I agree, I'm just pointing out how I feel they do it. Every club must've had games where an opposition player should've been off but wasn't and then banned the following week/s to no advantage to the team who were on the receiving end.

Cheering you guys on against Wigan.

Hoping my team wakey can win saints too.

That would set up a big match hull vs wakey with wakey having the chance to to steal third. Will be task to go to your place and win but I hope that's how it plays out.

I think the truth lies somewhere in between both of your viewpoints.

You either don't see, or fail to acknowledge, that we aren't a mid table run of mill club just hoping to maybe scrape into the top 4 anymore. Our squad and resources are second to none these days. We've won two trophies in a year, we have proven we can beat anyone, anywhere, when we play well. All season we have said GF is the goal, and if I have heard someone at the club say we have learned from last year once, I've heard it a million times. Not reaching Old Trafford would be a failure. Not making the 4 would be bordering on a disaster.

All that said however, to say losing to Wigan wouldn't be understandable is a strong statement. They are an excellent team. Even if we play well there's every chance they can still beat us.

Loads to go at here. We've finished in the top 4 once in what, a decade?
Our resources aren't "second to none" - take a look at Wigan's and Leeds' backroom staff and attendances, and Moran's personal wealth.
We can say we're targeting this, that and the other, but we've been saying that for years, doesn't make it fact or a robust prediction as everyone else is targeting the same, look at Rick Stone's predictions recently. Not making the four would be disappointing but we've left ourselves loads to do after Catalans and Leigh results and are now without, potentially, Talanoa, Michaels, Griffin, Ellis, Minichiello, Watts. In that context losing to a virtually full strength Wigan is entirely possible. I'd be delighted to win but it's arrogant presumption to expect it IMO.

Spot the difference - Clubb almost had his career ended by a crusher from a Hull player last year, not even a penalty. The disciplinary and refereeing is shoite for every club and every player, easier to accept it and move on than complain every week!

I don't "expect" it as I said. I think we will win, but it's going to be tough.

What we did in the last decade is complete irrelevant to the team we have now and the position we find ourselves in. What makes Wigan and Leeds' backroom so superior to ours? Our squad certainly isn't behind either of them. Wigan perhaps have more depth, but their starting 17 isn't up to ours imo. Attendances are again completely irrelevant. If the club are preaching something over and over again and saying that is the aim, it's a failure if it isn't reached is it not? Totally different to Stone who knew before the 8's started that they didn't have a chance, but has to keep believing no matter what. And that's good spin on the injuries even by your standards. I am pretty sure Wigan will have more unavailable for this game than we do.

Doesn't sound like you've accepted it - you've said this before on more than one occasion.

The disciplinary review team were in a bit of a pickle because of the Burrow head butt. In a way it helped because by keeping his sentence lower than deserved they couldn't go to town on the Hull players. Interesting that a dirty and spiteful Wigan v Sts game sees no one facing a ban, quite amazing really. Anyway its one game each with the EGP. Will Hull take a risk and contest the Ellis charge? I don't think Michaels has much ground for appeal.

I'm well over it, just using it to prove how inconsistent the MRP is. Clubb might not be though as it robbed him of a GF win

I don't think I've ever said it before though?

I haven't found a single mention of the crusher tackle you've referred to - only a hand injury reported after the end of the game. Bound to have been one, I guess.

Wigan will be missing a few.
Manfredi going off injured after his first game back in the reserves.
Flower out for the season.
J Tomkins fit for Wembley but not v Saints.
Escare and Shorrocks out for the season.
Will be a tight game.

You said our resources were the best in the competition. I simply pointed out that attendances, a key driver of available resources are better elsewhere, reflected in the sizes of backroom teams. We have a very good squad, not disagreeing, but there's a good chance that we'll have more first choice players out on Friday than Wigan. My point is that Wigan are SL champions, and we aren't, for a reason. I'm sure the club would see it as a failure if we drop out of the four, but I wouldn't class it as a disaster personally. Disappointing, but not a disaster.