Its pretty obvious that club call will see us v Wigan in the semi - so that makes this weekends game nowhere near as vital as it should be - 2 weeks time is when we need to pull the rabbit out of the hat

It just sums up what a real bad system the play-offs truly are! they are a joke!

Fancy explaining in simple terms on the TV or Radio as the Giants website do about tonight's game and what it then holds.

"When the hooter hits on eighty minutes at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, supporters and players alike will already be aware of what the Giants route to the Old Trafford Grand Final will be, despite not yet knowing the claret and gold’s opponents in Week’s 2 and/or 3.

For those who aren’t as sure about the Engage Super League play-off system, giantsrl.com has compiled a ‘what if?’ guide to the next few weeks of action.

VICTORY OVER WARRINGTON;

Should the Giants defeat Warrington Wolves on Friday, Nathan Browns men will progress to Week 3 and will be guaranteed a week off. They will take part in the Qualifying Semi-Final 2 as the lowest ranked Qualifying Play-Off winner – facing the side who haven’t been selected in Club Call at the Galpharm Stadium with a place in the Old Trafford Grand Final on Saturday October 8th at stake.

DEFEAT TO WARRINGTON;

Should the Giants be defeated by Tony Smith’s Wolves on Friday, the side will be back at the Galpharm Stadium the following weekend (Fri 23rd / Sat 24th or Sun 25th September) for the Preliminary Semi-Finals – defeat would end the season for the team as this is a straight knockout fixture with the losers eliminated.

VICTORY OVER WARRINGTON BUT DEFEAT IN WEEK 3;

If the Giants defeat Warrington on Friday but fail to win their Qualifying Semi-Final, the season is over and the side that got the victory over the claret and gold at the Galpharm Stadium will progress to the Theatre of Dreams on October 8th.

DEFEAT TO WARRINGTON BUT VICTORY IN WEEK 2;

With the Giants having the benefit of a ‘second bite at the cherry’ for finishing in the top four, the Preliminary Semi-Final in week two becomes a straight knock out clash. Defeat signals the end of the teams hopes in 2011, whereas victory puts them into the Qualifying Semi-Final – however this would be away from home due to the defeat in week one.

VICTORY OVER WARRINGTON AND VICTORY IN WEEK 3;

The ideal scenario! Victory over Warrington and a win at the Galpharm Stadium in the Qualifying Semi-Final would see the Giants run out in the Old Trafford Grand Final for the first time on Saturday October 8th and eighty minutes away from taking the silverware."

Could you just tell me that again LOL

Not likelt now, Wire 25 up at half time

That's largely thanks to Ganson utterly ruining the first 15 minutes of the game though. He handed the first three Wire tries on a plate. I started to feel sorry for Hudds and then I just gave up watching the game.

Add that to very poor defence

I don;t think they could work out the best way TO defend in the end as Ganson was blowing for everything they did. He didn't blow for Wire though when they had hands and knees and everything else in the ruck. Which isn't surprising because if he had have done so, the game would have taken all night to end. He has been ludicrous tonight.

I would rather play hudds next week than Leeds or catalans

I wouldn't. Playing Hudds would make us look like world beaters. That isn't good preparation for the Grand Final!

We won't need any preparation for the grand final because we won't get there.

It's going to be maguire 6 Royce 0 for 2011.

Don't think anyone needs to bother - seems like Eddie is crowning the Wolfs for the title already

It's defo going to be either wolves or Wigan as them two teams are head and shoulders above any other team.

I disagree Pete. As I have said all season on here and elsewhere (and been pilloried for it), Warrington have been the best team all season and they have come into scintillating form at the right time to capture the Grand Final. If they sustain this form then they will be Champions as I don't think there is anyone who can beat them. Injuries could ruin it for them but other than that I think it's highly likely they are looking at a Championship trophy. And to be fair that would be right because although they only topped the league by one point, their for and against is way beyond everyone else's, including Wigan (and we've all played the same opposition with the same opportunities to make big scores against the weaker sides).

What do you disagree with?

I've said either wolves or Wigan will win the grand final as they are head and shoulder above the rest of super league.

That was the bit I disagreed with.

The shortened version: I think Wire are head and shoulders above the rest, including Wigan. Their win over Wigan to secure the League Leader's Shield is evidence of that.

I agree, Warrington have been the best team and finishing top proves that but I think Wigan will beat wolves in the grand final.

A Wigan side that had won the challenge cup the previous week and who's heads just weren't there. We made mistakes from the first minute to last in that game that we've not made in Maguires time here.

I've said on our board we'll be written off and thats just fine. I think it's the sort of motivation Wigan need to fire them up to the challenge of taking on a superb Wire side if we get the chance.

Not a chance they're head and shoulders above Wigan or an on form Saints for that matter.

Saints managed just fine in 2006.

Warrington are a better team than Wigan and the stats back that up.

Sod the lot of ya. Saints will beat Wigan on Sunday and you can take that to the bank.

Bored of the doom and gloom brigade. I'm going to predict wins for Saints against Wigan both weeks now. I was just going with one.

Have you been drinking?

It's my natural response to this much doom. I'm giving up on reasoned arguements and just going with plain good old supporter one eye'dness.


Saints are great, Gaskell is going to kick Wigan to death and Royce will not put a back on the bench.

Hell ya!!!!!!!

They've been the most consistant side without doubt and have played some great rugby. We on the other hand have gone through the motions at times in the lesser games and that has been the real difference when it comes down to it.

Wigan and Wires records in games against the top 4 this season would be pretty similar I guess and they would be the real measure of what sort of difference there is between the sides. Our head to head games should probably tell us more then they do. They beat us at the DW but we'd had a hangover after the WCC, we beat them at their place in the cup but they were missing a couple of big players and then they beat us at their place in the league but we'd come off the back of winning the challenge cup and the players minds were elsewhere (as was mine as I couldn't give a monkeys all week in the build up to the game).

If they prove to be better then us then fair play to them. They still have to prove that though.

Saints managed what just fine? Beating the might of Wakefield at home the week after Wembley? A rather different task to the one we faced 2 weeks ago.

We'll see in the next few weeks just how well Wigan do in trying to back up a Wembley win with the Title.

Saints in 2006 lost only four games by no more than four points.

Warrington are a better team than Wigan this season. You need to accept this to find peace.

Win it and we'll give them all the credit they deserve. They've been fantastic.

Whilst your blowing all this smoke up Wire's ars*s I take it you've wrote your chances off?

I don't see why.

You've defo been drinking.