I don't think we will choke. I just think Warrington are a better side and if it comes to a GF Wigan v Wire, I think we will be outdone. Mind you, next year with the signings we have made, I'm optimistic for next year, and proud for what we have achieved already this year.

In the game v Wire at the DW, MM only played two props, mistake!
The Wire pack did take the Wigan forwards apart, Briers also gave an absolute master class, so we are told. Yet they only won by 7. It was also O'Loughlin's first game back after being out for weeks.

Note the following two games away at Hull and Leeds when sadly MM was back home, Wane fielded four props and Wigan were convincing winners in both matches.
Wire may have the bigger name players and the most expensive squad but I believe that Wigan are by far a better team.

I have no idea how you can say Wigan are "by far" the better team when Wire would have beaten you twice this year (and finished level on points) had Solomona not dropped the ball over your try line.

Neither team is better "by far" than the other, but Wire look stronger to me.

The backs are where i feel we have lost games this year. It is vital we have Carmont & Gleeson playing all through the play offs.

Bradford loss - lost Carmont on 20 mins, Joel to centres and effectively lost two players as Joel was poor in the centre
Quins loss - Bailey in the centre and others out, including Leuluai, who i feel has been exceptional for Wigan this year.
Leeds Loss - Roberts first game back, we didn't use all our subs and the Farrell sin binning was crucial at sapping energy.
Saints loss - Pryce only played once since this game and Richards not played at full back since
Wire loss - Roberts in at full back after Sam had had a good run, Deacon dropped to bench. Deacon not dropped since.
Giants loss - Gleeson missing

I just feel we need a settled back line and need Carmont, Gleeson & Leuluai firing and we can win the next three games.

i honestly think wire will beat saints this weekend. its looking like they have no starting halves which is crucial and to be fair i dont thing there is a better pack in SL than wires. their centres are both in top form, briers is flying high and with the added threat of monaghan i really dont think its as simple as stopping one or two players. i can see it being a wigan v wire final and wire doing the double ( wipes away a tear). for us to win this thing saints needs to do us a big favour and i just dont think they have it them with so many players in key positions missing.

Looks like our starting halves (Pryce/Eastmond) and their back-ups (Wheeler/Lomax) will all miss the weekend. Massive blow and can't see us troubling anyone in those circumstances.



Our pack should be OK this weekend, I think we'll go:

Wellens
Foster
Gidley
Meli
Gardner
Roby
Moore
Graham
Cunningham
Hargreaves
Wilkin
Puletua
Flannery

Soliola
Clough
Dixon
Emmit/Maurie

If Eastmond and Lomax are fit our pack and bench will be very strong indeed with Roby and Moore slotting back in there.

Thats all you need to do to be fair, a lot of teams (including Wigan) have been took apart by the Wire pack this year and therefore have a real uphill battle to win the game

Of course wigan have what it takes. You don't finish top of the pile if you're not good enough to win the damn thing. Anyway, the final will be wigan v wire/saints and anybody who can predict the winner out of those 3 sides is a very clever person. Also, does anybody else think leeds will have to really go for it this week, cos if they lose and have to play huddersfield the following week i think they will get turned over.

I feel if its Wigan v Saints I fancy our chances. If its Wigan v Wire I will not be confident. If Wire are ever going to win it its this year. Next year Wigan and Saints will improve and remain the top 2 Wire won't in my opinion.

I get your point about Wire but i'd just have to say the table doesn't lie...wereas whoever ends up being the 'champions' can be very misleading.
I don't see how we've looked vulnerable lately against good sides. Saints and Wire i guess you mean, both were just very close matches especially the Saints match, and yes you're right Wire took our one man pack apart.
and about it being down to 'new tactics' early in the year, thats one way to put it, or, just playing the game better than everyone else, seeing as we've had about a 4 point gap over second place for most of the time towards the end of the season i can't see how thtat's true.

Yes you do. I think Wigan will win a Saints V Wigan Grand final. I expect us(Wire) to lose surprisingly in the second round of playoffs to HKR.

I spotted flaws in warringtons game suprisingly in the challenge cup final in that due to them having such a big pack they do tire around the ruck and struggled to get back. It was blindingly obvious to everyone but the leeds team that if they got quick play the balls and got on a roll they would make good yards.

Look what saints do against wire so well, they hit them on the back of pressure with a quick burst from the ruck, graham in particular passes quite alot towards the ruck against wire and watch time and time again roby jumps. Tiring the wire pack out.

The question is can wire beat saints twice? I don't think they will and if they do it will take a hell of alot of energy out of them in doing so.

We need to think that every week is a final and play up to the intensity and use the DW crowd as a lifter. If we do this I would fancy our chances against everyone. Our defence needs to be as a unit as it was at knowsley road, HJ and has been through out most of the season. If this happens this takes away leeds broken play threat.

Leeds for me look out on their feet. and we need to take advantage of this by hammering them this week.

I see it going like so:

Wigan beat Leeds
Wire beat Saints
Hudds beat Crusaders
F.C beat K.R

Leeds beat Hudds
Saints beat F.C

Wigan beat Leeds
Wire beat Saints

Then its a Wigan-Warrington final, they would be favourites but anything can happen if we get within 80 mins of the trophy. Warrington may well be sapped from winning the cup and having to play saints twice, whereas we woulld have the easier run in