Saints and Leeds are this season having a transistion season and have still got to the GF due to the playoffs.



Ive said it over and over again, play an under 23 teams up to about beginning of May. Let the over 23's have a massive break to about April then drip feed them back into the first team then, have them all back in the first team by the July and firing on all cylinders by the August. We may be 6th,7th,8th in the league but if they are all fully fit and fresh going into the playoffs they'd have as good a chance as anyone.

It would be revolutionary but if we win the GF then nobody cares because we've won when it matters and not from Feb to May when all the games are totally irrelevant and akin to pre-season friendlies.

We finished 2nd in the League and won the C Cup.

So of the clubs who finished behind us, which does anyone think will end next season higher than us in the League?

Saints have lost Graham, Pryce and Eastmond. The last two haven't done much for them though this year. Graham is irreplaceable! They are the only club that might.

Hudds flatter to deceive, no chance!

Leeds, many of the team over 30 yet have made the GF. They can do that but

consistency over a season I think is beyond this team now.

Catalans. A great squad who, more than any club, could make their home ground a fortress. All the travelling is their undoing.

No other club comes close.

Wire will be the ones to beat again but their squad has a lot of over 30s in it. How many season they have left in them only time will tell.



As for Wigan, Coley and Hoffman gone. Fielden will replace Coley and Hock take Hoffman's place as the left sided 2nd row. Knowing Shaun Wane's coaching history it would be sensible to think he will bring some of our U20s players into the first team in 2012. Only one or maybe two a game but a number of them over a season. I do think we are very well placed for the future and for next season as much as any. Looking forward to it already!

If that is how they become because of the format of the play offs the fans will stop going to league games and the clubs will go bust. We have just broken our own record for the best attended side in the league and we would not have done that if we were deliberately sticking out reserve sides for half the season.



The club markets the league games strongly because it needs the revenue and it could not do that if the league were reduced to such a low level of importance as you suggest. If we have a play off format that allows teams to plan on doing as you say and finishing 6th, 7th or 8th does not matter then the format is wrong because it will have allowed teams to do just that.

League games get better attendances than cup or playoff games so the fans vote with their feet as to the importance of games.



The Arguement for less teams could become stronger if the raid on the championship becomes a tidal wave.

Exactly but you won't maintain the large league crowds if fans start to perceive the games as pointless.

many games under Noble were pointless. he was always building up to a good run in the play offs



I may have been as well not watching a game all season and then turn up for the play off

At least the last 2 years have seen a team wanting to win week in week out. i can handle losing to a better side but not when we arent trying



As long as the team turn up and give it everything next season that's all i ask for, the results will then speak for themselves

Absolutely fine to have that attitude Pieman. If watching Wigan win pointless games during the season is what you want out of your attendance, then you are following the right competition. You must be well satisfied and good luck to you (and I actually mean that with no sarcasm).



However, personally I want Wigan to win the competition. If that is to be decided by whoever comes top after the regular rounds, then I would be completely aligned with you. Currently, however, it is not. The structure of the competition means that the regular rounds mean very little.



As I posted before, last year this didn't matter since Wigan were so far ahead of the rest, that this inherent flaw was not exposed. This year it has been. No sour grapes here, fair play to Stains and Leeds who have adapted to the system perfectly.



Imo Maguire has failed in this respect. He hasn't reacted to the rules of the competition as well as he might have done. Good coach, (not a great one yet, but hey he's young).



As for the suggestion that Wigan in some way "targetted" the cup at the expense of the league, then frankly I find this shocking. If they do this next year then perhaps they could tell us so we can make better informed choices about where we spend our attendance money.





The reality of the situation is that the playoffs are here to stay. The formats will be tinkered with to ensure maximum revenue, not equity. Sky will no doubt bleat on about how "great" it is that a team finishing 5th has made the final. Is it really that great (notwithstanding my complement to Leeds above)?



Let's just look at this :



Wigan finish 2nd and have two games against top 4 opposition

Leeds finish 5th and have 2 easy games and one against top 4 opposition.



The reality is that any of the semi finalists would have coasted against the other teams in the playoffs. The league is simply not competitive enough for anything else, and therefore for this format to be equitable.

Would probably be a very effective strategy. Sadly the RFL would no doubt fine the clubs for such actions, on account of the inevitable revenue drop.



The RFL want to have their cake and eat it.

there was a small element of sarcasm in my initial comments based on what Noble used to do



I want to watch Wigan win every week, win the cup and win the Grand final, as does every fan of every other club



the reality is that there can only be one winner of the cup and one winner of the GF, there is also the reality that we will get beat in some games by a better team and i can accept that



I dont agree with winning nothing at the end of 27 matches and have sympathy with Wire fans this year and saints fans in recent years. Coming top IMO should be rewarded more than it currently is. this is the measure of how good you have



However i know that due to SKY etc its all about winning a couple of games at the end of the season, not about what has gone before



fair play to saints and leeds for getting there, they have done what they needed when it mattered, however it doesnt mean that i think it is right

I was being sarcastic in my comments, but worryingly this is what teams could do. The playoffs will ruin the game in this country if everyone thinks straight and realise the regular season games are pointless. League games will start getting playoff attendances and the playoffs will get regular season attendances and that will destroy our sport. And the RFL will be to blame.

Only a fool would suggest the regular season is pointless.

FIOS