If we start singing 'Championee's', i will cringe like hell. We havn't won anything, it is a sign of a massive improvement from last season and thats about it. Clap em' off and lets get ready to give everything in the play-offs!!

Spot on

Years ago winning the league was THE major achievement and then playing in the top eight/sixteen was a bonus. But to win the league title was always the main honour.

Party atmosphere my arris. No ones interested in the hub cap tin pot. Lifting the trophy at OT is the one that counts and nothing else. We deserve a round of applause maybe but that's about it.

Concentrating on getting to OT is the next task, lets just concentrate on that instead of looking forward to jelly and ice cream!

Absolutely. But it seems to count for naught these days.
Many on here are saying that to win the CC only takes 5 good games......And then say we've won 'nowt' yet by taking the league.
But surely, winning the playoff's is exactly the same as doing the CC or the old Premiership Trophy??
What is the point of playing all those matches, all season long, and then finishing top?
Hardly any advantage, or any recognition for being the best and most consistant team in Super League.
It doesnt seem to matter if you win the league by 20-points, 2-points, points difference, or even finishing 4th!
Even after all these years, i still find it a bit baffling.
Theoretically, you could limp through a season (as we have done in recent years), finish 8th....Be great in one-off cup ties (Ala Wire), and become SL Champs!
Logically that just makes no sense at all.
How many other team sports so undervalue consistancy the way that RL does?
Its usually completely the opposite.
Methinks we have been brainwashed too easily by the always-right NRL and Sky tv.

Ok, rant over....

Not as embarassing as singing 'championee's' when you've finished 2nd/3rd/4th! Now that is cringeworthy. I'm still surprised at how people regard winning the playoffs as the major acheivement, everyone has been brainwashed by Sky. We've just accepted it without any resistance. Finshing top of the league after playing everyone at home, and everyone away, over 8 months, in all weather conditions and against all styles is the hardest thing to do. Full stop.
You can fluke winning the playoffs. You can't fluke finishing top.

I'm proud of the fact we've finished top and imo we should be crowned champions. However, that isn't how the comp works. We know that, wire know that and cas know that.

Ask saints if they enjoyed coming top in 05, 07 & 08.

Exactly, that great Saints team we're only Champions once in that era because Leeds kept catching them in monsoon conditions in October. Totally wrong to have the season decided in them conditions. Its got to the point where there is no use in playing open fast flowing rugby because it was worth nowt when it came to October and you couldn't throw the ball about. We promote 'up the middle' rugby league and that can't be good.

I hope they allow the lads who won the nines at Headingley to parade that trophy. For many of them it will be their last year at Wigan

Agreed. In fact I would go one further, they should be allowed to have the nines trophy included in their team photo for next season.

I don't see why they wouldn't

Agreed, but that doesnt make it 'right' though, does it?
Had Leeds beaten us in '98, i'd have felt utterly cheated out of a title that we'd already 'won' weeks before.
And i'm sure that many Saints fans over the age of 20 will feel the same way about the years you mentioned.
Trying to explain our championship to non-RL fans, usually ends up with nothing but puzzled looks.
Yes, its the system we have. And yes we all know the rules.
BUT, is it fair?
How will you feel if we win the GF? For me it will be just relief again (as '9icon_cool.gif.
Stupid system. Nothing more than a money-making exercise.
Needs changing.
And thats the bottom line!

Ainscough
Thornley
Veivers
Howarth

Anyone else from that team expected to be departing?

Agreed. Definitely should be paraded at HT by those who won it.

Probably Walker and Dandy.