I’ve heard it said that some teams (Leeds in particular) purposely don’t really wont to win some games as finishing 5th or so gives them some sort of a big advantage in the play-offs, I may be naïve but I think this is sh*te, I think this is just put about by some fans to try to cover up for a bad team performance (and not denied by some coaches for the same reason) although coaches would never say they would play that way anyway. No, more like Leeds on Monday played like they have for most of the season, indifferently. They, with the help of Popeye the Thaler-man caught us on day in the CC semi when we were way over confident, and if it was true that Wigan ever played a game with no intention of winning, I for one, would rip up my season ticket.

Those who believe that Leeds are doing it right and will win it form 5th should put their money where their mouths are as you can currently get 10/1 with Stan James against them winning the GF.



You can place the bet each way and still be in profit if they are losing finalists.

So would I, and both of us would be in the right.



The Wigan fans come down on their team hard whenever they lose, so imagine how life would be if they lost every couple of weeks and someone at the club tried to sell it as a crafty plan.



Firstly, we'd say it was a monumental risk - you still have to beat someone of worth to win the Grand Final (assuming you actually make the play-offs).



Secondly, we'd say it was hugely disrespectful to the fans who've paid to be entertained every week, not just in the last month of the season.



Thirdly, we'd say that the best way to win things is to get on a roll - stop/start is no way to conduct a campaign. We know, because we had that with Nobby.



Fourthly, we'd say we didn't believe it. At Wigan we've seen how great coaches and great teams operate - they go out to win EVERY week, thus creating golden ages and making themselves legends in the process.



And we'd be right on all counts. And if anyone disagrees, I ask you again to just imagine how you'd feel if Wigan had lost almost as many games as they'd won this season. We wouldn't buy any of this crap about playing clever strategies. We'd want Wane out and would be hard on Lenagan's back to bring in new, better players.

They are generous odds. I have a feeling they are putting all their eggs in into the Challenge Cup.

There is no way Leeds are playing for 5th. They want to be top 4 to either get the week off or 2nd chance.

Leeds used their get out of jail free card v Wigan in the semi. Sadly I think they will get well beaten in the final and fade out of the play-offs.

Really?

Did they also use it to beat the NRL champions?

Did they also use it last year to win the GF?



Quite an arrogant attitude imo. If I was a Leeds fan I would be asking you to carry on thinking that way.

So would anyone. I don't understand the point











Indeed it is. Pop over to the Leeds forum if you need proof.







And Nobby won nothing with that system at all did he? Oh wait...........



Nothing wrong with getting on a roll if you can keep it up until October. Sadly Wigan haven't been able to do that- once under Madge, but imo that had more to do with "first season shock" of the Aussie tactics than "rolling", instead we looked "flogged to death" in the CC Semi.









And in a "first past the post" system, that would make sense. It may not make sense under the present, relatively new system.







Not really, I would be more angry with the RFL for producing the conditions where this was a viable, arugably THE ONLY strategy for winning the GF.

I agree, Leeds are not playing for a lower position. However, they are not willing to aim for a higher position if it means impacting their chances of winning the GF.



What you have also got to look at is each individual teams squads, which undoubtably has an impact on strategy.



Leeds do not have "strength in depth". What they do have (the opposite of Wigan) are experienced big game players who can turn up when it matters.



They must play to this strength.

Just my opinion and the next ten weeks will see if I'm correct.

Give over. You're on Lenagan's back for the slightest thing.



In fact, the thought of you of all people calmly accepting a situation where Wigan were losing almost as many games as they were winning and not lambasting the club for it is off the scale in terms of ridiculous.



But I do agree that the current system is poor.

You may be right in the event. However, I think that dismissing the Leeds victory in the CC Semi as a "one-off" has already been proven to be incorrect.