Re: Grand Final : Fri Oct 09, 2015 4:53 pm  

I don't buy into this idea that Leeds will be at a disadvantage because of the intensity of the game against us. Playing in high intensity games sets the standards higher than easy run outs against underperforming/poor opposition. The Challenge Cup final showed that imo. I've also heard of it being said of the NRL and that makes them teams more battle hardened.

Re: Grand Final : Fri Oct 09, 2015 5:51 pm  

Twentyman wrote:

I don't buy into this idea that Leeds will be at a disadvantage because of the intensity of the game against us. Playing in high intensity games sets the standards higher than easy run outs against underperforming/poor opposition. The Challenge Cup final showed that imo. I've also heard of it being said of the NRL and that makes them teams more battle hardened.

It's a medical certainty that it takes Leeds' better players longer to recover than most sides. Peacock, Kylie, Burrow, McGuire and Sinfield are their key men and they are all old men.

Re: Grand Final : Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:48 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

It's a medical certainty that it takes Leeds' better players longer to recover than most sides. Peacock, Kylie, Burrow, McGuire and Sinfield are their key men and they are all old men.

I fear you are correct.....but one thing we should never do is write this team off. Saints and Leeds gave us a match worthy of the GF last week: two teams gave everything possible and it was a pity there had to be a loser. Leeds are down on significant numbers too (Aiton, JJB and Stevie Ward - plus Sutcliffe - who would all be in the 1st choice 17) but I really do not want to see Wane's smug face vindicating his team's 'ugly' slowing the PTB tactics.

Hopefully the Leeds players will be also suitably inspired to avoid that nightmare scenario.

Re: Grand Final : Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:23 pm  

Leeds for me, too. Firstly, they are not Wigan (and that's reason enough). Secondly, it's been a privilege to watch their key players, Sinfield and Peacock especially, despite the pain they've inflicted on us. I'd like to think this is Sinfield's last hurrah, but I have a suspicion that there might be more pain to come in the shape of Sinfield as a clever and successful Leeds coach of the future.

Re: Grand Final : Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:59 pm  

I see Matty Smith is at it as well.

Matty Smith wrote:

I think the courage and bravery he has shown, especially when it first happened, to come back the way he has and to play the way he has this year, shows his character. He’s a fantastic player and he’s a great bloke as well. He deserves it. He’s put up with some stuff over the course of the year. He’s our mate at the end of the day, we don’t want to see a team-mate as down as he was after that Grand Final. We’re here to put it right on Saturday and he can put that past him. He’s come back a stronger person and a stronger player.

Well, what a hero. What bravery he showed when he was mercilessly sent off, ruining his hard work and dreams. How fitting would it be to see him finally right the wrong and win at OT.

I'd expect such utter nonsense from Wane, as he hasn't got the intelligence to do anything with any grace or thought. But Matty Smith? I guess he's gone full Goon hasn't he.

Re: Grand Final : Fri Oct 09, 2015 10:31 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

I see Matty Smith is at it as well.

Well, what a hero. What bravery he showed when he was mercilessly sent off, ruining his hard work and dreams. How fitting would it be to see him finally right the wrong and win at OT.

I'd expect such utter nonsense from Wane, as he hasn't got the intelligence to do anything with any grace or thought. But Matty Smith? I guess he's gone full Goon hasn't he.

I'm with you, mate. Totally agree. It's embarrassing and shows a lack of class.

Re: Grand Final : Fri Oct 09, 2015 10:37 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

I see Matty Smith is at it as well.

Well, what a hero. What bravery he showed when he was mercilessly sent off, ruining his hard work and dreams. How fitting would it be to see him finally right the wrong and win at OT.

I'd expect such utter nonsense from Wane, as he hasn't got the intelligence to do anything with any grace or thought. But Matty Smith? I guess he's gone full Goon hasn't he.

I think it's called being a team mate.
What should he say on the eve of a final? Should he say castrate him for being at twonk?
Get a grip.

Re: Grand Final : Fri Oct 09, 2015 10:46 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

I think it's called being a team mate.
What should he say on the eve of a final? Should he say castrate him for being at twonk?
Get a grip.

He could be more respectful. Nothing wrong with, "Oh we just want to forget about it. Tomorrow is about the fans, not me not Ben". Or "I don't really want to talk about that, tomorrow is about winning for the supporters, he let them down and we want to make up for that". You don't have to criticise him, but you don't have to try so hard to glorify it either.

Wane has claimed last years Grand Final was a moral victory for Wigan. Punching an unconscious man is a moral victory? You can't see why this comes across as disrespectful and inappropriate? I agree that it shouldn't define this Grand Final as well as last years, so why mention it? Why give the press and the PR men words to sensationalise and write about? Why not either deflect it as I did expertly above, or refuse to talk about it? Why pretend it was something it clearly wasn't?

Re: Grand Final : Fri Oct 09, 2015 10:50 pm  

"Last year was a moral victory for us, with 12 men. If I was Saints, I'd have been disappointed to only win by that score."


His team are playing Leeds but he still can't help having a pop at us can he? He's obsessed with us.

Re: Grand Final : Fri Oct 09, 2015 11:02 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

He could be more respectful. Nothing wrong with, "Oh we just want to forget about it. Tomorrow is about the fans, not me not Ben". Or "I don't really want to talk about that, tomorrow is about winning for the supporters, he let them down and we want to make up for that". You don't have to criticise him, but you don't have to try so hard to glorify it either.

Wane has claimed last years Grand Final was a moral victory for Wigan. Punching an unconscious man is a moral victory? You can't see why this comes across as disrespectful and inappropriate? I agree that it shouldn't define this Grand Final as well as last years, so why mention it? Why give the press and the PR men words to sensationalise and write about? Why not either deflect it as I did expertly above, or refuse to talk about it? Why pretend it was something it clearly wasn't?

I can't and won't disagree that ideally the Wigan squad should deflect from answering questions on the issue but maybe it's more difficult to do so in the heat of an interview.
SW stated that playing for 78 minutes and getting so close was a moral victory.
The guy quite rightly got 6 months and if had been 12 I personally wouldn't have complained however, he has taken his punishment and ideally as a game we should move but the bone idle national press won't allow it.
I think as opposing fans we will have great difficulty in agreeing on this one.
Flower effectively took away the chance of Wigan winning last year but to give the lad his due he has got his game back on track and for me that has taken a great deal of character in doing so.
At 25/1.for MOM he represents great value if you fancy a punt.