I agree with you about Leeds ( see my post ) but to say Wire 'bottled' key games is an insult to Leeds and to Wigan ( assuming you're referring to the Challenge Cup QF ). Both of those games were very close in the end, but each went to the team that played best on the day.

According to SCummings, they did beat Wigan in the game at the DW Stadium

It's hardly Leeds' fault that Wigan failed miserably to qualify for the biggest game of the season so they could beat them at Old Trafford is it.

With respect, you would think that would'nt you. It's an insult to neither Wigan or Leeds. Please look to your recent record in play-off games.

Why, then, did Wire not 'bottle it' in the even bigger arena of Wembley two years running? Did Leeds 'bottle it' in last year's cup final against Wigan? I'm not sure this 'bottling' business makes sense at all in talking about a team sport. Maybe I'd believe it of say, a snooker player who missed as easy pot in a deciding frame, but for sports teams there are an infinite number of reasons why they may be outplayed by their opponents on any one day. Wire v Leeds in the play-offs came down to a penalty for offside: was Myler 'bottling it' with his over-enthusiastic kick-off chase?

I don't know where this idea that Warrington had a "poor finish" to the season or "fizzled out" in the playoffs comes from?

Warrington won their last 10 league games of the season then in the playoffs beat Huddersfield 47-0 and lost to Leeds 26-24.

Yes the 2 point defeat by Leeds came at the worst time and ended the season but it's hardly a case of Warrington losing form at the wrong time of the season.

True this, but I don't know where you get the idea that Warrington were 'League Champions' in 2011. Such an award simply does not exist.

Anyone who thinks Wire had a better season must be kidding themselves.

Leeds are the Champions and in 30 years time this will be the only thing that matters in the history books.

Because this is Rugby League and not Boxing!!

Let me play Devils advocate for a second. Say my team Hull KR (or any of the next 5 in league positions) were in the Leeds position. We win the grand final from 5th this year, would they be classed as having a better season or just being a flash in the pan and never happen again or do you have to be one of the top 4 usuals to be classed as the better?

Still depends on your definition of 'better', but if you'd won the Championship from fifth and lost narrowly in the CC final, I'd say you had a better season than any, regardless of any historical 'pecking order'
The Rhinos clearly had the best season in 2011. Doesn't mean we were the best team over the course of the season. (That honour goes to Warrington). The same could be true of any team that achieved what Leeds did last year.

Thanks for clarification

It seems to me that this thread is trying to belittle a fantastic season that we had last year. We were the best team over all games and the LLS is the most difficult to win.

I got tremendous enjoyment from the season, coming away from the DW having seen us beat Wigan, beating our old enemy Saints home and away, same with the GF winners and coming away from the HJ smiling more than any previous season.

I would say that nearly a dozen teams would gladly swap our achievement for theirs. Compared to where we were 6 or 7 years ago, none of us Wire fans should feel disappointed.

Of the 3 honours on offer, I wanted to win the GF last year, but to win the LLS is a monkey off our back. We have won the play-of"?f equivalent as recently as 1988 and I reckon another will come soon. You have to go back further for our last league title. If someone asks now "when did you last win the league"? we can say 2011 actually.

Yeah, well done - you won something no-one else was focussed on winning

Every year we get this nonsense.

The only people who will remember Wire winning the LLS in 2011 in five years will be Wire fans - and only then if they haven't won the GF itself. All I know is Leeds have won the GF 5 times since 2003. I think we may have been top of the league on one or more occasions (including 2005, when Bradford were Champions?), but TBH I can't remember because I don't care.

Warrington by a country mile, what a season ! and as we come into 2012, the disappointment of the final game will give us that little extra motivation to get the big trophy.
Dont forget Warrington has never had any history of GF rugby, the trophy is of little relevance to us at the moment, its not disrespect, just a lack of any emotional ties to something we've never been part of. We'll put that right this season.
Plan for 2012, win by closer margins, blood the youngsters, rest best players towards end of season, but above all give fans the type of rugby fans want to watch.

Oh and I forgot to add.
Close down this site until September, lets go straight to the Playoffs, the first round ties decided by pulling little wooden balls from a cloth bag, the games between Feb and then are of little relevance , and therfore surely so are the arguments along the way.

No "emotional ties" cause you can't win playoff games... Leeds had the better season, get over it. All we can all do is look up to the new glamour club and hope to aspire to your greatness....

You're missing the point. Leeds will go down in history for winning Super League, Wire will not.

Every fan starts the season wanting their side to win Super League, the LLS is an achievement no doubt but ultimately it is not noteworthy.

Look at Huddersfield Town, a huge unbeaten run counted for nothing when they were dumped out of the play offs and this season will be the same, they won't win jack all.

Don't get me wrong though, I personally don't like the system we have, the winners of Super League should be whoever finishes top, with the play offs having a smaller role, but as it stands, Wires great season doesn't count for much alongside Leeds' Grand Final win. Honestly any Wire fan would swap winning the LLS for winning the Grand Final and if not you need your heads checking!

Given the top eight system allows every Tom, Dick and Harry into the finals series, the season starts in September. Leeds of course.

Leeds are the champions. We would all love to be in that position, even me as a Wigan fan despite us winning the challenge cup. I would rather be champions.

Who's been feeding you the truth serum

. At last, a Wigan fan honest enough to declare they missed out on the biggest trophy in Rugby League and he's disappointed about it. Good on you, I admire your honesty.

You are not Tony Smith and I don't claim my £5

For those who think finishing in pole position in the qualifiers is better than being champions I would like to point out that 1997 was 15 years ago. It's 15 years since we decided our champions by who was top of the league. For 15 years teams have known that to be champions they must give themselves the best chance by qualifying in the best position then beat all their contemporaries in the playoffs. Why is it such a difficult concept to grasp? It is also the way that Rugby League has decided it's champions for the vast majority of it's history by the way.

I'd scrap the league Leaders Shield. It was introduced as a fop to small minded Luddites and simply clouds the issue.

You know what, I'm inclined to agree, it muddies the waters.

Lets say the Grand Prix is the perfect example, you get pole position if you come top in the qualifiers, it's a position that gives you best chance of winning the race.
If you come top in the qualifiers you don't win any medals or trophies.
Yes it shows that on an empty track you're the best but if you never win the actual race it also shows that you 'lack something'

Scrapping the LLS, even though it does take some achievement, would be a good step for me.

Leeds are champions for me end of, we just got the fastest lap the day before.