Actually, scrap what I put above, Sean O'Loughlin won't play again this season apparently, so that means three losses in a row and an early off season,

Nevermind, well done lads, at least we won the cup...

S Wane has said all bar Lockers will be back for the Leeds game.
We have a decent record at home v Leeds so Shaun is obviously going for third and a visit to Wire.

yes thats the way to go beat leeds and then go to the wolfs den and cut them down.

I suppose there is the point that if we do manage to beat Wire, and Leeds beat Huddersfield, we will have the club call in round 3 and can choose not to play Leeds or Wire, or alternatively if we lose we'll at least dodge Saints in week 2 (assuming they beat Hull next week, thus finishing 5th).

another scenario is..finish 4th, lose at hudds..home tie v lower side, nice warm up for semis..then what? Hudds club call with choice of us? Wire, or Leeds?..so we go to hudds again..and win this time

worst case scenario..come 3rd, lose at wire, Leeds beat Hudds ..wire get club call...and pick us

I've come to the conclusion that we should just concentrate on trying to win the next game, whatever will be will be.

I'm just glad we won't have to do that stupid club call thing again.

I hope Wane knows what he is doing.

It's not just about "going to Warrington" , it should be about giving the team the very best chance of progression in the playoffs.

That is all that matters, not the result, not the points, nothing.

Who cares if its Huddersfield or Wire we play in the first week of the play offs. If we are going to get to win at Old Trafford we will have to gain victories against them both t some point during the next month or so.

For me the play offs start now although the kids did exceptionally well last week. Barring any injuries the strongest and most experience team should play from now on until the time that our season is over whether it is lifting the trophy on October 5th or by defeat in two weeks time or anything else in between.

We could get club call from 3rd if we beat Wire and Leeds beat Hudds.

Oh aye, nice relaxing safe home tie against Saints. While Huddersfield and one of Leeds/Warrington have a week off and the other of Leeds/Wire has a relatively easy home game against Hull FC/Catalans. If we think Hudds would beat us then we should be going for 3rd to avoid Saints in Week 2. I do think we'll beat Hudds though if we play them, or rather, if we can't then I think Leeds and Wire would also beat us, so we would have no chance anyway.

All this thinking about which results will give us a better playoff run-in is ridiculous. If we want to get to the GF, we are going to have to beat the top teams to get there. I hate the current playoff format but it is what it is. 4 wins and we're champions, let the rest of the results sort themselves out. I really don't think SW is preparing his team to lose on Thursday so we don't have to go to Warrington in week 1.

So why is playing Huddersfield better for us or Leeds?

We have drawn with Wire at home (should have won) and with a very inexperienced team were leading at Wire with about five minutes to go.
Leeds beat Wire at Headingley and lost to a last minute drop goal at Wire, as with Wigan Leeds had an understrength side.

Wigan lost both games v Huddersfield, and Huddersfield have beaten Leeds three times this season.

Agreed. It's giving Warrington a lot more credit than they deserve and is highly disrespectful to Huddersfield.

Play the kids.
Be sure the first team get over their bumps and knocks, such a massive thing to have healthy bodies ready for the playoffs.
Take the time with the first team to develop different plans etc behind closed doors. Give the kidsmore first team experience.
If we lose, I hate to say it but all the better, wire are considerably better than Hudds, a controversial comment but they're pretend champions, wouldn't be top if Leeds, Wire or Wigan wanted the league.

Beat Hudds then move on with our full team.