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Like Bilko I am confident we are still the best squad and I believe we will finish top in the league table, however, this means little when it comes to the play-offs and all the tops sides are capable of beating us even when we are playing well so you just never know but I would expect us to be in the final after finishing top. Last season our top of the league finish was down to two results in the end.... we beat both wire and saints away. This gave us a lead throughout the year and we never looked back.

The challenge cup depends on the luck of the draw and how you turn up on the day but I think we have a good shout in that as well, I think we would have reached the final had we sneaked past Leeds (which we should have done).

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Quote: Bilko "They do, however Wigan have no also lost the pressure on themselves of not having won a trophy for a long time. That was huge on us last year especially after losing at Leeds in the cup and at home to Saints, Warrington, Huddersfield and Leeds (play offs) during the second half of last year. Many people said we'd bottle it come the crunch but we actually went to Leeds and won comfortably and beat Saints pretty well in the final. How did we do that? By grinding it out when it mattered.

Not sure what that has to do with anything. Noble massively under-achieved here at Wigan. 6th place in 2009 (especially in hindsight after 2010) was a disgraceful return. The difference between his era and us now is vast. Our standards won't slip back. I think we proved that last at Warrington. We wern't that good in attack but in defence we were all over Warrington and 24-18 was a bit flattering in the end for Wire.

As for whether we'll win this year - I think our massive squad depth will see us retain first place. The Grand Final is all down to the performance of the day itself.

On this weeks results I can't see it. They'll have to improve a hell of a lot defensively from their two pre season displays so far. But we'll see.'"


Just one comment how was the score flattering towards us, we had 1 perfect try ruled out, and countless we bombed due to a bad pass or knock ons.

Granted Wigan played well, your defense was good, you just took your chances, i wouldn't look much into the game, by the comments of some of players they didn't play at full level due to Smith telling them "to go out there and enjoy it"

My only gripe, what was with Wigan players constantly trying to slow the play the ball right down, but the ref pick up on this well so not too bothered there.

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What a pointless thread, Wigan are rightly favourites, but any number of things could cause them not to retain their crown, think saints in 2005 and 2007. Massive favourites, but got unfortunate injuries for one, and bottled the other

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Quote: Saint Simon "What a pointless thread, Wigan are rightly favourites, but any number of things could cause them not to retain their crown, think saints in 2005 and 2007. Massive favourites, but got unfortunate injuries for one, and bottled the other'"


TBH we are suffering from injuries at the moment with Gleeson, Richards, Finch, Fielden and Hansen.

5 of our first 13 are out and we beat Warrington on their patch, if it were another team it would be called a crisis but due to our squad depth and quality in that depth I don't really see injuries as a setback, plus the return of Hock in May/June I see us doing really well in the league and either winning the GF or CC.

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Some people always think last years champions will walk the current seasons title and it rarely pans out as easy as that. I remember watching Saints 4 or 5 years back and thinking they had the title sewn up for years to come and then watching Leeds play over the years you wondered who could give them a run for their money but it's never easy and alot just comes down to who turns up on the night at Old Trafford.

I'm confident the Wigan squad has enough quality and depth to take a top 2 spot but then after that anything could happen in the play offs as the top 4 or 5 are all pretty similar in terms of ability.

It should be a cracking season.

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As with most other supporters I would hope the club I support will be in with a chance, Wigan set a high standard last year & I hope whoever wins does it by matching or bettering that rather than Wigan slipping up. Good luck to all for the new season & lets all hope for injury free teams.

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Quote: Beverley red "As with most other supporters I would hope the club I support will be in with a chance, Wigan set a high standard last year & I hope whoever wins does it by matching or bettering that rather than Wigan slipping up. Good luck to all for the new season & lets all hope for injury free teams.'"


Well said.

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Saints look a lot stronger than I thought they would, but I think it will be a couple of years that they and Leeds will have a lull while they redevelop younger players and restructure. I think Wigan and Warrington will be the dominating teams for a couple of years.

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Quote: Damo-Leeds "Personally I don’t think that they will. Wigan took everyone by an element of surprise last year by punching above their weigh and it worked really well. That element of suprise won't be here this season because everyone always gets themselves up for the defending champions. I just don’t think this Wigan side will able to grind it out because this Wigan Squad is pretty much the same as it was under Brian Nobel bar a few player changes.'"



Wigan have strengthened this year. Leeds are weaker and unless McDermot proves to be this seasons Michael Maguire, which I doubt, will struggle for a top 4 place. Saints, as long as they get Price and Eastmond playing every week will do well but not seriously challenge. Warrington are capable as long as they don't get to Wembley. I think if Hull weren't held back by Agar, then it could really be their year to do something.

Overall and I'm not being biased, Wigan have the squad, coaching staff and back room set almost to perfection.
Not saying we aren't going to get beat at some stage but I'm having a bet that we will win everything.



icon_cheers.gif icon_cheers.gif

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Quote: Roofaldo "Well, if the ref's continue to clamp down on the slow ptb as they have done during friendlies, then Wigan may struggle.'"


Go home your milks boiling over.

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Wigan weren't as dominant as Saints were in 2006 and Saints haven't won the title since.

Waaaay too early to talk about Wigan walking it in 2011.

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Quote: NSW "On Preseason form Lima and Hoffman looked a massive improvement of Feka and Lima. '"

I think Hoffman will better than Feka but I really don't see Lima being any better than Lima (sic).

Wigan were the best side over 27 games last year and will probably be so again this time. Who wins the C Cup and SL will come down to a few moments of magic, however, so it's not easy to be so certain. Pies deffo the team to beat though, Wire, Saints, Leeds next and Giants the dark horses.

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Quote: Asgardian13 "I think Hoffman will better than Feka but I really don't see Lima being any better than Lima (sic).

Wigan were the best side over 27 games last year and will probably be so again this time. Who wins the C Cup and SL will come down to a few moments of magic, however, so it's not easy to be so certain. Pies deffo the team to beat though, Wire, Saints, Leeds next and Giants the dark horses.'"

HA i meant Phil Bailey,,,, was just testing you icon_wink.gif

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I can remember last season when everyone wa saying the same sort of things about Leeds. We had added to the squad with Eastwood and Delaney, we had we thought was the deepest squad we have ever had, and look how it turned out. Until at least the first 5 fixtures are out of the way it is very difficult to tell how teams will play. Wigan have the WCC to worry about this year and defending their crown. Is it likely they will defend their crown? Yes I would say it is. But there are alot ofther factors as we found out last season and appearing to be in the strongest position is not always the case.

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It's open to the 'top 4' again, as far as I can see, and a lot will depend on injuries, as ever.

Wigan's organisation and enthusiasm was fantastic last year. If they can maintain that they'll be difficult to beat, especially as they've strengthened on paper. It'll be interesting to see how new interpretations at the play the ball affect them, though.

Warrington have IMO had the best squad on paper for the last couple of years - if they gel then they're in with every chance.

I don't much fancy Leeds at the moment, but they've still got too much class to write off, and a change of coaching setup might provide the fillip they need.

Saints have their best and most balanced squad since 2006. We'll have more front row options this year, and if Wheeler, Eastmond and Shenton stay fit, we've at last got some pace again. Wigan are favourites, but it's wide open.

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