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.

For a city the size of Hull, that is an Horrendous thing to say. A population of almost 3 times that of St Helens of Wigan should mean they are a constant force in Rugby League.

So... This Wiggin team??

those people who predicted the "kids" would go on and sweep everything before them and not lose another game,bet they feel silly now, all those big ballsy statements after beating a poor salford side.