I noticed Eddie H mentioning a few weeks that this new rhino rugby ball is like a bar of soap when the hands get sweaty. Is this having an impact on our handling ability? It looked hot in Catalan, maybe I'm clutching at straws and trying to rationalise the appalling handling from both teams yesterday and also in other games I've seen on TV?

Even if I'm wrong, I'm praying for an overcast day next week..

Believe in WIGAN!!! Let's enjoy the week and the build up.. I expect the performance of the season on Saturday.

The most striking aspect for me last night was the lack of enthusiasm. The little simple things in the game for example getting up quickly and set at the markers. On one occasion Catalans had a scrum with 10 mins to go 10 m out from their own line, did we make an effort to stop the clock? Nope, not a chance.

We can only hope this masterplan for peaking in big games will come off next week. However, I'm not sure you can turn form on like a tap...

You would increase training intensity in a cycle beforehand, so to be at peak peformance in september and october you'd be training yourself into the ground now then easing off for the playoffs. So if a team has an increased workload during the week their performances are likely to be flatter.

thanks for the vote of confidence

as BK says, its about going into the KO stage with freshish players.
We burned out last season, and i am expecting Hudds to burn out this time around...hence i want to play them

I've been saying it for a while, the sheer quality that's gone and continues to go against what we bring in(good players that they are) is very scary and i just can't understand it.

Correct. Any Wigan fan who attended the Hudds game feels the same.