saints had their first choice halfback pairing out and leeds had mcguire and peacock out.

Just bit part players really, no one major.

Always with the excuses

To be perfectly honest I genuinely don't even remember the "wembley walkabout" incident, mainly because I don't get bothered by such stupid little incidents. I fail to see why wigan players being told to not talk to the media and instead concentrate and focus on a very important upcoming fixture that wont exactly be all over the news anyway deserves so much ridiculous criticism.

Sticking the v's up at fans.... players betting on their own games, teams purposely fielding weak sides.. they may be worthy of criticism, But this is just a case of people making something out of absolutely nothing.

Are you absolutely sure about that?

There's know rule to say that Wigan players have to speak to the media before the game

Obviously some people have too much time on their hands. Let Wigan get on with it, its their call.

Despite marcel and Sadsack's best efforts...

As long as he doesn't ban them from speaking when they eventually bow out of the play-offs, I don't mind.

This isn't really that bad is it? It won't make a difference to the play-offs and indeed the winner. Warrington all day I'm afraid. Maybe Leeds who look to be coming into their own at the important stage. I wouldn't have said it a few years back (being a Bulls fan and all) but out of the teams that actually have a chance of winning it I would be happy if Saints won it this year. They are a credit to Super League. Royce Simmons seems like a real nice guy too. Looking at Saints makes you think the future is actually pretty bright for british rugby. Some real talent coming through their system. Other than that I'd love to think Catalan can do it....just not sure if they can manage it. I'd love to see them batter Wigan this weekend tough!

EDIT: sorry for going slightly off topic

I should be ashamed for thinking this, but i agree with what you say and out of leeds, wire and saints, If i could choose a team to win the sl it would be saints.

slightly off topic again, but tony smith has decided that he doesn't want to get involved with the club call... yet im struggling to find many threads slating him.

Probably because nobody agrees with clubcall.

Be that as it may, if he does boycott it he'll be depriving those very same journalists of an interview with him on it.

So Tony Smith will make a decision that he's perfectly entitled to do and probably have it attract little or no fuss from some petty minded half-d journalists.

The journos seen to have failed to grasp that Madge's commitment is to Wigan and to do what he feels will have the best results for his club - not keep half a dozen hacks satisfied with some tired clichés that they can trot out.

Obsessed? Go back to the playground and nick someone's Sherbert Dib-dab. People are discussing a widely reported topic, even if it is a nothing story.

The Wigan press conf is usually Tuesday mornings.
Mcguire is always there but his players rarely, if ever, make an appearance.
This "ban" has created more publicity than the press conf ever does!