They still aren't our main rivals though are they? They could win a million trophies and Saints will still be our main rival.

maybe in seasons past but certainley this season q:if you had the choice dislikes to one side this season who would you rather face if you had the choice at o/t wire or saints

you didnt answer the question

I'd rather beat Saints (any time, anywhere)

That's the way it is, and they feel the same, no animosity just great rivalry, and we'll have a beer after without any problems. Sadly for some reason it doesn't happen with Warrington.

the question was would you prefer to play wire or saints at o/t given a choice this year going on form of both teams

Saints. Nothing to do with form as that goes out the window in a final. The fact is, there is no better feeling than turning Saints over (and no worse feeling than losing to them).

Like I said, whilst Wire may be our rivals for cups and the like, they will NEVER be a bigger rival than St Helens.

Is the correct answer.

I do like how the OP is more satisfied with a semi final loss than a GF loss.

I do hope he is giving the Wigan team talk.

Sadly I reckon not.

Either way it's going to be Saints by 12. don't ask how I know, but you know every team has their day in the sun, time for Wigan to return to the lower end of the top 8 now. Wire to follow suit next year.

Agree whole heartedly. And it annoys me somewhat that Wire bill themselves against Wigan as a derby. Rugby League in the North West has ALWAYS been about Wigan vs Saints. And probably always will. Arguing that Wire aren't pretenders to that rivalry is silly really, they never have, and never will be the Wigan Derby, and its nothing to do with who you'd rather play in the final, give me a choice between a Derby Final or an "A.N. Other" final, and i'll pick the derby final, it makes it more intense in the build up, during the game, and after.

Wigan vs Saints
Comical mutual banter on forums and in town
Mutual "hatred" in the stands through songs and chants, and a mutual desire to sell more than another to make it a sell out
Players given one message to beat the opposition and "that's all that matters"
Rubbing salt in the wounds of, or avoiding friends and colleagues for days after.

Wigan vs Wire
Personal insults on forums and in town
Spitting or throwing of missiles in the stands, or "keep out a pie" campaigns
No message to players aside from "play to win"
Tense atmosphere after a game regardless of the result.

Wigan vs Saints every time for me.

I think you miss the point. Being somebody's rival imo is so much more than just challenging them for a trophy once or twice. Being a rival is a mutual hatred that is built up over years of battling each other for the same trophies or goals. When the teams fans talk to each other they stick the boot in by referring to past famous victories etc etc

I'm surprised at that to be honest. After all, to Saints fans, RL only began in 1996.