91Èȱ¬

It'll be close this weekend and the big question as you said will be if Wigan will have enough left in the tank to take on Saints you guns. It will be a great game, i wouldn't put it past Wigan Losing to Saints and then going on to win the grand final.
i'm struggling to see past a Wigan vs Warrington final really.
Leeds and Hull FC will be up for it but i don't think either has the steel this year to challenge the wolves or warriors, and maybe St Helens will be to inexperienced to go all the way.

I may like to point out and correct the bit where you mention Bradford where the last team to do the double, actually Saints where the last team to do it in 2006.

Sir, I agree the derby between Wigan and Saints is sure to be a great match, as always. However I do have to be somewhat picky and refer to the point you make regarding Wigan wanting to do the double "something no team has done since Bradford's Vainikolo-Vaikona vintage of 2003." It is a great feat, one which St Helens achieved in 2006... "By defeating Hull 26-4, they ensured they won every major domestic competition going in 2006, adding the Super League crown to the Challenge Cup and League Leaders' Shield they had already secured..." I quote the following 2006 91Èȱ¬ article to supports this

hull will have lost an edge with fitzgibbon retiring. He drove them on with his 80 minute peacockesque performances. without him i don't think they will feel they can go all the way. Shame really as i would have fancied them to get to final.
Wigan should win as maguire has such a strong interchange and that sprinkling of genius with tomkins.
Watch out for leeds on the rail!

can't wait for pies v scousers...need some tries after watching the rah rah !!

Hey, hey. Don't forget the French connection guys. If the Cats find some form, they could go all the way to Old Trafford and from there on in I wouldn't bet against them. Totally unpredicatble, they've got to be the neutral fans' favourites although Hull KR fans will be wanting to spoil the party in Perpignan today. And what about a classic all Humberside final to give a roaring send off to Alan Agar and Justin Morgan? OK, so sue me if you think I've got an overactive imagination!

As for the play-off structure, the odds are firmly placed on the top three teams. Personnally, I would prefer knock out quarter and semi-finals before a grandstand finish at Old Trafford. A bit boring, but a lot easier to understand. As it stands, having a week off while the other teams play for the right to get to the semis provides a massive advantage and Warrington are going to be very difficult to stop from here on in. The odds are stacked high for the poor old tailenders although Balmain almost did it in Australia's Grand Final with Ellery Hanley back in 1988. Being the runt of the litter, I can't help but back the underdogs. So Go Cats Go!!!

Pretty good display by Catalan today, Sputnique! 2 semi's, 2 blowouts, but it gets better now. I am hoping the Pies and the Stains kick lumps out of each other. That will either be a great game, or a fight. Leeds shouldn't have trouble with FC. Which gives us Leeds v Hudds, which Leeds shoud win , and Wigan or Saints v Dragons. You better hope it is Wigan lol considering how they trashed them. Either way, can't see Wire being fussed, it should come down to 3 of the Pies, Stains, Leeds and Cats. So guess what Warrington will call? Oh yeah, make Wigan and Saints beat each other up again. Take your chances against Leeds or Catalans. But right now I'd put a rested, fit Wire team up against anyone. Shame about Westwood but great to have Mozza and Harrison again

Is it just me, or do women want to protect Sam Tomkins? This is a funny article about the bullying:

He attracts abuse partly because hes talented and the British Sporting Public seem to have a tendency to do that to our top sportspeople but more than that, he too often behaves like a pratt and that gives fuel to the people who want to have a go....

Ok, ok, so whatever. The Hull derby final was never really on. FC and KR just got owned, end of. That's no way to end your season. Gutted for them.

Saints and the Cats seem to have timed their preparation perfectly but Wigan are going to have to dig deep again which is bound to catch up with them. Can't wait for next week now and no more second chances.

And George, how's a bit more coverage of the Championship games and the unsung heroes of rugby league?

Well, I think the Saints-Wigan derby stood out as the one playoff match worthy of being called a playoff match. I was very disappointed by the other three games, which weren't even contests really. Probably Hull put up the best fight, bearing in mind they have no halfbacks. But even so, there were three disappointing games and one thriller.

Which Saints won! YESS!! At last! We're a young team and on Sunday a largely home grown team (three foreign players, three from other areas of the country and the rest local) but we really put up a fight on Sunday and if we can carry that through to the semis, preferably without the bad decisions and lack of discipline, we actually stand a chance, which is 100% more than I thought we had about two months or so ago when in the worst moments of our injury problems. What a performance we put in and what a match it was. THAT's what a playoff game looks like!