Lets look at finishing positions before and after introduction of Top 8 in the old system 2004 Leeds 1st, 2007 Leeds 2nd, 2008 Leeds 2nd then into the new system in the 3 times they've won since 2009 Leeds have finished fifth twice in 11 & 12 you can not actually sit there and tell me that Leeds under the old system would have ever finished any lower than top 2 and I've just proved that they didn't therefore that is called playing the system what I have stated time and time again but I'll spell it out for you again is that Wigan have NOT turned on or off any kind of form they have simply set out to finish comfortably into a playoff position without busting a gut it's got nothing to do with effort or commitment that has always been the same the difference is during certain games this season key players have been missing Saints away, Hudds home, Hull home wigan are playing the system and the sooner people realise that the better.

It's so difficult to read your posts, it might be an idea to use grammar. My apologies if you're dyslexic. No one is saying Leeds haven't played the system, but to say they wouldn't have won trophies otherwise is well worthy of the ridicule you're receiving. Look at the teams they have beaten on their way to winning those trophies as proof.

You call it playing the system, but somehow, despite being the only team to have successfully exploited this clearly flawed system, Leeds have gone all out to finish as high as possible this season. That's weird isn't it? The only team to have seen the flaw in this system and successfully exploit it decide to ignore it? Not only that, but despite being the creators of this masterplan they decided not to rest any of their key players at any point during the last three years, despite playing in more games than any other team during that time. Instead they cunningly engineered lower placed finishes by knocking on, losing close fought games and getting players suspended for games against key opposition.

The only masterplan at Leeds is to peak at the right times of the season, namely 1 - The WCC (semi successfully) 2 - The CC Semi and Final (again semi successfully) 3 - The play-offs (undoubtedly successfully) and peaking at those times means the occasional dip in form. They don't plan these dips in form, they just happen, and if Leeds could find a way of playing at top form all season they'd do it. They don't give less, they don't try less it's just that sometimes their performances are not as good.

Strangely though we've not had a dreadful 3 month period like Wigans in all those seasons. Maybe Wigan have perfected the plan, or maybe you're talking gibberish.

So if Wigan or Leeds win the Grand Final this year you'll still tell yourself Leeds have peaked at the right time of the season and they apparently did all they could to finish as high as they could and still finished outside the top 2 yeah you keep telling yourself that Leeds are simply peaking at the right time.

Go through Leeds games this season and tell me a single one where they didn't try their damndest to win. They might have played badly some times, they might have had some bad luck (especially with injuries - review our injury list this season and tell me where Leeds should have finished), but they never rested their best players when fit (much to the chagrin of many of my fellow Rhinos fans) and never phoned it in. Of course Leeds are peaking at the right time. You're either an idiot or deliberately obtuse, I no longer care which.

Whereas your skull is too thick to comprehend what's staring you right in the face and your clearly too dense to grasp the simplest of concepts that since 2009 when the top 8 was introduced only 2 teams have won the Grand Final from 1st or 2nd yet it was won by Leeds 3 times from the top 2 before the top 8 yet you think that is all about peaking at the right time and its just a simple coincidence but as I said your too dense to accept that your team has played the system better than the rest.

Shaun Wane is just smarter than everybody!

i wondered when somebody would give him the credit he deserves.
Hes managed the season brilliantly. Pre season it was mainly doom and gloom with many thinking we would be lucky to make the play offs with the squad we had. Oh my how Sean Wane has proved this wrong.

He rotated the team just enough early season to keep it fresh, went on a winning run , long enough to guaruntee the top 4, then concentrated on the cup...we lifted the cup with a defensive display comparable to our displays so far in the play offs.

Win or lose next week, hes done a fantastic job.

Frickin Happy Clappers!!!!

I know coach of the year is probably in the bag and already picked as Paul Anderson but what Wane has done has been equally as good.

Looking back with hindsight it just seems wane knew top 4 was all that mattered (didn't matter where in the top 4) so once that was in the bag he spelled the players and managed the squad knowing they had the ability to do what needed to be done in the big games and they'd be fresh enough to do. Obviously I don't think losing as many games was part of the plan but it was inconsequential.