Good to see the responses though, you know it's a great achievement but hasn't decided to title for over a decade etc.

I don't see why people keep complaining about it. We have won the shield, but unfortunately messed up when it came to the playoffs (Leeds outplayed us, it wasn't a case of us being shocking, Leeds less shocking etc.). Like others have said, it makes us sound like sore losers to the rest of the league. I think we should just move on, and make sure that we don't have to complain next year by winning the SL trophy rather than just the LLS.

Pointless imo. It just looks like we can't stomach losing out on the GF and want something 'more fitting' to make us feel better. We deserved to lose against Leeds just like we deserved to finish top after the 27 rounds. Defeat should make us return stronger next year and don't look back.

Let it go, sheesh! Yesterday's fish'n'chip paper, look forward to the new season...

Embarrassing on every level. Leeds are Super League Champions and deservedly so. I'd give Daniels credit if he had made these comments before the season started or if we had won the Grand Final.

The club seemed to take defeat on the chin and with dignity. Witness Tony Smith at the end of the game. Shame others can't do the same.

Glad to see this article being treated with the disdain it deserves.

The club took the defeat with good grace it's a shame this moron can't.

Depressingly, 7 chumps have supported the story so far! Joke.

I was going to saysomething similar if we won the GF but we didn't so if i do now i look a little bitter, i'll wait for a better time.

Much like Multi-Storry Car Park crime - wrong on so many levels!

Colin Daniels in gobery shocker

If we had won the grand final then these comments wouldn't have been made, i'm embarrassed as a Wire fan.

Of course the players should get medals as a reward for finishing top but it doesn't need a public outburst to get that point across to the RFL, this just makes us as a club look like sore losers.

I just hope our fans and our club don't get tarred with this outburst, Leeds are the SL champions this year so congrats to them.

Good to see the reaction of the Wire fans who haven't been asleep for 15 years.

It wasn't a problem last year and it won't be a problem when Warrington win SL.

I think the sport has moved on, no one remembers Saints finishing top so many times, they just remember the 0 and the 5.

Maybe it's time to remove the plastic trophy for coming top and reward the league leader another way? For example a much easier route to Old Trafford than there is currently?

Firstly; who is this person? Secondly; we started the season in the full knowledge how it would conclude.

Decrying the Shield belittles our consistency over the season.

I totally agree with the views of most of this board. This guy can't be much of a 'business leader' if he can't see that this is just embarassing the town. Leeds are champions, Wire League leaders, simple enough for most of us to understand.

Quite rightly the majority just want to move on, and realise that talk like this is embarrassing.

However i thought the sarcastic response from a Superleague spokesman stating that the winners are suitably rewarded as shown when presenting leeds the trophy...etc etc..... was more concerning than us not being rewarded enough.

Just once can the amateurish s that run our game show an ounce of professionalism....

Gary - I'd welcome your views on this tripe. You don't agree with him...do you?

I think a lot of people are missing the point.
Finishing top at the end of league season should be rewarded with more than just a shiny hub cap and the players should get a decent medal.
Also these comments are being made from some one independent of the rugby club so not a case of sour grapes by Warrington Wolves or the fans.
He is just expressing his view and trying to encourage the powers that be to give a little more recognition to the team that finishes top of the league after a full season.
Finishing top indicates that you are the best team - not winning a knock out competition.
When would a good time be to raise this issue - it needs addressing and sooner rather than later.
Tony Smith is not a big fan of the current play off system and has made his views known - surely the more people who make their views known from various different backgrounds the more likelihood the powers that be will consider making the changes.
The supporters certainly did with their feet - big league games sell outs - play off games half empty stadiums - 6,500 at Wigan v Catalans - what a joke!.
They couldn't even fill the stadium for a Wigan v Saints eliminator!
Try and look at the bigger picture moving forward.
Leeds deserved their Grand Final triumph and no one can take that away from them - but overall Warrington (closely followed by Wigan) were the best team last season and just had a bad day at the office at the wrong time.
What have the players got to look back on in their retirement - nothing!
The great Harry Bath had a league winners medal which he sent back to Warrington to help raise funds for Mike Gregory in his hour of need - our current players have nothing to remember the best achievement of their career to date - winning the league title.

Some good points there Gary, and very well put. The problem is that we knew what the rules were at the start of the campaign and there's no point in complaining just after the GF. I think most people agree that the League Leaders at the end of the regular season deserve more recognition, but the way he's come out with it just stinks of sour grapes.

League Leader's Shield should definitely hold more of a reward as it is a great achievement and shows that team have been the best team over the season. However we all know how SL and especially the playoff format works nowadays and unless that team goes on to win the GF, no one remembers them.

Seems as well this has only came out since Warrington have won the LLS. Warrington will be back stronger than ever next season and that little taste of success will make them hungrier to go on to bigger and better things.

Interesting you mention Smith as a few of his opinions have changed since at a top club with plenty of cash. But he'll stay away from this issue (rightly) as he benefited a fair bit at Leeds with the playoffs.

The guy talking isn't connected with Warrington Wolves but that is clearly where his bias is coming from. I think as mentioned make these points at the start ofva season not at the end once becomes apparent it has disadvantaged 'your team'.

On Woods reply, can't stand the man but considering the initial letter from someone you'd view as intellectual and trying to make his point as a 'rugby league fan' the reply was given in the same vein as the letter which clearly tried to state Wire as 'SL Champions' over a decade after the play offs - champions was introduced.

Of course we knew the rules. Not questioning the rules. Just the value of the league leaders shield and what it should mean.
I certainly didn't know the players didn't get a medal to recognise their achievement - and let me tell you something else - the players I spoke to didn't even know they wouldn't get a medal!
The reason Mr Daniels has come out with the story now is that he actually got his hands on the shield at a local event and thought it was a very poor trophy for such a big achievement.
No sour grapes - whoever wins next season should get a decent trophy and the players should get the medal they deserve - be it Warrington, Wigan, St Helens, Leeds or even Widnes!

it is a sharticle

It is still embarrassing.

Journalist asks player - "Did you know you weren't going to get medal for finishing top of the league?"

Players replies - "No, I didn't"

This is then used to support an argument.

The league is decided by who wins the Grand Final. Why should they get a medal?

Interesting point, who decides how much value it holds? Surely that is down to the individual? And I bet Warrington fans will put more importance on it then Leeds right now and that will differ between teams in the past. At the end of the day you can only have ONE CHAMPION so how much importance can you put on another side. Recognition is important of course.



Tough one, have none played at teams where they haven't before? Not sure if 'not knowing' is anyone elses fault really. I for one have never seen players presented with medals for this. Also if you give them individual medals for this what then motivates for the playoff's as would seem a sign that the season is over which in RL is NOT the case.



Maybe so but it's not 'the worse' trophy by any means and from pictures clearly stands out on it's presentation and would do so in a trophy room also. As stated in the reply you can't really have it being 'more spectacular' than the SL trophy. Yes it's not great but in comparison to other sports in similar situations, is it really that bad? I couldn't even tell you what the Rugby Union looked like for example and seem's less 'importance' is put on there 'league leaders' and there playoff's is only 2 games long, including the final!



In theory I agree it need's to be recognised more... but how?
Do you get a trophy? Yes.
Written in history books? Yes.
Advantage in playoff's? Home ties, less games and 'club call'. - Yes.
Financial gain? Yes and said that has been increased which I guess is the only way you can tbh.

I appreciate the points made by Gary, but the timing still stinks.

No one cares about the LLS in rugby league anymore. If Warrington fans did, they won't know they've won it and seen how little recognition and appreciation it gets.

Compare that to winning in front of 70,000 at Old Trafford, being on the front AND back of the national papers in the North West and shown on the national news. The Grand Final is here to stay as it's an enormous profile boost for the sport.

Recognising the LLS in any way more than we do now would only detract from that showpiece event.