If we'd won those two games against Widnes - as every single person in the game will have expected us to, including most Widnes fans - then we'd have finished top. I say both games rather than just one as obviously Huddersfield would have fielded a different team V Bradford and probably won if they were only one point ahead of us beforehand so I'll take that into account.

Had we done that though we'd probably be in the exact same position as we are now as the cynic in me says Wigan would have gone all out to come third and play Huddersfield if we were in line to finish top, so it still would have been us V Leeds and Hudds V Wigan in week one, with us ultimately ClubCalling Hudds.

Winning the Shield - great though it is the first time you do so, as we found out two years ago - would ultimately have meant nothing at all. We found that out the hard way in 2011 and Huddersfield fans will find it out this year if they don't go on and finish the job at Old Trafford.

In 2011 I wanted the Shield. I had never been to Hull on a Friday night before (or since for that matter) but I made sure I was there that night even though it meant organising time off work and accommodation at very short notice. I regarded it as unmissable. Last year and this year though I couldn't care less whether we won it or not. I want the Super League trophy and that's all.

The Leeds, Wigan and Saints fans who told us in 2011 that the Shield was meaningless were right. It was a nice trophy, one to tick off the list, and something to put on the club roll of honour, but it earns you no respect if you don't complete the job.

If we are being honest, if Wire win on Thursday night, then surely it will be the final nail in the coffin for those people who still argue that the side finishing top of the table are the 'real' champions?

If choosing the team who finished top, ahead of a side finishing fourth wasn't damning enough evidence, then actually beating them would be the icing on the cake for those who claim the play-offs are the real prize.

The claim that whoever finishes top are the 'real' champions was never really made before Leeds won the GF in 2011. After that, some Warrington fans were by far the biggest 'claimers' of this - obviously with a number of Wigan fans, who quite frankly moan at everything when they aren't the club in the spotlight - then a large amount of Wigan fans in 2012, when they didn't go on to win he GF after topping the table.

Before 2011 it was a none issue. Teams who genuinely think they have a chance of winning the GF place target a top 4 spot, which gives them a bigger advantage i.e a second chance, before the top 8 playoff system a top 2 finish was the objective.

I'd agree with that, though the 'second chance' thing is rot..... Wire and Wigan do not get a second chance, only a weekend off, which in recent times is being proved to be no sort of advantage and more of a hindrance.

Go back to the pre-Super League top 8 play off system, which was a straight knockout and then you will have a competition that gives an advantage to those finishing in the top 2.

I am quite plased that you used the word 'claimers' rather than an obvious alternative, but I would still disagree with a concept that theoritically 'allows' a team from the bottom half of a league structure that will have lost more games than they had won in a season to be called Champions.

I like the GF concept but in my opinion it should be an additional series of games with winners of the League called the Champions. The reward could be financial inmuch the same way that the Div 1 play off is called the biggest game in football or entry into an expanded WCC

We tell Huddersfield fans this but they won't listen either. But i imagine after the harsh lesson this season of failing to make the grand final, the penny will final drop. The LLS is good for the ''new kid on the block'', but once you've got it won and it's out of the way, it's worthless and it's all about the grand final.

2012 LLS Wigan GF Leeds GF runner up Wire
2011 LLS Wire GF Leeds GF runner up St H
2010 LLS Wigan GF Wigan GF runner up St H
2009 LLS Leeds GF Leeds GF runner up St H

is what has happened since we went to top 8. The obvious conclusion is that on recent experience, we have done the right thing by sending Leeds to Wigan (and we'd have done the same with St Helens). Twice the LLS have won the GF, twice they haven't been there. The common theme is that Leeds do not lose many play off games.

-cept for 2 wks ago