Wigan do look good but let's not get carried away. At the moment their youthful side is benefitting from a siege mentality that arises from being underdogs. I have my doubts that this can be carried through all season - the underdogs tag won't hold for long if they keep winning like this! Even kids will get tired if they are continually flogged the way they are at the moment (playing with injections etc). And eventually other teams will develop tactics to counter their current emphasis on basics rugby (hard drives, not giving the opposition space, and Matty Smith's kicking game). Once this happens Wigan will need some of their stars back to help them out in games in which they find themselves on the back foot.

As for other teams, I think Leeds could be in for a wobble soon after the recent run of tough games. Saints are still very much in the running for top spot, and Warrington and Huddersfield should start to improve as well. It will be interesting if Cas can maintain their excellent form now that the pitches are beginning to harden... This is when minnow teams who make good starts traditionally start to falter. All in all the season is shaping up well though.

Flex Wheeler viewtopic.php?f=2&t=567335&tsmp=1400848343 Your a secret Lancastrian really, Aren't you?

Flex Wheeler viewtopic.php?f=2&t=567335&tsmp=1400848343 Your a secret Lancastrian really, Aren't you?

Can't believe some people are being so bitter.

Its a cracking young side and I can understand some people being jealous, but bitter?
Come on, credit where credits due.

They are a great side to watch.

They do look brilliant at the moment but to be fair, just a couple of weeks ago I'd have said the same about us (and so did FlexWheeler ha!) and thought Wigan looked poor. Form is fickle, anything can happen between now and October as we've seen time and time again over the last 5 years. It really could be any combination of teams in the grand final this year, depending on Leeds living up to their potential, Wigan keeping their fabulous form, Saints regaining some passion and aggression, Castleford's bubble bursting (or not), Huddersfield finally playing to their potential and even Warrington could be dark horses. Could be the most interesting season in a number of years anyway!

Being our natural predator in finals, many leeds fans have an inferiority complex when it comes to wigan. No doubt theres lots of bum twitching here in leeds at the moment, as any hopes of silverware are looking likely to be dashed with each passing week that wigan improve their position near the top.

I look forward to you opening your 'this wolfs team...' thread this weekend.

It's not wishful thinking, it's just a completely valid point, and not one I'm saying WILL happen but one that has the potential to occur. That you doubt running on empty isn't really a threat (especially when Wigan could have the longest schedule of any team depending on the CC) then just sounds like wishful thinking on your side. (Hudds and Saints will definitely have less games under their belts come playoff time).

If lessons were learnt in 2011 then why was going too hard during the season used as an excuse in 2012?

And it's not just because "it's Wigan". Questions about staying power would be asked of any team who tried to fight heavy on all three fronts (WCC, CC, LLS) before Playoffs began.

I think what the other poster was getting at was that Wigan rotate their squad to such a degree I would doubt that many of players will have played more than 23 games (league, cup & WCC) by the time of the play offs. That will mean sitting out 9 games each if Wigan make the final of the cup( obviously less if they don't)

For what ever reason key players have played very few games:
O'Loughlin - 7
Charnley-6
Flower-9
Pettyborne-9
Bowen-11
Mickey mac-12

The top appearance makers are burgess & Taylor who I'm sure will sit out when charnley & flower/pettyborne come back. Biggest concern is Bateman who has played 14 games this season, but when Farrell & Clubb are back he will probably sit out. Wane has already said numerous time he will leave players out to rest them. So the club are already actively looking to stop burnout.

As I said, the depth and quality of our squad, along with the maturity of Wane as a head coach, make running on empty very unlikely to occur, IMO. That isn't wishful thinking, it's extrapolating from what we can see happening at the moment, namely the ability of young players to slot into one of the most structured teams in rugby league with apparent ease and hold there own against and in fact beat top SL opposition.

That doesn't suggest to me that we're ever likely to reach a point where we are running on empty. Our back-up will slot into place when required. We may run slightly weaker at times, but on empty? Definitely wishful thinking from any opposition fan who predicts that happening.

As for your question about 2012, I did say lessons have been learnt since 2011, not that all lessons were learnt in 2011.

at the moment any one of Leeds, Saints, Wire and Wigan can beat any of the others, it is all about who turns up on the day firing on all cylinders. Loss of key players in the spine could have a big effect on any of the teams and how they cope with those players missing could determine who wins silverware and who doesn't...It is no longer a 13 a side game or even 17 v 17, squad depth with players who can step in and keep up the intensity will be what matters come the business end of the season. any 2 from 4

I've never suggested that we won't experience fatigue or go off the boil at any point, simply that we won't, as you suggest, end up running on empty.

agreed.