Yes folks, it really did happen. Here was me thinking that it'd all be like that scene in Dalllas, where Bobby Ewing emerges from the shower, and all the previous bad stuff had been a bad dream. No. We really did blow a 14 point lead against 12 men, with only a quarter of the game to go. Mind you. We do have recent history, to back this trend. Twice this season, we've blown 10 point leads against Hull, similar v Stains, 12 man HKR (yes, HKR), and the less said about Cas in Newcastle, the better.

When we went on a 7 match winning run at the start of the season, many on here put it down to fitness. I disagreed then, and still do now. We were mentally tough, and we dig ourselves out of holes (Salford, and a poor start v Widnes). We've become blasé, and, to use a Stephensonism, put the cue back on the rack, when we were cruising.
To use a sporting analogy, we're becoming the Greg Norman of RL in games. Looking good for the first 3 days, but when he gets to the back 9 holes on a Sunday afternoon, he blows it.
Hemmings was right in his pre match ramblings. We have a history of choking on the big occasion, since Wembley 2012. Wigan, Leeds and Saints are battle hardened in the situations. We're like rabbits caught in the headlights.

Smith needs to start earning his pay, and growing himself a pair, and instilling the same altitude to his players. One thing he could do with, is losing that chancer Stuart Pearce's phone number. I see he was there giving out Wembley shirts the other week (seriously, wtf is that contrived load of b0110cks about).There's a bit more to sport than gunning your face, and screaming COME ON. Wane gets his players to dig deep, and get themselves out of situations, and go on and win when it matters. Likewise with Mcdermott at Leeds(this season apart). As I said....battle hardened.

I'm starting to believe the tag we had a few years back....flat track bullies. To paraphrase Billy Ocean, When the going gets tough, Wire pooh their pants

Come on Smith and squad. PROVE ME WRONG.

P.S. Please play players in the correct positions. I.e. wingers on the wing. I think you know what I mean

Not much has changed for me to be honest..... I simply cant see this bunch of players, managed like this, having the mentality to win a big game.

its called 'doing a warrington' in our house now.

Even the wife said to me last night when we were winning by a mile "surely not even we can do a warrington from here"

"I wouldn't be so sure love"

I'm. Still feeling the lot:
Sky /RFL conspiracy. ..Tony Smith finished. ....poor players ....lots of poor players.... just unlucky. ....Wigans best performance for years. .....

Couldn't give a now send the kids to Hull and I mean every last one of em.... send Chris Hill to tenerife for a week to rest. And let's all rock up in the away semi final fresh as daisy. ...


And get beat. ...
Cos really our squad is poor and down to the bones ....



But I've got my season ticket for next year already so not bothered. ...I didnt expect anything as last year we were simply a disgrace. ...so its been a modest improvement

Do I detect the merest soupson of sarcasm, Mr biscuit?

I woke up livid this morning. I'm a big believer that the key differentiator in sport (and most walks of life) is not raw physical ability, but mental strength and desire.

Clubs like Wigan and Leeds have it in abundance. For too long now, we have always been the bridesmaid. Will we have the strength and drive to lift ourselves another three times? I'm struggling to see it.

Coaches should never feel too comfortable, but Tony Smith knows too well that he has a job for life and so is happy to accept mediocrity and ride it out for as long as possible. The arrogance to persist with players like Asotasi stinks but he is allowed to get away with it.

Like I said, Ganson's, they are battle hardened

It's such simple stuff that the fans can see but Mr Smith with his my way or the highway approach to certain games is killing us..

No wingers on the pitch.
The fact that we turned down 2 easy points to go 16 in front.
Throwing out Hollywood passes when only 2 points behind and in good field position..
When we were a point behind once again throwing out Hollywood passes straight to Gelling, all we needed was to drive down the middle for the drop goal and point would have been enough..!

I'm fuming it's the most annoyed I've been after any defeat and I've seen some bad ones.. I started watching Wire in 1989..

I'd maybe feel the same if I was you but you've improved massively this year much like our selves ( but probably not to same extent as you have been top 4 ish more recently ) and no one would begrudge you finishing top next week. Like ourselves you've entertained and been one of the most consistent teams all year. Yes you got done by 12 man Wigan but that's what they do.fight to the end but as a paying speccie I know what team has given the best value for money entertainment wise this year. Come in numbers and make next week ( like the challenge cup ) a night people will actually remember who wins the shield. Like a final. Best of luck and whoever gets it deserves it.

Look, I'm as gutted as anyone about last night, I was raging last night and I still am now, but mediocrity? Another Wembley final, a point off winning the League Leaders Shield and one game away from a Grand Final is hardly mediocrity, is it?

He's got his faults and the buck mainly stops with him I agree, but saying one of the most successful coaches in the Super League era accepts mediocrity is nonsense.

As Mr Meatloaf once said "You took the words right out of my mouth" (but not the kissing bit!)

And may I just add the ridiculous short kick off - wtf?

Watching regularly since 1978 and never felt so frustrated

Let's not kid ourselves, the standard of football across the board has been awful this year. We should have blown teams away all season, as we did to an extent up until Easter. Then we threw away our lead against Hull, royally cocked up v Saints, lost at Belle Vue and messed up in Newcastle. Since then we have chugged along when this really should have been the year to put a marker down.

Yes, we got to Wembley, off the back of wins v Oldham, Widnes and Wakefield. Then guess what? We threw away another lead. Unless we find the mental strength to punish teams once we get 12+ points ahead, we won't put the fear into any opposition and we won't win a thing.

I would love to be proven wrong, of course.

EDIT: how could I forget the draw v 12-man HKR?

I'm not disagreeing with any of that. Let's face it, last nights game should've been irrelevant as top spot should've been secured long ago. Last night summed us up and typifies why, for me, we won't win, or even get to the Grand Final this year. We play how Smith looks, blasé and laid back, but I don't think for one minute that he is acceptant of mediocrity, or that we have been mediocre this year - we've improved massively on the last two years and anyone that doesn't see that needs to get some perspective.

I am gutted but two good posts on the subject DAG.

I'm not saying that people are wrong for having a rant and a moan it is frustrating being a Wire (nothing unusual) I can't see us winning next week but whatever happens we are in the 4 and not out of the big one. Are we better than the last couple of years I think that we are keep the faith

Choked again on a big stage while leading.....common theme for Warrington and Smithy has no idea how to fix it. Wigan totally out muscled us on the pitch and even with a player down they looked the more likely to win. Anyone thinking we have a chance against Hull next week is deluded, Wigan will get 2nd and we will play Wigan away and get beat again and then its season over and the club then start the merry go round of trying to flog season tickets which includes beer, over priced food and coffee and the dreams that its our year again. Ratchford needs to take long look at himself this am he was dog e yesterday as was Sims again If Hill ever left us we would be middle 8s every season.

Hill is your Ellis. Your intensity in defence and go forward in attack is far superior when he's on. If there was a player who I'd want missing next week it's him above any other wire.