This is all getting silly, Leeds fans are now showing some real class and actually making me warm to the Rhinos! If this carries on there'll be no teams left in SL for me to vent spleen on.

Should be a cracking match.

I was there in 1990 and was really really upset when we lost - not helped by the fact that Cull wasn't playing.
We were playing against a ''dream'' team then - Edwards, Offiah et al - and in all honesty we only had a small chance of winning.

Now 23 years on I have genuine hope.
Yes Wigan are good and have some excellent players, but so do we.

I am very impressed with their forward pack - all relatively young and mainly ''home grown''.
This is where it will be won or lost.

Assuming House is fit I can see us having Moz, Cav, Monas and Harrison on the bench and them all coming on at the 20 minute mark and making a real impact.

The big question mark for me is over Hodgson and whether he plays, and if so where does Ratch move to.
Before the semi, my answer was to replace Bridge, but he had an immense game.
So maybe Riley drops out, Atkins to wing and Ratch to left centre, or Bridge to replace Riley.
Can't see Ratch being on the wing.

I think Monas and Higham will cause havoc from dummy half - especially later on.
The key danger is to make sure their forwards don't get on top and we have to be really tight in defence around the ptb.

Seems like too much movement there Fez1 it could mess the fluidity if the team. I saw Waterhouse in a brace at the game. I'd be shocked but happy if he made it. Same team for me otherwise. Sorry Brett.

I think if Waterhouse is fit he goes into the pack, Grix to 13, Coops stays on the bench and Harrison drops out. Other than that, same side.

Judging by his body language, and Carvell appearing to almost be consoling him after the semi final, I got the impression that barring injury Hodgson has played his last game for the Wire.

It's understandably very marginal. Best price Wire is 4/5, best price Wigan 11/10.

I know what you mean - and having just read the fact that TS left Hodgson out this week even though fit and OK, and House has his knee in a brace then I'd tend to agree that it'll be the same 17.

I feel sorry for both of them.

Coops is an able replacement for House but not really in the same league.
House's sheer size and running angles are a nightmare for the opposition defence. I just don't see Coops commanding the same attention from the defence.

A bench of Moz, Cav, Monas and Coops isn't exactly bad though is it?

Actually expected us to be shorter, I think as the week goes on the prices will be nearer 4/6 and 11/8

I have backed Wire @ 10/11 to lift the Trophy and -10pts @ 16/5 on the handicap.

Wasn't that impressed with Wigan v Leeds. Leeds were out on their feet after 20 minutes with Watkins a virtual passenger. I am fully expecting us to win if we play to our potential. I would keep the same team as last week.

You can bet lockers will play, history reminds me, Edwards Radlinski Connelly all making miraculous recovery and the morning of a final against doctors orders and all putting in the m.o.m performance! All of them seemingly on deaths door ill.

don't you fret w.i.t.b
there'll always be pie eaters!