How so? Proving yourself over the course of the whole season deserves some recognition .

and the 9's

Leeds have faced loads of sh*t over the past few seasons when they were champions and i've had my own pop at them for some of their tactics and attitudes but i've got to say now I understand to a point.

All this tripe that keeps being talked about comes with the title of superleague champions and you can't help but smile especially when somebody as unprofessional as Paul Cooke is joining in. Why the hell does he think anybody would be interested in his opinion? He questions Sam Tomkins attitude and says he should concentrate on using his talent instead of trying to con the ref.........well thats rich because maybe if he'd have concentrated on his talent and kept himself fit instead of getting pis*ed all the time he may have just about been good enough to lace Sams boots.

Laughable.

I couldn't agree less! The only reason the league leaders shield (or minor premiers as it's pehaps more accurately referred to in Aus) isn't more significant is purely down to tv and nothing to do with sport! I have many non-rugby league fans who simply cannot understand how the playoffs are more important than the table as decided by the games played over the whole season. Despite being a fan of the playoff system, I have to agree with their viewpoint. It's less than 20 years since the 'league leaders' was the way the ultimate prize of 'champions' was decided. To suddenly reduce it to near insignificance so we can whore our sport to tv says more about us as fans than it does about the achievement of finishing at the summit after every team has played every other (at least) twice! Maybe we should stop being Sky's little lap dogs and show proper sporting credence to what is ACTUALLY the major accomplishment of the season. It in no way detracts from the playoffs to recognise the significance of finishing at the top of the table. Shame on us, as fans, that we don't.

well put.

Perhaps he should go and coach Barrow. ( sorry any Barrow fans )

Does this mean Phil Clarke is a prophet of the church of Wigan? Or is he just a prophet for all of the Rugby Gods faith but not affiliated to the church of Wigan?

I agree, I was always frustrated when we finished first and lost the GF (twice in a row) and never got a mention, its clearly the more difficult achievement and more impressive IMO. It's stupid that fans of teams that finish 1st and don't win the playoff series are forced to consider it a poor season.

The only fans that dismiss the League leaders are fans of teams that haven't won it.