Don't see what the problem is celebrating finishing top of the league - everyone knows that the big prize is the GF under the current system, but the club and players should be proud of their efforts and consistency throughout the season. I watch Wigan for the whole season, not just for a few games in the Autumn and I appreciate the effort that the lads put in week to week together with the results that it has gained.

The hubcap is a minor piece of silverware, but it is still a trophy to be won, something the club has failed to attain since 2002. To me it symbolises progress, regardless of the outcome of the playoffs which of course retain greater importance.

Having remained a supporter of Wigan RL during the last decade, enduring such top-drawer performances as 70-0 and 75-0 and the threat of relegation, I will be cheering for whatever silverware is presented to us! No, it isn't the big prize but what the heck?

The team has worked damned hard since Maguire and Wane took over and pretty much sealed the top spot a month before the end of the season. The club, and we fans, deserve a little moment of joy before the play-offs set in.

I agree with the previous two posts on this thread. I don't know how anybody could be embarrassed by finishing top of the pile at the end of a long season, We support Wigan all season not just during the play-offs.

Why do people buy season tickets? Why don't you just get tickets for the CC and playoff games? If thats all that matters
I think its a sad state of affairs that our nation and sport accepted the playoff format so readily. Its really is farcical that our game accepts a one off playoff game to decide the best team in the league. Especially when you see how many games are decided by referees.
Noble had this vision that 'its not how you start its how you finish' and look at the poop we were served up for half a season every year.

You want to get your memory checked then pal! We only came top in 2004 and 2009 and guess who went on to win the GF both times? You may be getting confused with some Saints fan.
Either that or you just made it up!

Same as us so far!

We finished top of the pile 1998/2000

Plus this year (Surely this can't be counting chickens?) Makes 3?

I think you've got a 'noob' there!

I still can't understand the logic in a team winning a series of knockout rounds at the end of the season that could have come anywhere in the top 8 and be called the champions for the next year. I know it gets said all the time but i still just really can't see any logic in it, i'm not just saying it because Wigan will finish top this year, i've always thought that.

If it wasnt a big deal the sky people would be at a differant ground,would imagine IL handing the hub cap over to the team.

Onlt one team gets crowned the Champions at the end of the season. Coming top of the pile is a great achievement but if we don't win the GF it will be of little consolation to me

Completely agree. The GF system is a triumph of marketing over common sense.

It's also been diluted by including more teams in the playoffs over time so that diminishes any claim it had to be the real decider IMO.

It was also supposed to improve RL here as it was supposed to introduce pressure games and thus better place us internationally. Look at the international results since 1998. It has not worked.

It's all very noble to say we must win the GF but really when you see the effort all teams put into the league it's completely daft it is the minor trophy.

Hello from South Africa by the way which is where I am at the moment.

Dave

No you'll have someone from the sponsors handing it over. That's why they'll want to televise it, so the sponsors get exposure.

I don't think the game when we were given it was televised the other year, but they may be making a bigger deal of it because it's Wigan and it's been a while since you won anything .

There's little that's more embarrassing than when fans of the team that have won the hubcap wail about being 'true champions' when someone else wins the GF. And I include Saints fans in that, it was cringe worthy last year.

I think that we should celebrate finishing top as a huge thank you to all the staff and players at the club, the effort this season has been outstanding and the turn around in 12 months has been incredible considering the disappointment of the last few seasons. I'm sure that, in reality, most fans are thrilled at us finishing top, despite the fact that winning the 'hubcap' is downplayed at every opportunity. The boys deserve to be cheered heartily and it will hopefully spur them on to glory in the play-offs.