My stalker Rob will no doubt come on tonight after a few beers and accuse me of wanting to suck up to strangers on a forum but I have put the same on Redvee. I genuinely want Wigan to beat Leigh on Friday and by a good score. Naturally I don't want them to win the comp but Leigh have very quickly become one of my most hated clubs

Beaumont and his behaviour is the biggest factor. The man is an absolute tool and has no class whatsoever. His tweet after we lost to Warrington on Saturday just summed him up, not sure why he felt the need to have a pop at Salford in the same tweet either

Despite what I want I think Wigan will win comfortably anyway. Despite being a better team, for some reason Leigh make it easier for them by rolling over and having their tummy tickled most times. Charnley missing is a big loss for them too.

I'm hoping for a Wigan v HKR final which is what it should be. 1 v2, the two best teams in the comp.

I think we've generally been fortunate in when we've played them. Last year we played them straight after Wembley and I seem to remember the first game they had a quick turnaround/couple of injuries. They didn't roll over for us going into the play offs, but this season too we've tended to play them at a good time.

I think it'll probably be the same on Saturday. They'll definitely feel like they owe us one, but it's a big ask to back up last week with a depleted squad.

I think a problem with how people think about the week off is that they judge it exclusively on the result of the next game. For me the biggest advantage we have there is less about whether we're more likely to beat Leigh, and more about whether we're more likely to win at Old Trafford. That's a difficult thing to prove obviously, but I'd feel a lot better about our chances in the GF after a week off and one possibly tough game, than I would about facing a third tough knockout game in a row, like Wire will be facing if they get past Hull KR.

Came on to say pretty much this. I don't really care who wins but I'd be amazed if Leigh did.

Or alternatively "are usually beaten by a much better team on the day".

Don't let me spoil your Saints centric narrative though.