Wigan the new champions : Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:11 am  

The Times ... http://timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_le ... try-3.html

The Times ... http://timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_le ... try-3.html

Re: Wigan the new champions : Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:56 am  

Nah, Leeds may be languishing at the bottom with a depleted squad now numbering 12 but they "will still win SL."

"Forward." - that's two quotes from the south stand.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:23 pm  

WF4 wrote:

Nah, Leeds may be languishing at the bottom with a depleted squad now numbering 12 but they "will still win SL."

"Forward." - that's two quotes from the south stand.

lol

do you really blame leeds fans for being confident?

We've played in every grand final bar 1, since 2004. If we were calling it the apocalyspe you'd say we were fickle.

If we had a full squad and this was happening than naturally there'd be doubts.

But it's blatantly obvious once we get bodies back we'll move up the table and be contenders.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 3:36 am  

back to back to back wrote:

lol

do you really blame leeds fans for being confident?

We've played in every grand final bar 1, since 2004.

If we had a full squad and this was happening than naturally there'd be doubts.

But it's blatantly obvious once we get bodies back we'll move up the table and be contenders.

Is that when grand finals started to be played, 2004.......... mmmmm
In order to move up the table you have to play and beat the teams above as well as below you in the table or they that are above you have very bad luck and lose to other teams. Just getting bodies back will not ensure that you rise to any great heights in the league table, though I suspect that you will be in the top 8 come the end of the season

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:53 am  

I think Leeds will comfortably be in the top 8 come the end of the season, but what is happening is that other teams are beating (albeit a depleted team through injurues) Leeds.

For clubs like mine we have had a mental block with them, this is now broken as we know we can and have beaten them.

Other clubs will also do the same and will be better prepared mentally when they play them later in the season.

I do think this season we will see a number of clubs who can genuinely think of themselves as GF winners, this has got to be good for RL and will help promote the game amongst the media.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:28 am  

William Hill can stick their odds of 9/4 of Wigan winning the Grand Final, that's for sure. They've started well and are genuine contenders as I expected them to be but there is a strong case for 5 or maybe 6 teams to be champions come October. I think we're in for the most unpredictable SL ever.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:37 am  

We're 9/4?

That really suprises me tbh. I wouldn't touch us anything below 4/1 or 5/1 even after our start because we've still got an awful lot to prove.

Leeds still slight faves for the title imo followed by Saints and then Wigan and Wire. It's basically the same order as before the season for me.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:38 am  

I still think leeds will be the team to beat this year. They have players out like we have. Last night was huge effort by leeds against a strong wigan side.

When the likes of sinfield, peacock, lulu and ablett are back there pack will be very very strong again. They can win it from anywhere in the top eight. I think they will come top 4.

Us and leeds have had our injury problems this year, both playing games with 6,7 or 8 players out but still compete. Saints went to hull kr with a lot of kids and was unlucky not to come away with the points. Leeds had 8 put against hull kr last week and lost by only 7 points.

Wigan will have and other teams have been pretty lucky so far with injuries but it's how you deal with them, that will be very important this year.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:41 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

We're 9/4?

That really suprises me tbh. I wouldn't touch us anything below 4/1 or 5/1 even after our start because we've still got an awful lot to prove.

Leeds still slight faves for the title imo followed by Saints and then Wigan and Wire. It's basically the same order as before the season for me.

I would agree with that pal. Lets see if wigan can continue this form when they get there injury spell that all teams have. I think saints, leeds, wigan and warrington can win the grand final from anywhere in top 8.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 11:07 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

We're 9/4?

That really suprises me tbh. I wouldn't touch us anything below 4/1 or 5/1 even after our start because we've still got an awful lot to prove.

Leeds still slight faves for the title imo followed by Saints and then Wigan and Wire. It's basically the same order as before the season for me.

I really can't pick it. The addition of Brough to Huddersfield ranks gives them a huge chance as well. It may well be the same order as last season but there's a gnats bollock between the lot of 'em!

I really feel that it may come down to the team with least injuries in October as it stands. Plenty of rugby to be played before then obviously but I don't seen any one team running away with the shield and SAints could conceivably come anywhere from 1st to 5th as far as I'm concerned.