Are Wiganers putting themselves down?

[Saint Billinge]

Taking on comments made on here and listening to Wigan fans at work, some seem to think this season may end up without a Grand Final win. They haven't finished top by luck and are serious contenders. Time will tell.

[fieldofclothofgold]

first 5 pages of the Sunday Times - all union.

Saints v Cas gets a brief match report towards the back of the sports section.

they dare not tempt fate,but i think they will be champions this season

[Jerry the Berry]

they dare not tempt fate,but i think they will be champions this season

Agreed. Plus theres the small matter of Warrington who've proved they're big game specialists now, and Leeds who seem to have the habit of winning the GF, plus Saints who seem to be hitting the right gear at the right time again.

There's no foregone conclusion and it should be a great play off series with the addition of a strong Wigan in the mix this year.

[goldcard]

Taking on comments made on here and listening to Wigan fans at work, some seem to think this season may end up without a Grand Final win. They haven't finished top by luck and are serious contenders. Time will tell.

Most of them are a realistic bunch, and has been said, my team are learning to get some big game mentality, Leeds somehow are in the 2 chance mix, and maybe Skints are hitting their straps.

Nothing can be taken for granted from now on.

Wigan have got most points, but have lost games that most found surprising, notably home v us, Quins and Hudds.

I'll put us a surprise after they threw the Halliwell jinx away early doors, and maybe that raised eyebrows at the time.

Without wanting to take the thread onto a ref theme, gwildgo's stats on how many times Wigan win with bentham whistling is interesting, as are the stats for other refs and other teams.

Might be worth digging up now.

It's now down to "on the day" and the "luck of the bounce", and maybe benefit of doubt, though I'd rather give that to the defence myself if really unclear.

To the original point, ok the pies aren't shouting the odds from the rooftops, that's for matchdays, and they don't want to emulate Wezza for his pre-match overblown hype.

[Maximus Decimus]

Despite Wigan winning the league I think most people still think that the jury is out on them when it comes to big games.

Personally and I hate to say it, but I think Wire are the strongest team on their day and have the confidence of a victory at Wigan and battering the current champions in the Challenge Cup.

[Dave T]

Despite Wigan winning the league I think most people still think that the jury is out on them when it comes to big games.

Personally and I hate to say it, but I think Wire are the strongest team on their day and have the confidence of a victory at Wigan and battering the current champions in the Challenge Cup.

The big problem we have is that our main rivals in this playoff series will most likely be Saints, with potentially two games at KR.

[Padge]

Wiganers are not daft when it comes to rugby, generaly they know we are not the best side in the competition.

My order of favourites for SL GF winners is.

Warrington

St. Helens

Leeds

Wigan

Warrington have the momentum and have broken their big game chokers taboo.

Saints are still one of the most competitive teams in the comp and have the experience of knowing what to do when the chips are down.

Leeds, any team that has racked up 3 GF wins in a row should never be written off, they have been awful in their last two games but don't let that fool anyone.

Wigan, not perhaps as good as their league position suggest. Early season with a new coach and a change in tactics they caught out a lot of teams, as the season has progressed the rest have found weaknesess and taken advantage.

We have struggled against the top sides and I don't yet think that Wigan have the beating of the other main contenders when it comes to straight knockout football.

[goldcard]

Wiganers are not daft when it comes to rugby, generaly they know we are not the best side in the competition.

My order of favourites for SL GF winners is.

Warrington

St. Helens

Leeds

Wigan

Warrington have the momentum and have broken their big game chokers taboo.

Saints are still one of the most competitive teams in the comp and have the experience of knowing what to do when the chips are down.

Leeds, any team that has racked up 3 GF wins in a row should never be written off, they have been awful in their last two games but don't let that fool anyone.

Wigan, not perhaps as good as their league position suggest. Early season with a new coach and a change in tactics they caught out a lot of teams, as the season has progressed the rest have found weaknesess and taken advantage.

We have struggled against the top sides and I don't yet think that Wigan have the beating of the other main contenders when it comes to straight knockout football.

edit- I'll get this right now.

You more or less alluded to what I was saying, but we have 1 big handicap, the Saints Monkey, Dave T mentioned it, everyone on the planet can see it, clinging there for dear life.

If we can shake that monkey off, then yes, we're all the way, but I think we'd meet your mob in the final, and with the monkey gone, I think we'd do it.

The mental block we have regarding Saints now is getting too much, Tony HAS to have a team in place this week to deal with it.

Edited September 5, 2010 by goldcard

[Exiled Wiganer]

Here is my take on it...

After last week end you could make a strong case for Wigan, Saints and Wire.

Wire may have now overcome their big game issues sufficiently to beat Saints away (as they will surely have to do), and would back themselves in a final against Wigan. But can they win at KR and can their older players get up for big games week after week?

Wigan should be favourites against an off colour and injury depleted Leeds, whom they may play twice. I think it would be a toss up in a Wigan-Saints final, with the local rivalry helping Wigan lift their game despite lack of big game experience. In many respects this would be the dream final.

Saints can find ways to beat Wire, beat them away recently and with a weaker side. They have so much experience of winning games and KC will leave nothing out there. But they have problems in the halves which may come back to haunt them at some point, with Eastmond looking very brittle at the moment.

Leeds look like they have lost their way (though have plenty of talent and could surprise us). Without Peacock, they are weakened in the same way as Saints would be without Graham or Wire without Morley - their pack has no other natural leader to whom they can look. If he is genuinely injured (and given his miraculous recoveries this year they may be lying about it), then I could see them losing both against Wigan and the Giants.

Hull FC away to Wire should be a good game, with Long by then 3 games into his comeback. FC can be a dangerous side, and their pack won't be bullied by Wire.

Here are my guesses - Wigan beat Leeds and Saints beat Wire; Giants beat Cru and FC beat HKR; Giants beat Leeds and Wire beat FC; Wigan choose and beat Giants (assuming we don't have a back line of Marsh, Pryce, Tomkins and Richards), Saints beat Wire; Saints beat Wigan...

[Futtocks]

As I posted elsewhere, I just have this hunch that we won't win it this year. The team's more than good enough, as are the other main contenders, but I just have this feeling.

It has still been a superb season, whatever happens from now on.

[dallymessenger]

with the new semi final format its easier for teams outside the top 2 to make it into the GF so leeds are still some chance

irrespective of this year like wayne bennett with my team in teh nrl, maguire has built a platform which will pay off down the track

their imports for next year will only strengthen them further

finch, hoffman and lima? i think are all fantastic players and will revel playing under the former assistant coach of the melbourne storm

another leeds / saints GF would be a poor result for the game

saints / wigan is imo the best result for neutrals, then or warrington against either

edit : theres a lot of similarities between saints last year in the nrl and wigan this year in SL. new coach takes an averagish side to the top of the table in his first year and is under a lot of expectations to bring back former glories.

Edited September 6, 2010 by dallymessenger

[Dave T]

Here is my take on it...

After last week end you could make a strong case for Wigan, Saints and Wire.

Wire may have now overcome their big game issues sufficiently to beat Saints away (as they will surely have to do), and would back themselves in a final against Wigan. But can they win at KR and can their older players get up for big games week after week?

Wigan should be favourites against an off colour and injury depleted Leeds, whom they may play twice. I think it would be a toss up in a Wigan-Saints final, with the local rivalry helping Wigan lift their game despite lack of big game experience. In many respects this would be the dream final.

Saints can find ways to beat Wire, beat them away recently and with a weaker side. They have so much experience of winning games and KC will leave nothing out there. But they have problems in the halves which may come back to haunt them at some point, with Eastmond looking very brittle at the moment.

Leeds look like they have lost their way (though have plenty of talent and could surprise us). Without Peacock, they are weakened in the same way as Saints would be without Graham or Wire without Morley - their pack has no other natural leader to whom they can look. If he is genuinely injured (and given his miraculous recoveries this year they may be lying about it), then I could see them losing both against Wigan and the Giants.

Hull FC away to Wire should be a good game, with Long by then 3 games into his comeback. FC can be a dangerous side, and their pack won't be bullied by Wire.

Here are my guesses - Wigan beat Leeds and Saints beat Wire; Giants beat Cru and FC beat HKR; Giants beat Leeds and Wire beat FC; Wigan choose and beat Giants (assuming we don't have a back line of Marsh, Pryce, Tomkins and Richards), Saints beat Wire; Saints beat Wigan...

Can't argue with much of that, and wouldn't be surprised to see your scenario played out, although I would be disappointed to see Saints take the title, and would much prefer a Wigan win, as I'm sure you would (obviously providing Wire go out!).

In terms of our older players, this is probably the one issue I would pick with your post. The likes of Morley and Hicks are probably our most consistent players, and Briers has been very consistent in the big games. My bigger concern is around some of the younger lads, Riley, Harrison, Atkins, Cooper, Myler and then whether Bridge will be fully fit etc. but tbh they haven't let us down so far.