2001
Warrington 56 v 22 St. Helens

Not Knowsley Road.

Where does it say Knowsley Road

80mins from the Grand Final is not quite 2 Challenge Cup finals at Wembley now is it?

I am not one to enter into tit for tat arguments and I have been impressed with Wigan this season. But you do leave out the fact we have won back to back silverware and we beat you at home. Very convenient.

There was me thinking that everyone is entitled to an opinion, how wrong I am.

I still remember that game.

Anthony Sullivan giving Ian Sibbit one of the easiest tries he could ever score.

Paul Newlove getting sent off.

Good time's

I'm leaving nothing out. Unlike the quoted poster I haven't said Warrington can't, or even won't, win the GF. Therefore I have no need to mention anything pertaining to Warrington at all, other than to point out the areas where Wigan have shown they are competative, or even superior. I'm making an argument FOR Wigan's credentials, not AGAINST Warrington's! Were I claiming that Wire couldn't win it, then it could be said that I would have a duty to point out a balanced argument. Funnily enough this seems to be a 'one-way obligation' on this board as I didn't see the quoted poster doing the same re: Wigan. Go figure...

'"

You're not wrong; I was giving mine. Apparently this is also a one way street on this board.

Which facts are these?

Ah, resorting to name calling. There's a surprise! Well done. You must be so proud.

You're right, it's not rocket science. Nor any other kind of science or even reasoned argument for that matter. Using this argument Wire couldn't win the CC last year as they hadn't won a major trophy in 30 (?) years! So did you win it or not?




In the same place as Wire's prior to the first cup win, only somewhat more recent. Your point?




Actually you said the winners will come from the Knowsly road semi. At the time of writing that discounts Leeds. Also, why should we be going off knock out competition alone anyway? If you want to go off anything it should surely be recent history of the play offs, no? Out of interest, where would you say Wire figure using that criteria? We could just as justifiably ask when was the last time the Challenge cup winners won the GF or how often has the winner come from outside the top 2? Surely these are more reasoned arguments regarding the play offs than using a cup win, or even two, as justification for impending GF succes?





In the same way as Wire lost to Wigan at the Halliwell Jones, Saints to Wigan at Knowsley Road and Leeds to Wigan home and away! Again I ask your point?

As for being consistant having no bearing on knock out rugby, have a word with yourself!! Are you really suggesting that you'd rather trust to blind luck that you can string 4 wins together rather than at least taking consistant form into the competition? I suggest you have a quick word with your coach if that's the case as he, along with every other coach in the world, thinks differently. Of course it may well be that you know best and they're actually wrong. Who knows? I would also add that the greatest cup side in history were also the most consistant, which is why they also won titles, doubles and trebles during the same period. Like you say, it's not rocket science.

well you lot claim it is when you lose

From a 'perspective' point of view, Hull sat 4th eight days ago, looking at two bites of the cherry and full of optimism. A pretty poor refereeing decision, a battling performance & then a quite horrific performance later they are out.

in the grand sceme of things they were gifted 4th at the cru cru match,.

Sorry you argue that you were simply pointing out Wigan's positives and said nothing about Warrington's chances of winning/losing the grand final.

Please see above.

I was simply balancing your above statement in bold by saying that we have indeed WON silverware for 2 seasons and DID beat you at home. So although I agree this doesn't mean we will win the GF it does suggest that we can produce the performances when it matters?

I agree consistency is important but I would argue that ALL SL teams this season have had some 'shocking' defeats/wins, indicating that, on the day, knockout rugby can be anybodies game?

Wigan have won exactly the SAME number of games this season as Warrington - the season isn't just the League - it's the cup as well - SO, after winning the same number of games as us you have your hub cap, we have a MAJOR Trophy!!!

TBH though Rob, isn't that pretty much what an off day looks like?

If we have another over the next few weeks we will deservedly be out of the comp, but to be fair, we haven't had that many off days back to back.

Ah I see. Sorry for the confusion but you misunderstood the point I was making in bold. I wasn't stating that as a reason Warrington COULDN'T win the GF but merely to point out the anomaly of the quoted poster saying Wigan COULDN'T but Warrington COULD despite the above. In truth, either can win it. Simple as.

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here.

You're going on about how much better than us you have been!!! League wise, yes, you've won two more games - as a season, so far, you've only won as many games as us - we have a major trophy to show for it - you have a minor one - so your point about you being the best team this season isn't that simple!

very proud, your lack of knowledge is highlighted by your claim, which you then apologise for, that warrington have never won a play off game!

sorry i can't hear you?

And i'll add a loss to Leeds at home to the above list, yeh thats impressive back end of the season form and form worthy of potential grand final winners.

Only good points to take from the game was the first 14 mins and the fact even with 50% less ball we only let in 4 tries with 1 coming with a major slice of luck, the killer parts were the 2 knock ons when we should of built pressure first Harrison and then Solomona, then the last 5mins of the first half having something like 20 play of balls to Saints 40 but still only 10-8 down to 18-8 with a few mins before half time and then 20-8 from silly play after the restart, we just didn't play smart enough to get a foot hold back in the game and Saints did an started slowly added to the points total at every chance.

Cunningham's try in first half opitomised the current issue we have whenever we play Saints. Dont get me wrong, they're capable of scoring sensational tries, similarly to ourselves. Yet from memory, it seems that most of the tries they score against us seem to be a result of our lacklustre defence, rather than a reward for their skill and effort.

When you watch us in the final at Wembley, we bullied Leeds defensively. Yet on Friday, we didn't even get close.

The one promising thing though, based on the Wire side Ive witnessed this season, is that we do have the mental strength to turn it around. I wouldn't be suprised, with weather permitting, if we handed Huddersfield's ar$e to them on Saturday evening. And will we please get Mona's back to 9 asap for godsake! As a couple have eluded to, get Bridge in at 7 if necessary!

And finally, as for Saints, I still cant see us beating them anytime soon. They remain a step above in big matches I'm affraid. And credit to them!

I see us a step below.

It is a mental step.

Can you hear me now? Do you still think Warrington can win it but Wigan can't?