Rangi Chase is up for a ban for Sunday so that should help the cause.

We do seem to have run in to teams at wrong time recently though. Widnes back on form, Huddersfield in great form, Hull have bucked up now and Saints had found form and installed a new coach before our game.

Hopefully we can now find out form though and make other teams think they're catching us at the wrong time.

If we can win the four games leading into the split, I truly believe we will make the 4 at the end of the season. The league is more competitive this year than last and dont think it will require 39 points this year

Agree with Bazdev,
Win these next four and we've still got a good chance of making the four.
No reason we can't get on a winning run again.

From today's WEP: Quote Joel Tomkins has a slight groin injury and is a doubt. Prop Tony Clubb is still expected to return. Wane will make calls on Anthony Gelling and Taulima Tautai later this week. '" www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-l ... -1-8618503

From today's WEP: Quote Joel Tomkins has a slight groin injury and is a doubt. Prop Tony Clubb is still expected to return. Wane will make calls on Anthony Gelling and Taulima Tautai later this week. '" www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-l ... -1-8618503

It's not just a case though of what we do we need to rely on other teams losing a significant number of games more than us which isn't the best place to be in.
Id be pretty amazed if we won our next 4 games if I'm honest. Not being negative but our form albeit with missing players has been pretty horrendous and unless we keep SOL and ST free of injuries the top 8 still isn't a given particularly when you look at Warrington's run in.
If a team is going to make the top 4 outside the current top 4 I'd put my money on Saints rather than us.

If we win all our games we require one of Salford,Leeds or Hull to lose at least 4 games,I'd say that's probable,if we lose 1 game then they will need to lose 5 out of their 11 remaining games,you start to push it a little,then factor in Saints possibly going on a run I think we may have to win all 11 of our remaining games and I just don't see it happening.

Seriously??? I dont see any way on earth we finish below Saints, other than the Salford game where Salford threw it away what evidence is there they can beat any of the top sides? I dont see them winning tonight and we will be level again with a win on Sunday

We need Saints to win tonight to help us close the gap on the top four. Our best hope is that come the Super 8s (if we get in!) there is as small a points spread as possible between, say, second and sixth. A Leeds win doesn't help us even if we get to leapfrog Saints.

Ideally Saints, Huddersfield and Cas will all win this weekend. It would keep Huddersfield above us and leave us chasing Saints but we can't afford the current top four to keep on winning.

Got to disagree with you on this, realistically Cas and Hull are almost certain to finish in the top four at the end of the play offs. If Leeds or Salford (the most likely imho) were to blow up then any one of the chasers Stains, Wakey, Huddersfield or ourselves could sneak in fourth. These teams are the biggest threat and the ones that we need to lose as many points as possible.
Having said all of that though Wigan need a dramatic improvement in form, if we can go into the split on 23 points, then put a good run together i.e beat all of the chasers plus a couple of the top four then its do able. Massive ask but possible !!!

Saints will win tonight and I've got a feeling they are going to go on a run which will take them close if not actually finish in the top 4.
Where is the evidence that we can beat any if the top sides on a regular basis to attain or get close to the top 4? Do you seriously think that SOL is going to play the majority of the matches for remainder of the season? Without him we are like sailors on shore leave with pockets full of money
Hey I hope your right Baz but my tenner tonight is on Saints.

Tenner lost.

My shoite betting tips continue after an awful Ascot.
Still £10 for a Saints loss is a small price to pay

Tautai out for another week and Joel out for 2. Clubb back this week and Gelling in with a shout but may need another week off.

Gelling just can't get going at all this season.

Last night showed me if we find any form at all there is nothing to fear from anyone above us, if we play our best rugby I think we are the best side in the league. Maybe that is a bit disrespectful to Cas and Hull but I would fancy us against either in a final

You are probably right in that there`s not much to fear about regarding Leeds and Saints.
But fancying your chances against Cas or Hull means you need to get there first mate.

I kind of think so too. I think of the current top 4, Salford are the most vulnerable, which basically means we want Cas, Leeds and Hull to keep beating our other competition for 4th spot. I'd fancy us in a semi final against Cas and a final against either of the others, if we can keep our top players injury free from now on.

Really? Call me a massive pessimist but we will need to go hell for leather over the next 10 league games (plus Cup semi and maybe final). Meanwhile Cas look like they will be able to start resting and rotating in league games almost as soon as the Super 8s start, plus they have two free weekends when the cup is on. I think if we scrape into 4th place it would take a massive effort from a likely knackered side to beat Cas, especially when they are fresh, at home (a big factor at the Jungle), and playing some very good rugby. Perhaps I'm just scarred from so many lost semi-finals over the last 15 years or so! Feeling much more positive about our Cup prospects

You're a massive pessimist! (Well you did ask)!

I've read lots of your posts.....you are a massive pessimist!

It will be difficult but it can be done but we will have to improve greatly on our mistakes and penalties.

Willie Isa and McIlorum are the biggest culprits.

Farrell unlikely to play v Wire. www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-l ... -1-8640201

Farrell unlikely to play v Wire. www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-l ... -1-8640201

WRT Cas getting to rest players over the last 4 more 5 games, could be a good thing for them if they get the balance right but they'll have to be careful they don't over-do it. You want to take momentum into the playoffs, mix and matching your lineup for several games wouldn't help that.

Farrell out for three weeks according to the Wigan Post. If it's three weeks from the Catalans game then he may make the semi but it looks touch and go.

It could be far worse though in truth. The way he twisted I had visions of a really serious injury.