19000 people obviously thought it was a big enough occasion to show up for. If your thick-as-pig coach didn't think it worth putting out a full-strength side then perhaps that's where you should point the finger. As ever a game that Wigan lose is meaningless, and not like the halcyon days where Wigan won.

I have just started the same debate on the Warrington board.

I will love to hear the teeth gnashing if St Helens end up winning the Grand Final after being utterly rank for most of 2013. They appear to be behaving rather 'Leeds like' at the minute....

Thing is though that Saints aren't being "Leeds like" at the minute. Leeds finished fifth because in the seasons in question they had other matters to concentrate during the regular season. Both years they peaked massively early in the season for the World Club Championship and reached the Challenge Cup Final in both seasons. Inevitably when you have games like those to play in you focus on them and if players are carrying knocks prior to them they will be rested (nothing new in that clubs have been doing that for years on end around the CC Final). Warrington have lost the game the week before their all their recent CC Finals, including a 50+ point drubbing by London and a home defeat to Wakefield, both those defeats potentially sacrificing the lead leaders shield, there were few complaints when the Challenge Cup was being lifted.

Saints are fifth because that where they deserve to be on performances (if not lower) either way they won't being winning anything and if anybody thinks different I've got plenty of money that I would be willing to back my assertion with.


The league leaders shield is ranked third of the three available trophies - that's a fact. However when Warrington won it is was massive for the players and the club. Nobody has accused Warrington of being in-consistent since then. The same as it will be massive for the Huddersfield club and fans if the they go on (as they should) and seal the top position. It will be no less important to them just because its easy for the fans of teams like Wigan and Saints (and unbelievably arrogant Warrington fans given our previous 50 years before the last 3) to talk down the importance of one of only three available trophies just because this year their team won't be winning it.

It was a full strength side. Both Lockers and Sam are injured.

There have plenty of occasions over that period. I remember well the Wigan v Widnes top of the table do or die clash in 1991? when 30,000 locked into Central Park for a sizzling match which had everybody on the edge of their seats for the whole game. That was the year Wigan played several games in just over a week and went into the Widnes game with most of the team carrying injuries. I remember that Andy Gregory was very doubtful but he was given several injections before the game and played! That was because it was vital to win the game. With the current SL set up there was absolutely no way Wigan were going to give ST injections and risk him before the CC final. How times have changed.

I think Hudds are a really good team and I enjoy watching their attacking flair. It will be great for them and the game if they can now go on and seal the LLS and possibly make the GF. Maybe a Wigan v Hudds GF would be an interesting end to the season but it would certainly have even more intensity than last nights game.

I think the old top 6 SL system was better because there was a real advantage finishing top and I feel sure that last night's game would have had even more intensity. Wigan are clearly aiming for the CC cup and GF this year having only won the LLS last season. Its such a shame that the current SL system, media and fans take some shine off finishing top because it is much harder than winning the CC and deserves much more credit. Having said that I take absolutely nothing away from Hudds who absolutely deserved to win last night.

Excellent post !!

Completely agree. Others who don't are either to hung up on when they've missed out previously or worried that they aren't good enough to win it in future.

My post wasn't about Wigan, or the game, they are simply an example, a part of the bigger picture which is an ongoing problem, how the RFL is ran managed.
As much as I hate to say it, I see why Wane rested Sam and Lockers, winning the league used to mean something, now it doesn't.
Sadly fans are the ones who miss out, i'm pleased if some enjoyed the game (I'm thinking of it from a neutral perspective) but let's face it, it's never the game it should be if our two best players aren't playing.

If the league meant everything, they would have certainly played.

Wasn't that the year that Wigan rested 12 of their CC Final starting 13 for the game the week before the final?

About what exactly?

Never a bad time to help a charity. I'm sure it could have been planned to feature a shirt modernised from a past era. Milwaukee for example?

I don't know about that but they certainly didn't rest players for the end of season league games when it mattered. Now that the LLS has gone they will probably rest the whole team next week at Catalans.

When winning the league actually meant something. Now it's about the CC and GF. You can finish far from 1st and still be crowned champions at the end of the season.

Don't you, as a Huddersfield fan think it took the shine off the game knowing you beat a Wigan side minus it's two best players? It's like celebrating beating a boxer with one arm tied behind his back.

Wigan clearly don't care about the league, it means nothing, if they did Sam and Lockers would have played and it would have been a different story.