i would much prefer getting to 1 gf and winning it in a hack canter.

In terms of recruitment there is not alot to fear. Most teams are now finding; with the rules for federation players that, damn we've got no youth set up.

Any team with a half decent youth set up has the advantage now. If you look at some of the signings for next year, tony tonks, chris hill, jamie ellis, teams are now raiding the championship like they haven't in years, because all the overseas loop holes are pretty much closed.

We've even seen Hull raiding Bradford for their number 1 player. Although it was hardly a raid, more like a ebay sale. Those cheap season ticket have to be paid for one way or another.

I can't see many big names coming from the NRL for the next few years with the factors of image rights going, £v$ and the huge NRL TV contract.

Basically it's going to be older players and dog molesters only until the SL can even up the cash.

So for wigan it could be as shallow a transition period as Saints have had with youth filling the gaps, left by the older elite. Finals are likely.

Thats a good post with a lot of sense in it. I just had the image of SL coaches typing dog molesters in google

Does that mean we think that the teams down the bottom with poor youth set ups are gonna get even worse? For me last season the gap between teams at the top and bottom seemed huge on quite a few occasions.

Saints and Leeds are this season having a transistion season and have still got to the GF due to the playoffs.

Ive said it over and over again, play an under 23 teams up to about beginning of May. Let the over 23's have a massive break to about April then drip feed them back into the first team then, have them all back in the first team by the July and firing on all cylinders by the August. We may be 6th,7th,8th in the league but if they are all fully fit and fresh going into the playoffs they'd have as good a chance as anyone.
It would be revolutionary but if we win the GF then nobody cares because we've won when it matters and not from Feb to May when all the games are totally irrelevant and akin to pre-season friendlies.

We finished 2nd in the League and won the C Cup.
So of the clubs who finished behind us, which does anyone think will end next season higher than us in the League?
Saints have lost Graham, Pryce and Eastmond. The last two haven't done much for them though this year. Graham is irreplaceable! They are the only club that might.
Hudds flatter to deceive, no chance!
Leeds, many of the team over 30 yet have made the GF. They can do that but
consistency over a season I think is beyond this team now.
Catalans. A great squad who, more than any club, could make their home ground a fortress. All the travelling is their undoing.
No other club comes close.
Wire will be the ones to beat again but their squad has a lot of over 30s in it. How many season they have left in them only time will tell.

As for Wigan, Coley and Hoffman gone. Fielden will replace Coley and Hock take Hoffman's place as the left sided 2nd row. Knowing Shaun Wane's coaching history it would be sensible to think he will bring some of our U20s players into the first team in 2012. Only one or maybe two a game but a number of them over a season. I do think we are very well placed for the future and for next season as much as any. Looking forward to it already!

If that is how they become because of the format of the play offs the fans will stop going to league games and the clubs will go bust. We have just broken our own record for the best attended side in the league and we would not have done that if we were deliberately sticking out reserve sides for half the season.

The club markets the league games strongly because it needs the revenue and it could not do that if the league were reduced to such a low level of importance as you suggest. If we have a play off format that allows teams to plan on doing as you say and finishing 6th, 7th or 8th does not matter then the format is wrong because it will have allowed teams to do just that.

League games get better attendances than cup or playoff games so the fans vote with their feet as to the importance of games.

The Arguement for less teams could become stronger if the raid on the championship becomes a tidal wave.

Exactly but you won't maintain the large league crowds if fans start to perceive the games as pointless.

many games under Noble were pointless. he was always building up to a good run in the play offs

I may have been as well not watching a game all season and then turn up for the play off At least the last 2 years have seen a team wanting to win week in week out. i can handle losing to a better side but not when we arent trying

As long as the team turn up and give it everything next season that's all i ask for, the results will then speak for themselves

Would probably be a very effective strategy. Sadly the RFL would no doubt fine the clubs for such actions, on account of the inevitable revenue drop.

The RFL want to have their cake and eat it.

there was a small element of sarcasm in my initial comments based on what Noble used to do

I want to watch Wigan win every week, win the cup and win the Grand final, as does every fan of every other club

the reality is that there can only be one winner of the cup and one winner of the GF, there is also the reality that we will get beat in some games by a better team and i can accept that

I dont agree with winning nothing at the end of 27 matches and have sympathy with Wire fans this year and saints fans in recent years. Coming top IMO should be rewarded more than it currently is. this is the measure of how good you have

However i know that due to SKY etc its all about winning a couple of games at the end of the season, not about what has gone before

fair play to saints and leeds for getting there, they have done what they needed when it mattered, however it doesnt mean that i think it is right

I was being sarcastic in my comments, but worryingly this is what teams could do. The playoffs will ruin the game in this country if everyone thinks straight and realise the regular season games are pointless. League games will start getting playoff attendances and the playoffs will get regular season attendances and that will destroy our sport. And the RFL will be to blame.

Only a fool would suggest the regular season is pointless.

FIOS