In theory it may sound right, but try translating such a policy into reality.

Any Wigan coach who consciously had his team take it easy for certain parts of the season would be hung out to dry.

Shaun Wane has become a hate-figure for some because he failed to win either the Grand Final or the Challenge Cup. Imagine if he also lost a few league games.

I agree that the top eight is crap and needs to be changed, but the day Wigan stop trying to win matches will really be the day when the crowds stop attending because pro sport is about offering entertainment and competition, and above all value for money.

So that was fan apathy? I suppose the players took it easy too! What an absolutely tremendous match. A great advert for our game.

Agreed unfourunutely some people on these forums are looking for negative stories

If the system discourages teams from winning (have you ever heard as much bollox in your life?), then it failed miserably tonight. Fantastic contest between two fully committed sides, enjoyed every minute of it.

Totally agree. We got all that tonight. It has to be the way or the 27 rounds [iwill[/i be discredited. It's the duty of all teams to got for it in every round and of course if they do that it ought to elevate the stature of winning the league.

IMO the only reason winning the league is devalued is because we are[i told[/i it is of little value and some fans are happy to accept it is.

Pride plays an important part in whether we get what we had tonight. Both sets of players wanted to get on top of a rival and knew they had to play well to do that. Sadly, another week, a fortnight a month both teams will play far more fixtures where they can coast in 2nd gear and win. If they loe it matters not other than the short term embarassment.

I think you speak from the heart, but this post sounds worryingly like: "Okay we got it wrong tonight - it wasn't a nothing game after all. That will come next week instead." A bit like one of these end-of-the-world prophets who never get it right.

Well whoever didn't go, missed out, unlucky.

Correct....


i enjoyed it immensely and ive been one of the big moaners of late

A rugger fan mate at work attended the game, could not rave about the atmosphere enough. He also told me the game was "ok, i suppose"

He then proceeded to tell me the England v Ireland kick fest was "enthralling"

You just cant help some people

Unbelievable.

The only thing enthralling about it was how static it was compared to the match on Friday night. I think I watched it in a pall of disbelief, while sitting inert on our couch.

I mean we all know that RU is essentially a different game, but even by normal RU standards, nothing seemed to be happening. Conditions were poor, I'd agree, but how can those two teams justify a game in which neither side appeared to have any kind of visible attack strategy. In RL, you commence your assault upon your opponents' line the moment you gain possession. You can't always make it from one end of the field to the other in six tackles, but the tactics are overtly offensive. In RU - certainly at international level, and definitely in that game - vast swathes of the match seem to get bound up in tedious midfield rucking and mauling, tit-for-tat kicking for touch and of course a fog of technical penalties, which are the only thing that ever seem to be a deciding factor.

Mind you, 10 out of 10 to their marketing people for managing to brainwash people like your mate into thinking they are watching something exciting.

And you seem to be intent on ignoring the fact they got two bites at the cherry. Yes playing Wigan would be harder than playing Wakefield, but the advantage of winning that game is greater and the negative of losing it is lesser. Les Catalans win the progress to the elimination semi-final, Leeds win they progress to the preliminary semi-final. Les Catalans lose they go through to the preliminary semi-final, Leeds lose they are out. A game they lost. Les Catalans lost and still got the home advantage, leeds won and didn’t. Why you are insisting on pretending that getting an opportunity to progress directly to the elimination semi-final is worse than not getting that opportunity, getting two bites of the cherry is worse than getting only one, and home advantage having lost game is worse than not getting home advantage even after winning a game I don’t know.


No it isnt.

A top 5/6 system puts the team finishing top straight into a home semi with a 2nd home semi if they lose. The top 8 system doesn't even guarentee the team finishing top a semi final never mind 2 home semi finals