i'd play the bloody under 20's and give the entire forward pack a week off

Richards was off the pace, Hansen was poor, Coley plodded all day, Hoffman wasn't at his best and Locky was off the pitch more than on it I think..

Use the same policy we'd have used if we'd have won.

If someone needs a rest, then rest them. Friday's a non-event really, we should win comfortably as from what we saw of Bradford recently, to concede that many points to them means Crusaders must have been dreadful.

The fun and games start the week after then, with what looks like a belter of a playoff against the enemy.

I was thinking the same, we got busted up the middle today, also for me Pat has looked lethargic for the last couple of games!

Level head says today won't really matter come the play offs. The prides took a battering but give it a couple of days and it'll be forgotten.

I actually thought there was some encouraging signs from today's game considering it was our worst performance of Maguires time here.

Anyone with a genuine knock gets rested, the rest play (unless dropped / suspended....)

Level headed time- Winning the league leaders shield is unimportant. I have said this all along. The clubs know this at the start of the season and plan accordingly.

Sure it's "nice to have" but it is NOT a trophy (well it is physically one, but not one of note

)

I am not surprised in the slightest about this result, nor am I worried that it will have any negative impact on Wigan going forward.

Rest those who need a rest - We looked shot today and in the second half at wembley and its obvious the cup run has flogged us.....We need to give a few lads a break so there back in tip top form for saints.

The obvious ones who looked knackered and out on their feet today were Coles / Paat / Carmont / Hansen.....I would rest all of these and would also rest both tomkins.

Bring in O'Carroll / Goulding / Marsh / Amos and give Mellor and Russell and Crosby a run...should stil have enough for the crusaders with that and gives a few of the fringe young players a chance.

Id go with a team of

Russell, Charnley, Goulding, Marsh, Amos, Decon, Finch, Prescott, Leuleui, Lima, Hoffman, Farrell, O'Loughlin Subs: Crosby, Mellor, McIllurm, Mossop

Agreed, topping the league is a mickey mouse thing really. We haven't bothered with it for 40 years.

With the promotion of the Heritage Game does that put more pressure on the coach to pick as strong a team as possible? I am in favour of a weakened team, the result has no effect on other SL teams no team would be disadvantaged by a Crusaders win. But there would be a backlash if a weakened team lost and Hull do manage to beat the Wire

Common sense tells me that we must put out our strongest side against the Crusaders. If Madge wants to give his players a rest he may well give the more exhausted ones a break on Friday - by definition they would not be part of a "strongest" side anyway. But the ideal way to get a break is to beat our first round opponents at the DW. Last year we did it the hard way and had to go to Leeds to get back in the saddle but we probably were fitter due to not having played in the Challenge Cup final. We now need to overcome the obvious effects of our victory at Wembley and stay focussed - or rather, re-focus. Yesterday we weren't at the races. But if one coach can inspire the team to get back to winning ways and get us back to Old Trafford it is Madge.

Not really sure what point you are making here.

The reality is that the "league leaders trophy" is NOT a major trophy under the current system. Everyone knows this at the onset of the season.