Blimey.

Wigan just wanted to make a game of it then?

I can't imagine any team holding anything back in a cup final.

Maguire himself has said on a number of occasions that the most important game is the next one.

just remember, no-one ever remembers the team who finishes second.......it's winning that counts and I hope madge and the boys are up for it on sunday

Not too concerned about Sunday, wire can have the hubcap for me

Absolutely desperate to win on Sunday...

I do NOT want that lot ruining our 'you ain't got no history' song...
Absolutely DESPERATE!

I desperately want us to win on Sunday... I'm just not confident we can back it up for the rest of the season after the difficult cup run we have had. We will have some very tired bodies.

I can't wait til Sunday!!! I'm not confident but then again never am going into these games. I want us to win everything on offer and to do so we HAVE to win on sunday (technically it is possible other wise I know but would be amazing to win on Sunday at HJ)

Madge but be confident having same squad as Wembley all but Mossop.

I'd be surprised if we win on Sunday.

It's going to be tough to back up a huge game against Leeds. Especially when Warrington had the week off.

Sam Tomkins, Darrell Goulding, George Carmont, Pat Richards, Paul Deacon, Thomas Leuluai, Michael McIlorum, Andy Coley, Harrison Hansen, Joel Tomkins, Sean O'Loughlin, Paul Prescott, Jeff Lima, Ryan Hoffman, Brett Finch, Eamon O'Carroll, Liam Farrell, Josh Charnley, Gareth Hock

17 from that 19 should be good enough to beat Wire IMO. We have one or two out but that is a very powerful squad at this stage of the season.

They've had enough time to recover from the CC and will be fired up for this one.

Madge will be very focussed on winning the league leaders' shield and getting a psychological edge on the Wolfs ahead of the play-offs. Madge wants to sign-off by winning a historic treble. He's a winner and I expect the team to respond by beating the Wolfs on Sunday.

If we were to win then the interesting thing would be how Wire would respond. (If we did lose then I would expect us to fight back as we did in the play-offs last season.)

Wire for me are still brittle psychologically. If they lost to us I wouldn't be surprised to see them crash out of the play-offs. This is a massive game for the Wolfs.

An interesting trail of thought there Deano.

Seem to remember the same being said (Maybe not by you) after you knocked us out of the Cup.

If you lose to us on Sunday you will have to play Saints twice atm i cant see you beating them both times with the injuries you have got to key players

Injuries looking alot better then they did an hour ago.

Morley and Hodgson both in the Wire 19, interesting.

also grix back , very underated

Surely he's better being 'underrated' then.
Surely, by telling us at EVERY opportunity, your gonna undermine that?
Boring...

I know i posted that before seeing your squad

I can't flipping wait.

Another trophy if we win and an easier route to Old Trafford.

If we finish top we will have Huddersfield/Catalans... we can beat these at home... much easier than saints at home.

The when we get to pick our team we will have the choice of the lowest ranked team, as long as we stay clear of wire and saints, we will make the GF no problem.

Sunday doesn't just give us a trophy, it gives us a huge chance to win another.

We can't pick the Wolfs and vice versa if they finish top.

We could pick one another if the other team lost in the first week of the play offs.

I would be surprised if Wigan lose, as they were so much better than Warrington in the Challenge Cup. If, as I expect, Warringon lose, I would be surprised if they get to Old Trafford, as either Saints or the new Leeds could beat them in the semi final. The psychological damage Wigan could inflict is enormous here. Whereas if Wigan win, they will have the massive consolation of a bigger trophy already in the bag, knowing it's a Cup hang over and that they beat Warrington in the other knock out game they played. Warrington have so much to lose, whereas Wigan can be relaxed and confident.
I saw a new side to Wigan in the second half against Bradford, a vision of the future? As they are so much quicker than plodders like Joel Monaghan and Brett Hodgson, if Wigan make a break they will score.
I recall the confidence and self belief coming out of the Warrington camp before the Cup 1/4 final, with those in hindsight hilarious posters. If they fall behind at all on Sunday the gremlins are likely to come back with a vengeance.

We have all been basking in the cup glory for the past week so initially the Warrington game would have been at the back of our minds, it's going to be a cracker though, us Wigan fans are awfully spoilt



I am confident the boys will get the two points and the hubcap, Madge won't have let the standards drop this week just because of the cup final.

Dear rugby gods in heaven
Hallowed be maguire
His time has come
His will be done
At wire as it was in the QF
Give us on Sunday the league leaders shield
And forgive Sam for his 'V' sign
As we forgive Joel for not putting the ball down
Lead us not into deafeat
And deliver us from dissapointment
For Wigan is the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever AMEN

The problem with watching your own team week in week out is that you dont get a proper idea of the other teams.
The odd game on sky or your one look at them doesnt convey what the team has actually got. So a prediction is based on hope and hype, not knowledge, same for Wire.

But.
For us
Warringtons last win in Perpignan was the hardest game ive ever seen them play in terms or conditions, effort and mind strength.
For you
Madge is on his way, that's not good, its bad, uncertainty reigns at the DW, though they'll keep it quiet for now.

Facinating stuff, Wire havent been in this position since the early 70's. I think that says everything about Tony smith.

What a thoroughly odd appraisal going into this game.