I admire your cynicism. It's a brave man who will condemn a win next week as one that would "mask our inadequacies".

Even braver to suggest that will allow IL to pursue an agenda.

It was just as long a trip for us. Yet we beat Catalan comfortably by a 20 point margin at their place a couple of weeks ago.

We've been very poor since the Magic weekend.
I certainly think that because of the young age of the team, we are suffering from a level of fatigue that is not being affected on older players.
The players have shown us what they are capable of earlier in the season, I think that once this group mature they will be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.
Injuries have also played a part in the dip in form, the replacements coming in are even younger and not quite ready for the first grade: they have shown glimpses of their quality and will improve with time.
Rather than doom and gloom, I am really looking forward to future seasons as I think we have a promising bunch of talented young players that will serve the club well.

How did you do for your other long trip ... bottom of the table London Broncos ?

Didn't Wire get banged by 60 against London the week before the Cup Final last year? Don't worry.

last year was down to Wane flogging the players to death trying to win every single game.

this year is somewhat different.
We were winning at will early season, then dipped in form. Plenty thought it was injuries combined with Wanes policy of resting players.
We had a massive upturn in form to hammer the Broncos in the semi-final, after smashing Widnes out of sight when plenty predicted a close game based on our form, then it was back to playing rubbish.

I have no doubt whatsoever that we will win at Wembley, the question is why ?

I wish i knew the answer.
But i am torn between Wanes brilliant tactics to get us a favourable final league position to give us an easier route to old trafford, with fresh players , and the theory that Wanes lost the plot and the changing rooms and the players are picking and choosing when to turn up.

This bad form just by coincidence has happened at the same time as the news sam was leaving and rumours about wane going to NZ too.

That is just a coincidence........ in the last 10 games, won 5 lost 5, in the league and cup. In the last 8 league games won 3 lost 5

I was sat having a think about why our form keeps falling off a cliff at the back end of every season since 2011 and I've come to the conclusion that it's because of the constant departures that are either rumoured or confirmed. I think they affect the guys who are staying as much as the ones leaving. It must be as frustrating for the players staying as it is for the fans to keep seeing the team ripped up with no signs from Ian Lenagan that he can, or even wants to stop it happening.

In 2011 we lost lads like Hoffman, Joel, Deacon and Coley. We then lost guys like Leuluai, Carmont, Finch, Lima and Fielden last year and will lose Richards, Mossop, Tuson and obviously Tomkins this year. You can even look in to the future and see the departures of guys like Charnley and Hansen coming a mile off.

It's so scary seeing all those names written down. The quality and cap space that has gone out of the door in comparison to what has come in is just doesn't stack up IMO.

Couldn’t agree more, if this is our so called PLAN B, IT’S SH”TE!!!!!!! And though I hate to say it, and even taking into account their performance earlier in the week, I’m glad we’re not playing Wire on Saturday. The last two months have been dire, and though I’ve always hated fans who praise when we win, and then grind their teeth and swear when we lose, well I’m sorry but I can’t be that much of a hypocrite, I have to join em this time. I still think, and for some unexplainable reason believe, we will win next week with SOL back, but I’m convinced it won’t be a cakewalk, and as for the play-offs we must resurrect George Formby and give him a shirt. “Come on George”

We can't sign players of that calibre at present! Look at the quality of signings other clubs are making if you think it's just IL not sticking his hand in his pocket. We saw in '05 what happens when you sign second rate players (Vaealiki, Orr, Moran, Seuseu) just to keep the fans happy rather than giving the lads we developed a go (Wild, Brown, Robinson). Then a few years down the line your signings have been found out and the talented youngsters go to stagnate at lesser clubs. That was in a period when you could make top signing as well, now we can't even hope to bring in a Lyon or a Barrett. The best option is to do what we are doing

Thank you that comment brightened my Sunday morning lol

It's all part of the plan.

It's a 'race' for 4th between us and Leeds, sadly the race requires losing, from both teams.

No one wants to face Warrington, Hudds are the team both Leeds and Wigan want to face, didn't you find it bizarre Leeds lost to KR? It cemented 4th place for them... hence they play Hudds, which they will win, and walk on by. Leaving us with Wire, a tough game.

Wigan will hammer Hull next week, because they can and want to win the cup.

People will sing Lockers praises saying he turns the team around, Wigan could beat Hull with or without him if it mattered, and Cats for that.

I said before the season started that this squad was too young for me. Others earlier in the thread have said the same thing. There isn't even a silver lining because, again as has been posted, all I can see is further departures from the squad with even younger replacements coming through.

I agree with DaveO that a win next week will be despite a master plan, not because of one and I agree with Jimmy Birts and his desire to emulate Leeds rather than swallow the cods wallop about development.

Regarding this idea that we can simply switch on next week can anyone tell me how this happens? Do we suddenly decide not to drop the ball when driving in one the first tackle? Do we think, "right, I won't give any penalties away this week"?

Hull will have seen that last night and will be licking their lips. At least the bookies should be offering better value in Wigan now, and that is the only silver lining IMO.

In the CC Final and in the playoffs with a good chance of winning both trophies. The bigger picture with our young squad looks ok to me.