Not going because of work.

But if I wasn't working, I'd have to ask myself, what's the point?

How often I've said this but...

Context:
Leeds play Wakefield at home. The worst team left. Wigan play Catalan, the team [iabove[/i Leeds. Poor Catalan have to play the League Leaders, followed by a team close to them in the table who have just had a nice easy run out. Home advantage is moot because both teams have to travel to France from the north of England. It's much better to be 5th or 6th than 3rd or 4th a lot of the time. Wigan get a week off which is dubious as to whether they benefit from it from past results (really don't think our team does most of the time). If we have to have a top 8 system, the only way to go is the McIntyre system, I think the NRL was mental to move from that one.

It's easy to make a case by picking which playoff clubs you like. Try Catalan as an example. Finished higher than Leeds and as a result had to travel to Wigan for a pasting as opposed to Leed's home cakewalk over Wakefield(?). Then had to back up against a Leeds team on the ascendency.
Anyone who doesn't think the format needs revising is either deluded or from Leeds.

The pleasure of watching a full-blooded encounter between Wigan and Warrington.

Like it or not, that's most likely what we'll get this evening. Neither club is preparing for this game as if it is a friendly. And it sounds as if 18,000 plus Wigan and Wire fans feel the same way.

But I can watch it on TV. What's the point in spending money on a game which in the end will mean nothing, when I could watch it in the comfort of my own home with a beer?

I want to support our brilliant game, I do. But at the moment, I am so un-inspired by how our sport is run that I have to ask these questions! The format needs to change!

Very much and we all want to see a great game, one where our team hopefully wins BUT if our team loses the impact is far less and ultimately it does not matter.

The PL every game is treated as potentially life or death for the clubs at the top and those near the bottom, even now.

If you are so upset about the state of the game that you would stay at home and have a beer rather than watch Wigan v Wire, then I suggest you do just that. Only by voting with their feet will dissatisfied fans get their message home.

But if I was you, I'd be inclined to terminate my subscription to Sky Sports and deny the game's owners the revenue before I denied the revenue to Wigan RL.

There is only one can in yours that is for sure.

Rewarding league position does not just mean rewarding who finished top. Les Cats who finished fourth had to play AWAY at Wigan in round 1 while Leeds who finished 5th played the 8th placed side at home. Yes Les Cats got another bite at the cherry but that was after a hard game whereas Leeds had a canter in round one.

It's obvious you are better off finishing 5th than 3rd or 4th. There is no difference between finish 1st or 2nd either other than the stupid club call idea. The current format is garbage and simply does not reward league position.

The old top 5 system does so it is not beyond the whit of man to devise a system that would ensure the league is much more important.

It should be progressive thing where the higher you finish brings greater advantage. Our system doesn't do that. Don't drink that can too fast, you haven't got any left

So you are not a supporter,fine,the world moves on - frankly,noone cares what you do,but obviously,as an inadequate,you desire the attention.

I think you have kind of misunderstood, I am not boycotting the games, I just can't go because of work. But like I said, if I wasn't I would seriously think about it. Even though I'm off to hudds next week and a few more in the weeks to come.

But judging by the predicted attendance for tonight's game, it seems I am not the only one thinking like this.

Leeds game in round one was much tougher than Les Catalans who barely turned up.

Les Catalans lost two games in a row, one at home. They cant complain that they werent crowned champions.

I'm guessing that was aimed at me so I'll respond.

How am I not a supporter if I am concerned about the state our sport is in? I still want Wigan to win, I will still go and support them this year. But our game needs to change.

And if you didn't care what I did you would not have posted a comment.

I'd be wary of speaking for other people based on a few moans online.

A 20,000 attendance is anticipated.

close to 20k tonight

South Stand has now sold out.

You totally missed the point there. Les Cat's had to play the top ranked team as a reward for finishing 4th. 8th got to play 5th and 5th got 8th which are obviously both easier games on paper. The fact Les Cat's didn't turn up doesn't alter that.



So what? It doesn't alter the fact in round one they had to play 1st.

It's actually a statistical fact that different playoff systems reward league positions differently to each other and that is what the debate is about, not the form of one team in any one year.

In the McIntrye final five system the statistical chance of 1st winning the whole thing is 37.5%. In the top 8 system he devised it drops to 18.75%.

The obvious and inescapable conclusion is the top 5 system rewards league position more and we have adopted a system that doesn't (its statistically even worse than the McIntrye top 8 ).

God knows why you are so wedded to the top 8 system. It's garbage in terms of rewarding league position.

20k? Dreadful attendance, the people of Wigan have spoken!

Brilliant way of describing the problem. Totally agree.

In theory it may sound right, but try translating such a policy into reality.

Any Wigan coach who consciously had his team take it easy for certain parts of the season would be hung out to dry.

Shaun Wane has become a hate-figure for some because he failed to win either the Grand Final or the Challenge Cup. Imagine if he also lost a few league games.

I agree that the top eight is crap and needs to be changed, but the day Wigan stop trying to win matches will really be the day when the crowds stop attending because pro sport is about offering entertainment and competition, and above all value for money.

So that was fan apathy? I suppose the players took it easy too! What an absolutely tremendous match. A great advert for our game.

Agreed unfourunutely some people on these forums are looking for negative stories

If the system discourages teams from winning (have you ever heard as much bollox in your life?), then it failed miserably tonight. Fantastic contest between two fully committed sides, enjoyed every minute of it.

Totally agree. We got all that tonight. It has to be the way or the 27 rounds [iwill[/i be discredited. It's the duty of all teams to got for it in every round and of course if they do that it ought to elevate the stature of winning the league.

IMO the only reason winning the league is devalued is because we are[i told[/i it is of little value and some fans are happy to accept it is.

Pride plays an important part in whether we get what we had tonight. Both sets of players wanted to get on top of a rival and knew they had to play well to do that. Sadly, another week, a fortnight a month both teams will play far more fixtures where they can coast in 2nd gear and win. If they loe it matters not other than the short term embarassment.

I think you speak from the heart, but this post sounds worryingly like: "Okay we got it wrong tonight - it wasn't a nothing game after all. That will come next week instead." A bit like one of these end-of-the-world prophets who never get it right.