I was at yesterday's game and left in disgust when Hodgson went over to make it 36 points to 26 with about 15 minutes to go! We had just clawed our way back into the game to get within 4 points and an unlikely victory. I listened to it on Radio Humberside though and although relieved that we won I was still fuming at the inept attacking display and even more inept defence that were both shadows of our early season form. We were saved by the individual brilliance of a few players and the ability of one Tommy Leluai to open up our attacking options. To put a positive spin on it though we now have a bit of momentum and whilst it presents us with an opportunity to rest some players on Friday I think that we should put out a strong team to allow Pat and Tommy to get us back in the groove again and, hopefully, regain some of our early season supremacy in time for the playoffs.

I wouldn't be worried with what Wane said i'm more worried with how the team is playing

I wasn't going to post this cause it's going to get stick but sod it Finch over the last 6 weeks is a weak link in our team now i'm not saying he's crap or anything but something isn't right and it sticks out like a sore thumb, Mistake after mistake coming from his slow passing and taking the wrong option he needs to be rested on Friday

Micky Mac another one gone off the boil been awesome all season last few weeks mistakes creeping in and some of the old player coming back with brain farts,I spoke to a guy this morning whos view i respect highly and he thinks Logan t should play on friday instead of Micky but i disagree his plays from dummy half are too slow plus you get that agression with Micky

Mossop seems to have bottled it last couple of weeks he's been nothing short of outstanding all season and his game has dropped i dont know if he's tired or what but we need the guy from 2 months back

This is not a pop at any of these players we all know what they can do just not on the ball of late

I don't think we disagree about the flawed play-off format. The problem with the play-off format is that it makes it too easy for lower ranked teams to win the GF.

Since the SL trophy is officially the most important "league" trophy, this means that teams will be less concerned about topping the table and more concerned about entering the play-offs on top form. This devalues the weekly rounds and the LLS. I don't think I'm the only person who has said this.

Saying that the flawed play-off format means that people should value the LLS more than winning the GF ignores the reality (whether we like it or not) that the SL trophy is awarded to the winners of the GF and that the holders of the SL trophy are the champions.

Very few people will remember the winners of the LLS, sadly, but unfortunately that's the way our sport has gone. A decent playoff structure that rewards 1st place and gives them an easy passage to the final is what's required from it all. Not a system that allows 8th place to be in with a shout. It should be heavily stacked to favour the LLS winners with a good mixture of an easy playoff and some rest. The other finalists should come into the final the hard way, battered and bruised.

I agree. The old top five playoff system weighted in favour of the top two, hence why most Grand Finals were played by first v second. (With third getting the odd look in).

And that's exactly how it should be. 5th place shouldn't get anywhere near. I do wonder if Leeds would have finished 5th if they'd have been rewarded an easier route the higher up they finished. It looks to me like Warrington have cruised this season knowing that 2nd will get them a route every bit as easy as first but without the potential injuries of going full throttle, like us, for the full season.

Would a top 7 work?

wk1
game 1. 2nd v 3rd
game 2. 4th v 5th
game 3. 6th v 7th

wk2 semi final
winner game 1 v winner game 2
1st v winner game 3

wk3 final
semi final winners

It gives top spot a week off in the first round and also the easier semi final. I can't remember or work out how a top 5 would work.

Didn't mind either the top 5 or 6 system as it was weighted heavily to first and second. The top eight system is symptomatic of the leadership of the RFL and the rewarding of mediocrity or poor quality. It's obvious from the musings of people like McManus that there is a mood amongst some clubs for radical change on a host of issues including the play-offs.

Exactly.

"Negative thread?". You are damm right it is. It's deeply worrying if, given the fact pointed out above, a coach would value finishing top of the table after the regular rounds above actually winning the competition he entered on day 1. Worrying and disappointing.

Irrespective of what you consider to be the greater achievement, the rules of the competition ensure that finishing top of the league is a clear second best to winning the GF.

I am shocked that anyone in an official capacity with Wigan RL thinks otherwise.

Yep.

Me thinks theres a bit of wilful misreading of the quote here.
What Wane ACTUALLY said was

"If I was lucky to win three trophies, this one would have meant everything," he said.

ie not that if he had to pick one, this the LLS was it, but that if we won ALL 3, this one would be the nicest.

talk about not reading the quote and making a mountain out of a mole hill