This is the weakness of the top 5 system. After beating the Reds and going into an away game against the leaders, our reward is a game on the back of a loss, against a team that has just won.
We therefore have a repeat of the last outing vs Reds but with the momentum reversed.

tough game coming up. i think the bookies have this wrong and its far more 50/50 than odds on wigan now.

I agree it will be a tough game but if someone said to you before the season we would have to beat Salford at home to make the grand final you would have ripped their arms off.

If we play well we should win if we dont we dont deserve to get to Old Trafford

Yeah I like having a top 5 and get that this system rewards finishing higher, but it's too likely to repeat games IMO. I'd go:

Week 1 - Wildcard weekend
A - 4 (Warrington) v 5 (Castleford)

Week 2 - Semi Finals
B - 1 (Saints) v Winner A (Castleford)
C - 2 (Wigan) v 3 (Salford)

Week 3 - Final
Winner B (Saints) v Winner C (Wigan)

That would remove the repeat fixtures and most likely give you the same final you would get anyway IMO. 1st don't get two bites at the cherry, but they do get a week off then a game against the theoretically weakest opposition who have just had to play a tough knockout game.

The team finishing 1st should not get a week off as a prize, They have been given the hub cap as the prize for finishing 1st, Top 4, all 4 teams, two games, winners to the final, That'll do for me

I think this system is pretty good and has worked well for SL this season. It gives a purpose to every game in the play-offs.

This looks like one of our most embarassing home turnouts in a long time. Salford could actually come close to outnumbering us at this rate.

Because of how our attack is stagnate and no longer has the second pivot we need out wide linking to the backline. We're currently playing split halves with an 'old school' fullback. Anyone who's watched any of our season can see the lack of second phase out the backdoor off the 6 and 7.

I'm not blaming Zak, he's been great, best defensive fullback since Rads. Just doesn't fit what we're doing.

Just to remind fans... This game is from 1999, very mixed squad from Wigan, some obvious stars and legends from the game playing in cherry and white; but a number who never really made it. Yet look at the intensity and attitude they all start with. This is exactly what's missing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgm7SJMFdjQ

Just to remind fans... This game is from 1999, very mixed squad from Wigan, some obvious stars and legends from the game playing in cherry and white; but a number who never really made it. Yet look at the intensity and attitude they all start with. This is exactly what's missing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgm7SJMFdjQ

How do you know?

I know Salford have sold over 2.5k which is magnificent.

Unfortunately I can’t make it Friday because of work otherwise I’d be be going.

A very good friend of mine from Salford has said they have sold the 3000 sent and have asked for more tickets.

I can believe that in all honesty.

If you thought they were loud the other week, tomorrow will be something else. Having the crowd noise behind you is a huge boost and could give them the edge.

We’ve really got to be on our game tomorrow to beat Salford. And at in any other season if you’d have heard me saying that you could be forgiven for thinking we’re mid to bottom of the table. It goes to show what a fantastic job Ian Watson has done at Salford with a lot of players who, let’s be fair, were discarded from other clubs. If Marwan came back in now and spent wisely; Salford would be consistently in the final’s and winning trophies under Watson.

Yep ideally weather the storm and score early to shut their fans up, who will be out in full force and vocal. We ignored chances at the drop goal late in the game last time when we were 6 ahead. I felt that was arrogant, game management needs to be better this time.