You can understand the need for SL clubs to run a competition this year despite the problem of Covid 19, it's all about commercial survival and bringing in whatever revenue they can scrape together from sponsors, advertisers and Sky. But with the likes of Wakey last week and ourselves this losing key team members, is it time to accept that we are not really going to get a valid competition in 2020 ?

I think the best outcome for this year is to showcase the game as much as possible to the public, no matter how depleted the teams are ,as long as whatever players are available do their best.
This week's games are all on sky mix & a few more weeks of that could help with exposure to sky customers without the full viewing package.

If we were to win the Grand Final, would it invalidate other clubs fans from singing "Have you ever seen the Wire win the league?"

I think the song would still be legitimate, till we have won it in a non-covid disrupted season.

Also I think this is a moot point as they have scrapped relegation this year, but if we were relegated, we could argue that we still had never been relegated in our history.

Yeah if we won this year nobody from any other club would see it as a proper win and for me it would be a diluted win. But my love and enjoyment of the game has come flooding back with the 6 again rule and no scrums.
I pray they keep it the same from now on as the games are 10 times better and more exciting

NO.

This is not a diluted season. A dud season or however you want to put it.

You play what is on front of you. If we win the league. Ot will.be a legitimate league win. As it would be with the challenge cup.
If we win. We would of handled what has been put in front of us better than other teams in what would be the toughest season since the world war.

If saints win. They wont see it as a tainted win

If wigan win. They wont see it as tainted.. same with leeds hull fc. Salford. Wakefield laseford or catalan.

I fully agree with this. Which ever team win if we do get to a GF will fully deserve it. This is a difficult season obviously and will come down to luck a little bit, but mostly it will be about which team can handle the extreme conditions the best.

This season is about the survival of Rugby League. It doesn't matter so much about who wins the GF, what matters is that two teams get there (and that isn't 100% guaranteed).

Clubs are making sacrifices in order to keep the competition afloat and ensure that the sponsorship and TV money keeps coming in. Last week we saw Wakefield put the game on despite being down to the bare bones. They put up a brave fight but still got hammered, this week it’s our turn to stand up and be counted.

There will be many twists and turns yet to come. Maybe the winner will be the team that gets lucky and doesn’t have to isolate players but equally it might be the case that the title goes to a team that did it against all the odds.

in no way a diluted win. No matter who wins will get stick from the other clubs so it may as well be us.

All teams are in the same boat and if we can win the league whilst playing games with 6 players having to isolate then I'd argue we've won it under tougher circumstances.

Back in the 90s, Wigan went on a run winning the cup 8 years in a row and many league titles, in a division that was not a level playing field as they were the only true full-time squad and the only club backed by wealthy owners and big sponsors. I don't remember anyone questioning their trophy haul at the time.

COVID may have diminished the crowds and created a few problems, but it's something that all clubs are facing. Whatever is won this season will be just as valid as last. The only difference is fans won't be there to witness it.

So what happens if the Grand Final is Wire v Catalans.
The week of the final, a number of Wire players test positive for Covid and so we go in to the game with a team half made up of Academy players. Catalans win.

Do we accept Catalans victory and celebrate it as a progressive move for the sport to see the first French winners of the competition?
Do we fire Price for failing to win another Grand Final?

Many people questioned Wigan's achievements at that time, and still do.

Their fans rightly never gave a hoot, but plenty of opposition fans dismissed their many trophy wins as hollow - I think this season will be similar. Whoever wins it will rightly laud their victory, but everybody else will shrug it off as being pretty hollow.

One thing is for sure, and I think it's actually what many Wire fans are referring to with regards to this subject, it won't stop opposition fans mocking our lack of title wins if we were to win it this year - Many will refer to it as the asterix title and claim it will be devalued... It'll probably lead to regular and countless threads on here for years to come, or at least until we win a title in a 'normal' season.

If we get to the GF and win with some fans being able to attend, I won't care what any other fans say.

Agree with this but you know full well opposition fans would say we never really won it if we did.

I agree over Pies/90s, they 'bought' those successes to the tune of going bust twice, but no Pie-eater will accept an iota of criticism of those 'achievements'.

No. I have a controversial view on the whole situation as it is. That and the black lives matter thing before each match. And I dont want to be banned for expressing my views which seems to be the norm nowadays.

Perhaps winning this year for the Wire would mean our detractors could come up with a different chant for when normal service resumes.

How about....

Covid was your year , covid was your year
Unlike the last twenty
Covid was your year.

Although the lywics could be banned by the BBC.

Easter eggs are very hollow, but it doesn't stop me from enjoying them.

If we do win the Grand Final this year, will Price be accepted as the greatest Wire coach since Cec Mountford in the 1950s after delivering the Challenge Cup and Grand Final in consecutive seasons?

Of course he will...........until 2021 when we win nothing and fans demand he is sacked immediately.

But what are peoples view on Price as a coach ? It can only be an impression because in reality we don't have first hand experience to really know. With that minor limitation duly noted, he strikes me as a rather inexperienced coach who is trying to introduce a bit more professionalism and structure to SL, where in general the need to entertain and fling the ball around is more important than 'hunting the error' and the two points.

I doubt they will engrave an asterisk on the trophy, so a win is a win!

Plenty of football fans referring to Liverpool's title as an asterisk, or tainted. I feel it'll be the same for us

1. Yes.
2. No.

None of Wigan's past trophy wins get an asterisk saying *Wigan were full time and with a massive wage bill, compared to other clubs.

If we win the Grand Final I will be overjoyed.

In some ways it's actually more difficult to win, when you have situations like this week.

2020 is going to be a shallow championship, but better us winning it than Saints.
I rather have...”you can’t win a proper championship” jibes, than “ you can’t even win a championship under the easiest season ever” jibes.

Why would anyone think its the easiest season ever? The bottom team has already gone there's no potential gimme at Magic Weekend we had a few prior to running into Wigan as our extra game.

Follow this up with a short sudden death play off programme against the other three best sides no second chances no winning it from 5th.

Not to mention the squad management where you could lose half your first choice 17 week on week beyond the standard injuries or trips to the disciplinary Whoever wins it wins it end of IMO