we have had since the semi in 2005

Well on the whole I like Lima as a player, he's a real work-horse. I thought he had a shaky start to the season but then seemed to cut out most of the poor technique. I saw the ankle twist last night though and said at the time (I was watching the game with in-laws who are Saints fans) that he should be punished for it. Whether or not this type of thing and the so-called gamesmanship is more prevalent in Wigan is the debate that's been raging all season, and yes I'd disagree with you on that. There's a very real desire for some people to see Wigan fail and, when they don't, to diminish any success they have by claiming they're cheats. I also noticed a few chicken wings on Wigan players last night, but the majority of (so-called) neutrals won't have been looking for them.

Congrats on the win Saints.

Good luck in the final and see you next season (hopefully not as many times!)

Apart from one match this year its been nice to have proper derbies.

3-2 to wigan but if we capitalise on our semi win like wigan did on their semi win in the cc i can live with the deficit.