Leeds are just not the same team without Burrow.

Don't we know it. Back in 2011 he was the player that changed the game in that GF Eliminator. Made two big breaks in the game that took our control right away.

Was brilliant in that GF that year too, scored an amazing try and won the Harry Sunderland.

I've mentioned it on another thread re Wigan v Leeds, but I haven't seen anything in the last hour to change my mind.

The battle we have to win next Thursday is with the crowd. Thaler has been weak, should have sinbinned Sarginson and has allowed the usual messing about at the PTB that seems to be a legitimate tactic these days.

Wigan will do everything they can to nullify Monas, Higham and our PTB speed. The game will be won and lost there, and I hope we get a ref prepared to upset the stadiums knowledgeable populace.

Said this before but not seen a team get away with so much messing about at the PTB since McClennan was at Leeds. It's quite unbelievable how refs just let them do it.

Perhaps I'm wrong but I'm sure that pies v wire must surely be the biggest sl game for us this season.
I have I feeling that the intensity next week will be a rival to state of origin.
I can't wait.

Thought the same thing. The amount of deliberate attempts to slow the PTB was astonishing. Farrell three times just stood in the way at the ruck without being penalised.

What annoys me is they've got the controller of referees sat watching them! Every match he bladly points out the officials (numerous) mistakes, like us he hears the ref shout "HELD! RELEASE" then impassively watch on as players blatantly and deliberately fail to do so without a whimper.

If it was me, come Monday morning I'd be sending all my refs the dictionary definition of the word "release" and verbatim description of the PTB rules, and dropping new yellow-cards in the post to replace the ones all the refs seem to have forgotten they own.

as long as we dont get phil bent one..

Several times last night Thaler warned Wigan players about lying on, but didn't penalise them. Farrell for Wigan, and Bailey for Leeds both found themselves pretending to clear the ruck area in between the tackled player and the acting halfback to slow down the ptb even further.
I thought the worst incident was when Flower made no attempt to tackle Hardaker legally, but launched his forearm straight into Hardaker's face. thaler initially missed it, but gave a penalty after a word from the fourth official. to me it was well worth a trip to Red Hall.

Hi to all on here my first post. I have been posting messages on the sky website previously but recently they have refused to put up my last few for daring to question why Wigan seem to be treated leniently by the disciplinary panel.

Thursday we definitely need a ref who will police the PTB and the only one I have seen do this this year is Silverwood. He isn't consistent but I have seen him penalise Wigan more than any other ref for lying on and other ways of cheating to slow the game down. No doubt Shaun Whinge will be asking for his favourite ref.

Welcome to the dark side!

The referee for the game will either be Bentham or Silverwood.

It's a 50-50 shot. Bentham is a Wire society ref, yet is a Leyther. However, Leyths normally dislike Wiganers, but Bentham doesn't really like us either. Silverwood lives in Mirfield, a stones throw from Huddersfield, yet he loves Saints.

I'd go Silverwood for us v pies and Bentham for the Hudds v Saints game.

I've just watched the last 5 mins of Super League Fulltime, and I'm shaking my head.

After dismantling Saints with some ease, we failed to have one player in the Team of the Week. Now I know ours was a fantastic TEAM performance, yet to have no Wire player in there, after one of our best performances in years, really beggars belief. Hill appeared (at least to me) practically omnipresent, yet no sign of him.

Proof, if ever needed, that stats alone can cloud a lot of things.

Would have loved to have seen big roy in it myself

There's a Faux Cockney I know who has just split his tea down his shirt.