Unless they change something coming top is just going to mean less each season. 2010 we got to the GF playing all 3 weeks of the play offs and as a result of losing week 1 we lost "club call". 2011 Wire didn't even reach the GF so coming top doesn't mean much come play offs. Don't think coming top should guarantee GF bit definately needs more prestige about it than getting the hubcap.

This talk about throwing matches terrifies me. We've seen Wigan stumble simply because they had a week off. The best chance this team has to keep on winning is to try and get on a roll.

You can't try and find an easy route to the Grand Final. You have to be willing and able to beat anyone put in front of you.

We can't win the league next week. We can only win it at Old Trafford. HTH.

As much as I'd have loved to be at Wembley I think having that week off will do us a massive favour for the play offs.

This squad won the GF from 1st. That's the way to do it, let's do it again. i honestly don't care who we play in the play offs. In KO rugby anyone can't beat anyone, but we should be favs against any team we come up against.

Whilst I want us to finish top because I hate losing, due to it meaning nothing in the grand scheme of things I don't actually care. I'll be annoyed and grumpy for a day or so, but if it leads to seeing rlthisrl on October 6th then I couldn't care less whether we finished 1st, 2nd or after a points deduction 8th.

Part of the reason I wasn't so sad to see Maguire leave.

Obviously he did a great job here and turned the club round - with Wane simply acting on the foundation Maguire left. Unfortunately (and it was clear as day) Maguire didn't blood any youngsters last season and went with his strongest squad each week. By the time the playoffs rolled around we were shot.

This year we look much fresher.

End the day the HKR could win the GF if they get on a good roll. Also we could win all the regular season matches and lose two matches in the play offs and be out!

In my eyes you win the league now/in September.
You become champions at OT.

Whether you "win" the league is debatable.

I would argue that under the current structure, a team does not win the league, rather it "finishes" top.

At the start of the season all the coaches understand that the competition is all about the GF and not about finishing top. They then formulate their plans and strategy around this.

Correctamundo

Yep and it's the number of teams that qualify for the playoffs together with the current structure that allow this. It basically means you have to have one consistent period throughout the season and still be in with a shot. This results in teams being able to have a great start then drop off (eg Hudds and Hull this season) or start poorly then find form later in the season (Leeds) and still be guaranteed a playoff place. The league would be much more exciting if we currently had 3 or 4 teams trying to scrap to get in the top 5 rather than teams going through huge losing periods and still being sat comfortably in the playoff places.

A simple tweak of the playoff structure would force teams in to becoming more consistent throughout the full season and this strategy of holding back for the playoffs would become obsolete because there would be a genuine risk of missing out completely.

I'm sorry we are the best team in the comp who cares who we play if we want to win the gf we have got to beat the best left in

The semi v Leeds we showed up with injuries and players not 100% they played the best they have all season we a few calls going against us and they won by 11 points i think that says it all

Wigan with a full strength side are unstoppable

I want Wigan to win the league. We deserve it and have been the best team in the competition this season. In the grand scheme of things it may mean nothing, but it's nice thing to have which recognises and reward a season of hard work.

so, whom was missing from this line up then?

5. Pat Richards
3. Darrell Goulding
4. George Carmont
2. Josh Charnley
1. Sam Tomkins
7. Thomas Leuluai
6. Brett Finch
13. Sean O'Loughlin
12. Gareth Hock
21. Epalahame Lauaki
8. Paul Prescott
11. Harrison Hansen
9. Michael Mcllorum

23. Ben Flower
17. Chris Tuson
16. Liam Farrell
14. Jeff Lima