what you doing this year meast ?

think they may off matched half of our pack paul wood and louis anderson add a great deal of power to the forwards

Lets think back to when we played Catalans at home earlier this season. We destroyed them and the game was won easily in the first half. Granted they had players out but we will be ok against them in Widnes. We had to put up with the heat over in France this week end but at Widnes they will have to put up with the smell

And hopefully we will get a couple of the five team regulars back who didn't feature in Perpignan.

I'm sure Catalans are thinking the same Wire_74, they were also missing 5 regulars.

IF Wire win the Semi at home in two weeks time then I hope they go on and win the cup. IF they get turned over by Catalans in the Semi then I hope they make the Grand Final.

Neither will be easy but Wire have been consistent this year, although they have been the least affected by injuries which helps. If Catalans had stayed relatively injury free then I think they would be in the 8, not as high as Wire but definitely in there.

Least affected by injuires?

Clarke, Carvell, Myler, Higham, Bridge all out for chunks of the season.

Now

Wood, King and Louis.

We (and Wigan) HAVE been less affected by injuries than others. However, several key players have not been missing at the same time (cf Greenshields, Bosc, Pelo or Burrow, Sinfield, Webb). You missed Briers off your list - remember how well we coped without him for several weeks.

Oh yes, round four against Huddersfield that was the first game he missed then he wasn't back tilla fter Saints which was about round 11 I think.

Just goes to show what a decent conditioner and medical team coupled with good luck can do. I don't begrudge you your luck with injuries as I hate to see any player out injured.

As TS has said you are one of the only (if not the only) team to have 2 physios. I think it is this investment which has maybe helped you the most this year and if everyone else doesn't like it then maybe other clubs should think equally hard about their backroom staff as you have clearly done.

I know for a fact it was Jimmy who first brought up the idea of an enlarged staff to keep more bodies on the field, he doesn't really get the credit he deserves for his work in your emergence as a real challenger.

The previous years of bad injuries also gave Ben Harrison, and to a lesser degree, Chris Riley, lots of experience which is now paying off. The balance of the squad helps too - if everyone was fit, you'd be seeing players like Vinnie, Clarke, Grix wondering if they'd play.

im going to perpignan otherwise i'd be at wembley to enjoy a great day of rugby league.

how old are you? 8?

Are people forgetting our woeful record in Perpignan?

I think this result is a blessing in disguise, if im 100% honest with myself i dont think we would have got top spot anyway, i couldnt see wigan losing two more and us remaining unbeaten.

This result gives us the kick up the a*se that should see us crack on, hopefully turn Stains over on saturday, giving us confidence for the semi, final (hopefully) and play offs.

COME ON YOU WIRE!!