This is the third year in a row that the winners of it haven't even reached the Grand Final, nevermind won it. Is it the final nail in it's coffin?

Although I was too tense to enjoy it properly, there's no doubt that last night was a very good game of rugby, and although I won't be watching it because I'm at work, I have no doubt that tonight's will be of equal quality. What this year has produced is a big talking point in the ClubCall pick, and the four top teams in the league going head to head at the climax. It will be rounded off with a match played in front of 70,000+ people.

Surely no one can still try and dispute that it really is the big prize? You don't get any no mark clubs sneaking into the semi finals by getting lucky draws against lower league sides then getting 70-0 defeats against the first top team they play as can happen in the Challenge Cup. You don't get the season fizzling out into nothing with one team running away with the title and everyone else having nothing to look forward to other than an end of season tagged on tournament which doesn't have the same meaning because the Champions have already been declared as can happen with a FPTP format and separate Premiership.

This is the real deal, and the Shield is increasingly becoming an irrelevant side story. Other than what it meant in terms of play off position, I didn't care all season if we won it or not. I care big time who wins next Saturday.

NOW THE WIRE

It is amazing how supporters views can be influenced by their clubs involvement in the play offs....i am sure if next season we win the LLS & get dumped out the play offs ,then the hub cap will be the trophy to win .

I personally think the LLS winners should be champions ,but i will be going to OT & enjoying the day & i must admit that i do warm to the play offs when we reach the final .

In my defence I never once tried to claim us as Champions in 2011, nor have I complained once about Leeds winning it from fifth either then or last year. I'm staunchly pro-play offs, and thought what Leeds did in them for the last two years was incredible. I'm just using this post to promote it to the non believers...

I was not having a go at you , but i have noticed myself mellowing towards the sky cup the further we have progressed to OT .

Bring back fptp.

The thing about the LLS shield is that to the fans of the team who have won it, it's a great achievement. Yet to fans of other teams, it's a mickey mouse competition that's not worth a damn. We won it in 2011, it was a great achievement. Yet Saints fans, Leeds fans, Wigan fans say it meant absolutely nothing.

The following year, Wigan won it and their fans were proclaiming it as a great achievement. Huddersfield won it this year and their fans were made up, yet other fans still say it's a waste of time.

At the end of the day, it's nice to finish top of the table and get some silverware, but if it's not backed up by at least a GF appearance/win, then unfortunately most people will say it means absolutely nothing.

should it mean that the winners go straight to OT, or at least play one match and get there. would it be worth more winning the lls if the route to OT was much easier than coming second or third...or fifth...

Still think finishing top should mean you are champions as its the hardest thing to do when every team is going for it. Playoffs can easily be decided by a refereeing mistake or who happens to be fit or not on a given day. Not as accurate in determining champions in my opinion.

Wow. Amazing how opinions change. Just 2 years ago a sizeable majority of wire fans were lauding the LLS and completly disreguarding the trophy that actually makes you champions because 5th place leeds won it which made it a joke and not fair.

I agree with everything you say of course, I just wonder whether those same wire fans from 2 years ago will be deriding warringtons achievment of winning the ''poxy sky cup competition'' next week, which would make them champions for the first time in over half a century, afterall hudds are the real champs right? they finished top.

not a chance....IF we win

win the league you are champs end of.....ask red nose fergy he`ll say the same....that equates to spurs who finished 5th one year being crowned champs..utter bollox..but some on here wont have it...end of rant on this subject

It's not so much the fans opinion. It's the fact winning the grand final gives you the tag of champions. Winning the LLS doesn't. The LLS winners aren't even listed on the super league honours page. It's considered to mean nothing because it does.

So i take it you won't be going next week then. Meaningless game. Champs have already been decided, right?

I would agree with you if all clubs were doing their utmost to win the league, but they're not.

I was convinced, and still am, that we were the best team of 2011 and worthy champions. I never gave any thought that other teams didn't give it there all throughout the season and we're saving themselves so they could run into some form come the play offs.

Since then you can clearly see where we've sacrificed some results to prioritise for the play offs and it changes the way you think about the team that ends up finishing in first place.