Certainly, win or lose, a game against Hudds will not be as physically demanding on the players.
Games against Warrington tend to be brutal.
Hudds play an attacking style of rugby, backed up by great defence, but they aren't brutal.

This.

We couldn't play the kids due to the WB Man of Steel promotion. We went through the motions, we didn't look interested in Winning. We'll win SL this year, i'm sure of it.

All this bravado about how fourth was planned and 'We will be a different team when the real stuff starts next week' is surely said in hope rather than expectation.I really cant see this Wigan team even getting to OT without O'Loughlin in the ranks who, as most of your fans will say, is a bigger player than Tomkins as far as making the side tick is concerned.

You may point to the fact that Leeds have turned it on from a worse position in recent years but they have done it because they have had a core of players in Sinfield,Mcguire,Burrow,JP etc.. who knows what it takes to get the job done, and been able to inspire those around them.I just dont see that in this Wigan team without SO.

I think this is absolute nonsense. We tried to win that game as we tried to win v Hull (and we would have if the bloody clock was working so we'd have been 3rd regardless of tonight's result).

Absolutely woeful performance, despite all the posts on here to the contrary.

All those that think we are a certainty for the GF want their bumps feeling.

If we play like that next week, Huddersfield will put 30 on us.

In 2011 leeds went into the playoffs in good form. They played themselves back in 2nd half of the CC final, then got a very good win away at hudds who if you check had a formiddable home record that year and ended the year in 4th.

In 2012 I believe they actually went into the playoffs on the back of a bad loss away at hudds. However the first 2 games in the playoffs were wakey and catalans who lack playoff pedigree which allowed leeds to build momentum and play themselves into form.

I;m not sure wigan will have that chance in the current set of circumstances.

Flex, you have pointed out the problem with your "TO WIN THE FINAL YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE BEST TEAMS".
Wigan are nothing but flat track bullies, having played 7 matches against top 4 teams and won only one.

Green and Smith are the worst set of regular halfbacks to be seen at Wigan in I don't know how many years and they offer nothing in creativity going forward. All this means is that the outer backs are smothered when the ball reaches them.

Like I said, it came off earlier in the season against lower placed teams, but they have proved themselves to be utterly clueless against the better teams.

The future if Wigan persevere with the style of play using the present crop of players is bleak.

Season over for me. We're not holding anything back as people like to keep suggesting. We're in a massive form slump that wev been in for the last 3 months and have showed no signs of getting out of it. The same happened last year, though that was solely down to Wane trying to win every league game according to a lot on here. We seem incapable of competing with the other top teams, as highlighted by our appalling record in games against Leeds, Wire, Hudds, Catalans this season. How anyone could watch that last night and still think we're going to Old Trafford is beyond me!

I really haven't been concerned about our league form one little bit. No side goes out to lose that is certain, but you can be more focussed on other things and I think that has been the issue. We haven't had that desire to get ahead or to fight back. We've gone behind and seemed to say "be reet".

Our focus was on winning the cup and we did. Now our focus is on winning the Grand Final. I don't believe we aimed for 4th but we're there now and we know what we have to do. I'm more confident of a win than I would have been against Wire without Lockers. Get a win on Thurs, rest the legs and then beat whoever we have too (which could of course be Wire or Leeds).

Don't let our form cloud your judgement. It means nothing.

I think the Challenge Cup win has papered over the cracks somewhat. We had a ridiculously easy run to the final where we didn't play anyone from the top 8 and then Hull didn't show up at Wembley. It wasnt like everything came together in the final and that we'd clearly been saving ourselves for the big game. There is no master plan or anything like that, we are bang out of form and if anything appear to be getting worse.

I would hope Wane is more concerned with our form than you seem to be. I hoped that the Wembley win was the start of something but Warriorcraigs post sums it up for me.

I would imagine he is yes. But he'll also know that we haven't become a bad side overnight as the saying goes. The side that were 5 points clear earlier in the season is still there and can still beat anyone.

If we play as bad next Thursday as we have been then I'll be surprised.

But our performance on Thursday mirrored the entire summer in terms of league matches. This is no overnight occurrence but a continual decline that shows no signs of abating. We will go to Hudds as clear underdogs and rightly so. They are getting better and we are getting worse according to the results. I know there is mitigation to some extent with players missing and backs getting injured during the game but how anyone can contemplate next week with any confidence is beyond me.

i felt relly sorry for the departing players last night.

Pat played well on the whole and he certainly is one of our Men of Steel and always will be in my mind. Mossop put a good stint in as did Tuson who looked really fired up. Hansen was shattered after 15 minutes but played on till about 35 before being subbed due to the injury and then played the large part of the second half if i am correct. the players looked out on their feet for most of the match, run ragged by a solid Leeds who did the basics right and sussed our game plan from the off.

It was definitely a game of two halves, i remember at half time saying what a good game this is for sky for the neutrals etc and was really optimistic for the 2nd half - the second half couldn't have been any worse. i think i counted around fifty tackles where not one player went for the legs. it was almost as though they were trying to puff their chests and try and win a wrestle rather than apply the basic rugby rules. the ref and blindsmen didn't help much but they are not to blame.

i was rather disappointed last night after that second half show. not good enough at all, especially in such a high profile game regardless of its benefits to league position or not. if they expect the fans to turn up in their numbers whether the game is a nothing game or not, then i expect a better show whether the players are fatigued or not or whether there is a trick up their sleeves or ulterior motives or not regarding the playoffs.

no wonder they put on the half price ticket offer for season ticket holders as they knew they wouldn't get half a crowd to that "nothing" game otherwise.

for me, no game is a nothing game as pride is always at stake and paying fans deserve to get what they pay for - in terms of effort at least. the end!