Frustrating to see so many players play within themselves last night, but I always go back to a season where under Wane we were blowing teams off the park in the middle of the season but ran out of steam come play offs. 


It's not great as a fan but we know that the coaches will be focusing on preparing for peaking to the play offs so these spells will happen as we have seen in the past.  One player we are missing especially last night was Walters - he's quickly become our most dynamic prop.  


As fans it's still valid to query some of the tactic though - mine would be why we don't spell more of the players - I think Faz has played almost every game, give Smith a break and play Farrimond....       

I don't think I'd call it a lack of professionalism, I just think the coaching staff know it's a long season and probably aren't pushing them quite as hard at the minute, as they will do down the back straight. It's hard to strike the right tone in a debate like this, between not doing down how well teams are playing against us, while still trying to point out that mentally, Wigan's players are just on a bit of a lull. 


There is a really great comparison between Wigan and HKR at the minute in terms of the excitement levels and how motivated both look. Competing to win things (and now having won something) is brand new for the HKR team but it isn't for this Wigan group or the club in general. HKR probably have the mental energy to be up each and every week, throughout the full season but that's obviously more of a challenge for a team already at the top and who went in to the season holding every available trophy. I don't think that's a lack of professionalism, it's just human nature.  

May be wishful thinking on my part and admittedly if I were given a large sum of money to place as a charity bet- I would still bet on Wigan but I do feel there is a sense of too much relaxation with Wigan fans at the moment. There seems to be an almost guaranteed expectation that they are suddenly going to find their form again and sweep everyone aside come the business end of the season. 


However I don't think you've been great for most of the season to be honest. I get that Champion teams find a way to win when playing poorly (I'm also a Utd fan for my sins and we did that for a long time) Hudds game last week was a prime example for you but I do think you need to start hitting your straps soon and start to build combinations etc. 


Whilst you have most certainly had injuries, you have had your main spine all season (bar O Neil) so it would be interesting to see how you go with no Field, French or Smith. French missed the Hudds game where you got out of jail and by all accounts was poor on Friday. 


Meanwhile HKR are winning every week and now have that first trophy which was a monkey on their back. 


As I've said I do still think you are the team to beat in the GF but if you are not careful, the desired form may not kick in as easily as you think. 


The HKR game for you in August will be a good test to see if indeed your players get that appetite back and show them who's boss. 

To add to the point NK is making, we've seen clubs including Wigan go all out in the past to win the LLS, but it has come at the expense of winning the grand final. KR are no doubt playing well at the minute and blowing sides away. Wigan up to Friday have been doing enough to win games (Just about), and that isnt disrespecting the opposition / opposition fans or a clubs own fans. Its about managing the squad and peaking fitness wise when it matters. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to the league, and believe 1st past the post should be champions i.e. if KR finish top this year, IMO they should be champions, but that's not the game we are in at the minute, and if KR dont win the GF, then no-one apart from KR fans will remember they finished top of the pile

Onto Wakey, and it looks like after a few years in the doldrums that you are getting it right off the field, and also starting to build on it. I have been very critical of Wakey in the past with all of the broken promises re new ground etc etc, but also give credit when you can clearly see that you are making strides on and off. I suppose the model to look at is KR who have developed the ground, built a squad, and over the last 2-3 seasons have been reaping the rewards (albeit it took til the CC this year for the silverware)

Maybe one season it doesn't happen but the last couple of years have been a mirror image of how this one is going in terms of league form. That doesn't guarantee we turn it again and there is no doubt that this HKR provide the stiffest challenge of the last 3 seasons now but I think that will (eventually) excite these players. You obviously pretty much agree, given Wigan would be your charity bet but it's no given.

What puts me at ease with this team is the amount of big game players in it. The last thing guys like French and Smith could be called is flat track bullies. They're going through the motions at the minute. French barely looks interested and Smith can't concentrate for toffee in these spells but when the big games come and stress is applied, they absolutely love it. I don't think they've been as far off the mark in this spell as those two but I'd put Field, Wardle, Marshall, O'Neill, Thompson, Farrell and especially Ellis in that bracket as well. 


HKR are playing like Cas in 2017, where they're riding the crest of a wave and fair play to them. They've worked hard and built over these last few seasons. In all honesty though, I think what they're doing at the minute and the praise they're getting (rightfully) plays in to Wigans hands. A team winning two on the bounce could become complacent in the big games but after the Hull cup loss and having a few months of watching KR play like this and listen to all that noise from the media, there is absolutely zero chance of that happening. 

The run of home games towards the back end will be key - if we can build some form and momentum in those games then assuming we're 2nd we'll be tough to beat in a home semi final. 

One area our attack was breaking down consistently on Friday was around Kaide Ellis. Not blaming him as such but it was an obvious tactic by Wakefield to crowd him.


The Cas 2017 comparison entered my mind as well. They dominated the league but fell flat in the final. Ultimately if we end up in the final and we're close to full strength then Id fancy us.