Been away but here's my belated view on the Final. I disagree with the consensus that Wigan "deserved it" and "were the better team." The Final WAS decided by appalling decisions by the officials. Forgetting that for the moment - yes Wigan started well but they were not that good - they struggled to score between Leeds making silly errors and letting in "soft tries" (as Mr McD said). Leeds on the other hand scored their tries despite Wigan's "brilliant" defence. Leeds were the better team overall for me and lost it through a combination of silly errors and bad refereeing. When both teams played well there was only one team in it - Leeds. They were a better team.

If you say so. Wigan scored the better tries, missed fewer tackles, made fewer errors, give away fewer stupid penalties in key positions (Leuluai), were able to soak up more pressure and took their opportunities better.

Prolonged periods of pressure doesn't necessarily make a team 'better'.

As for the officials, there were bad decisions BOTH ways. It's easy to call those in Wigan's favour 'match-deciding' in hindsight, but let's not forget Wigan had plenty go against them. The final scrum decision was indeed contentious, but Leeds still needed to take the lead with only a couple of minutes remaining, having failed for the previous 75+ minutes. A scrum would most likely have made no difference.

OK, so Wigan weren't the better team because we started well but then struggled to score? Surely that's better than starting badly and struggling to score.

Wigoon were the better team for the first 20 mins, then got the "rub of the green" for the remaining 60 mins.
Vomkins behaving very dignified in the last seconds of the game.

So the better team for 80 minutes then. I mean if a team can't score for 60 minutes during which their opponents are arguably not playing at their best then their best is obviously below even that.


To be absolutely fair none of the Leeds players were very dignified in the final seconds or indeed after the hooter.

Funny how there's all this abuse on here of Sam Tomkins.
I'm still waiting to read a reply which mentions Sam Tomkins' great play prior to passing to Joel who went 80 mtrs for one of the best trys ever seen at Wembley.
Van Vollenhoven in 1961, Martin Offiah in 1994 and now the Joel Tomkins try this year. There aren't too many and I prefer to remember that from the final as well as Wigan's win.
As for poor deecisions or non decisions, no one seems to mention the Ablett quick play the ball which allowed JJB go 50 mtrs and led to the second Leeds try. That was a pen if ever there was one but it wasn't given and a try was the result.
The idea that all wrong decisions went Wigan's way is laughable!

Both teams gained and lost good field position due to dubious calls. To try and redress the balance here are some that Leeds got from memory.
Knock on given against Sam Tomkins in Leeds 20.
On about 74 minutes BJB Jumps from field of play to take a kick and lands in goal. Then for the second time in the game Leeds gain an advantage by taking the tap off centre.
Forward pass from Peacock in tackle before Hall's second try. Which deserved a closer look from Ganson I still have not seen the ball grounded.
Possible forward pass to Bishop for first try.
Sinfield takes out Richards while he is jumping for the ball. Richards then Knocks on on Leeds line.
McGuire slaps Charnley in the face during the celebration of Hall's second try.

50/50 calls went both ways. Abletts non play the ball with Deacon still holding his boot. and Ball in touch off Charnley/Burrows. The one eyed fan will want both calls there way. but to be honest one each evens it up. On each occasion a try was then scored through good play. The decision did not lead DIRECTLY to a try.

The only really bad decision was Leeds not getting a penalty for the dangerous tackle by Lima.

I was supporting Leeds to win on the day, and would have loved nothing more than to see the Gooners loose.

Unfortunately they came up against the arch chokers themselves.

If you want to know why Leeds lost, ask them why TWO of their forwards let Lima throw them off to go through and score.

And ask Kyle Leuluei why on earth he ran in to give away THE singularly most stupid, pointless penalty I have ever seen conceded in a game when Leeds had the chance to go through and score. If I were the Leeds fans its these players i'd want to lynch, not the ref.

Wigan, on the whole, were the better team. They were faster and more organised then Leeds, and thats why they won.

That said, the officials were bloody rubbish.