I am not willing to accept the argument about them pushing us close twice.

The first game away from home saw us go to Leeds with a totally different team than the one playing now. Finch was playing in his second game and was still unfit, the team was on a different wavelength. We were playing our poorest rugby of the last two seasons at the time. We still had enough quality to get a draw despite playing dire.

The second game was at home... but the run of games we took into that match was....

Catalans (A) got beat in a tough game
Exiles v England game which 7-8? of our players played in... this was a mid week game
Castleford (A) a very tough game with players backing up from mid week.... 3 games in a week.
Saints (A) a top performance but a tough physical battle, a derby game
Hudds (H) tough game against one of the best sides in the comp, very physical we got the win.

THEN we played Leeds. That was our toughest run of games this year IMO. We had fatigue and we did not play to our potential in that Leeds game and yet still got a result.

Compare that to now, we are playing some of our best rugby under Madge, peaking at the right time. Salford and Bradford both at home has been our preperation and we have been able to rest key players who have not had a week off all season.

The players are ready mentally and physically for this game. They will be so fired up for it.

I am not saying a Wigan win is certain. BUT... Leeds will have to put in their best ever performance in the CC to beat us. If they do win it will be more than deserved because they will have beaten a top team at the top of their game. They need a huge performance and I am not sure they have it in them.

I agree they have players who could put in a big performance and come up with some big plays, but as a team they will not win the little battles. The only hope they have is somehow getting ontop of our pack (no idea how the f*ck they are going to do that) Sinfield has the best kicking game we have seen and Danny B controls the speed of the game. Even then, Sam or Charnley could still go the length and win it for us.

I would say that whatever team Leeds put out it is going to be a much closer game than a lot of people on here expect. Leeds know they don't have quite the same quality as Wigan and I think the intensity, for the first 20-30 minutes at least, will be massive. If we can cope with that then I think we should go on to win the game.

It's a cliche but everyone has to remember it's a cup final and form plays no part at all. My only ever Wembley experience was '98 and we all know how that one finished.

I don't think many expect Leeds to win but the idea that "Leeds will have to put in their best ever performance in the CC to beat us." You seem to be completely deluded about the historical significance of the current Wigan team.

We shouldn't really concern ourselves about who is and who won't be lining up for Leeds, it's a cup final and whoever they field in their 17 will be determined to win the final. Also, past results will have no affect on this Saturdays game.

I've no doubts about Maguire allowing any feeling of this will be easy creeping into the team, as long as we prepare correctly and perform for the 80 minutes (without any periods of switching off) the result will take care of itself.

It's all about the preparation of the upcoming week and execution on the actual day that will win the cup, not the Leeds teamsheet or previous meetings between the two teams.

Agreed. Far too 'Sheffield' for me.

Yes I'm confident we'll win, but I'm still saying 'if' and not 'when'.

not to mention peacock and leuluai?

forgive me for not $h!tting my pants at the prospect of their pack eh. Leuluai is awful.

We don't need to look at Leeds especially, if our own house is in order for the game then we know we have the ability to win.

I can't see Madge and Waney having the players any less than 100% ready and prepared for the game.

Of course you are favourites, very strong favourites. But Leeds do have some very good players and you could have an off day. If Maguire, Burrow, Buderus, Sinfield all click, it could be closer than we all think.

I think most of the talk around Wigan and on here is playing right into Leeds' hands! For people to say its guna be the most one sided finals in years is ridiculous, obviously don't know what they're talking about. This is a one off match and anything can happen.

I certainly wouldn't rule them out. We never know what is going to.happen on the day.

I'd be worried about Buderus. He had a real nightmare against us last year and will want to put it right. He's certainly got the class to do so.

This will NOT be a one-sided final.

Leeds - incredible though it seems - still have a chance to salvage a very, very poor season by lifting the Challenge Cup. Their senior players will know full well that, despite everything that has gone wrong, 2011 is now only 80 minutes away from being another success story.

I'm not sure it would be the best outcome for them, because McDermott would then be in a strong position to continue. But as others have said, it's only one game and one game can hinge on an odd bounce of the ball, a ridiculous refereeing decision (again), an unfortunate injury. It could also be that Wigan get nervous and freeze, whereas Leeds may feel they have nothing to lose and just go for broke.

That said, I think the Maguire factor is hugely important in this one. Madge has proved that he can prepare his teams perfectly for the big occasion, while McDermott doesn't appear to have the Leeds dressing room in any shape or form. In that respect, I just favour Wigan, but anything can still happen.

great post! Did I just type that? Think I need a lie down

You are spot on though

I thought that back in 98,,,Didn*t even bother to watch the game and went to a a cricket game over in West Bromwich....Could*nt believe the score when i got back in.......

I just don't get the comparisons being made between now and 1998.

In 1998, that was an ageing Wigan team jaded by the numbers of Cup Finals it had appeared in. The opposition were utterly hopeless, as Wigan proved a week later when they suddenly got serious; it was all too easy to take the Eagles with a big and fatal pinch of salt.

In 2011, Wigan are a young side desperate to win silverware and hungry for the glory and fame that they've seen their rivals enjoying for the last 15 years. The opposition meanwhile are one of the other best teams in the competition who, while they may have had a shaky season by their own standards, have not exactly struggled against us.

There is simply no way that Wigan, even without Michael Maguire's skilled motivational techniques, will go out at Wembley and be as complacent about facing Leeds Rhinos as they were Sheffield Eagles.

A more worrying comparison could be drawn with 2002, when Saints were the slight favourites but an unfancied and yet still (on paper at least) pretty impressive Wigan team played out of their skins to secure a close victory.