I think we have a better chance against you, yes, but I'm not confident of that by any stretch of the imagination! I think we know what we have to do against you but at present we are lacking the execution at vital times to pull it off. We are third for a reason.

id prefer wire...or anyone to win it over leeds or saints, if its not us that is. anyway, i recon catalan are a good bet for old trafford, but thats jusy my daft opinion

I disagree. Warrington don't play to a set structure in the way that you do. That makes them more unpredictable. If Saints tweek their execution sufficiently then we have a chance against Wigan because Wigan do play to a definite structure (a very well executed one but recognisable nonetheless). Warrington are just all over the place and I don't think we have what it takes in our team at present to deal with that, even though we have challenged them on both occasions we have met. But I may be underestimating my own team there, I don't know.

I meant i think you guys would have a better chance of beating Warrington in the play offs than we would have of beating them!

Warrington know how to stifle our forwards so much that our backs just cant do anything as happened yesterday. Very worrying to see as a Wigan fan. I know people will bring up the cup game but IMO Warrington were not as bothered about the cup this year and have put everything into getting to the Grand Final. Also the loss of Morley and Briers in the cup game should not be underestimated.

Yesterday was always going to be a tough ask. To back up after a not just physically but mentally draining cup final last week is extremely difficult. Especially when you factor in that we were playing our main title challengers who have been red hot for the majority of the season.

The positive aspect for me though, is that it gives us the impetus to move on; in much the same way the Leeds playoff game did last year. Had we won yesterday, our confidence would still be sky high and could have been our undoing in the playoffs.

At the end of the day, Wire fans will no doubt crow about winning the Shield, but if they can't back it up in the playoffs it will mean little. The real fun is only just about to start.

Couldn't put it better myself.

Bring on the playoffs.

We played gash but that was to be expected given the physical and mental exhaustion of winning the cup.

This said, our forward pack looked rather poor. Need this sorted before we face Wire or Catalan again. Also, S. Tomkins looks to have allowed the haters to get to him somewhat. Played poorly in both his last two games. Maybe someone needs to have a word and remind him that he is by far the most talented player in the Super Duper League and he should ignore the b/s and just play his natural game.

Wigan's win over Wire in the cup was over-egged (key injuries before and, perhaps more importantly, during the match for Wire) and Wire's win over a cup final week Wigan team is being similarly overplayed.

Both sides are very, very well matched and it would be anyone's game on the day.

That said, I do think Wire have the size to negate Wigan's biggest asset - looking to dominate the PTB - and would back them to win at OT.

Agree with this, apart from the last bit obviously.

One of the things that has been overlooked is that under Maguire, Wigan have only lost one domestic game they HAD TO win (i.e. going out of the comp) and that was to a last minute try at Leeds last season in the CC. When it comes down to the crunch I believe Wigan are mentally tougher than any other team and that will be vital in the play-offs.

Wigan v Leeds final, Wire to bottle it........Again.

ok

Not too sure we can bounce back this season. We've already peaked twice - World Club and challenge cup. A slump - although not a disastorous one followed the St George match and to get back up so soon after the cup will take some doing. I'm not writing the lads off but I won't be too upset if we don't do the double.

What are you on about? Madge will earn his money this week. If you have watched us over the years we perform better when the pressure is on us.

As I said I'm not writing the lads off and hope that you are right. This week will prove nothing though.