If we had beaten Widnes away, as we should have (no disrespect to Widnes) then the Wire game would not have had the significance as it did. The pressure to win would not have been as important, and maybe we would have played much better?

wonder if the Challenge Cup would have so much value to the Wires if it wasn't the only trophy they were capable of winning??

IF, we had beaten Hudds at home, IF,we had beaten Wire at home, IF, we had beaten Bradford at home...............................................big word IF.

Last season, we won the hub-cap. Whether the hub-cap has any value or not, finishing top means the CC is not the only trophy we are capable of winning. This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that we have won 2 different pieces of silverware in the last 3 years.

Apologies if I have somehow misunderstood the point you were making.

Sorry pal, you are talking e and I think even most sensible Wigan fans would agree with me - You come across as both arrogant and stupid with this whole 'The Challenge Cup is a pointless trophy' point of view.

I think most people, whether they like to admit it or not, would also agree that Wire are definitely capable of winning Super League, so whatever point you are trying to make is utter bollox.

The only excuse I can make for you, is that by your username it looks like you are about 16 or 17, which tells me you are both naive and also that you have been taken in by the Sky hype campaign over the years, that has tried its very best to belittle our sport's most famous competition.

Wire are 'the team to beat' in all competitions IMO and Saturday proved that. They have set the benchmark now of where we need to try and get to this year to win the big one at Old Trafford. There's no point burying our heads in the sand and thinking Saturday was a one off because Wire have been giving it to us for a few seasons now and we'll more then likely need to turn that form on it's head if we want to become champions.

In all honesty the Challenge cup isn't the biggest trophy to win anymore but it's still huge and we'd all give our right arms to be in the final. In the same breath i'm sure the vast majority would rather win at Old Trafford but fans of all clubs would be of the same opinion.

Just remind me, according to IL, how much did Wigan £ lose by not playing at Wembley this year?
Then remind me how much would Wigan £ lose by not playing at OT?

Money isn't for the fans to worry about.

I worry about winning the biggest trophy on offer this season and that's the Grand Final at Old Trafford imo. I loved every minute of wembley last year and it's a massive trophy to win but I loved every minute of the 2010 Grand Final win more! I also loved the constant references in the Media in 2011 stating us as champions which is something you don't get nearly as much with the challenge cup and I also loved the fact we were involved in the World Club Challenge which must bring in a hefty chunk of revenue.

Grand Final everyday of the week but the Challenge Cup is a mighty fine second.

We've lost two really big games- Leeds in the semi and last week. Both occasions saw us not turning up and making a catalogue of errors, not fronting up in the pack and failing to get the best out of our strike runners. YET, despite this if we had a different referee in the semi we could well still have won that game and last week at 12-6 heading to the interval, Wire score from a blatant forward pass and their next try comes from the sort of freak error by Smith that I doubt he will repeat if he plays 300 games for us.

In short, even when we are playing horribly, no one is getting away from us, we are keeping in touch with winning opposition and assuming we get Pat, Finch, a prop and possibly Tommy back for the play offs we have the talent in our side to take chances and come through even when we are having a serious off day.

Believe chaps.

Tell that to the Bulls fans. If Wigan didnt have IL they would end up like Bradford, I worry about money maybe you should look at the world around you......

Were taking rugby league here not the global economic crisis. Yes Bradford have stuffed up due to miss management over a number of years and it's sad to see the state theyre in but we have Lenagan so like I say I don't worry about the financial state of the club. It's all ifs and buts to say 'what if' he wasn't here, he is and he manages superbly well.

The challenge cup is a good earner granted but did any of our fans stand at Wembley last year thinking 'get in the clubs just earned £250,000 in revenue'? I doubt it because for the fans it's all about the glory and like I've said I believe there's more of that in winning the grand final then there is in winning the challenge cup.

I'm off now to see how the Greeks are getting on!

why would we?