To be fair, winning SL five times in the last six years does a pretty good job of highlighting who the best side has been in recent times before the Sky coverage starts.

If Wigan had a similar recent record, no doubt they would get the same sort of buttering up. Same happened with Saints.

Leeds are an exceptional side.

Except that they didn't.

You don't think there was media fawning over the 80s/90s Wigan side?!

I'm talking about the Sky muppets in particular ... who once even tried to make an issue of the fact that Wigan used to play the ball quickly, as if it was somehow unfair on everyone else.

What a lot of us are concerned about is the fact the now under the SKY dominance the GF selects the "League Champions".
What is actually happening week in and week out though is that summaries of coaches when they play various teams is that they tell us "(N) are the best team in the comp". In 2010 it was Wigan, 2011 Warrington and 2012 Wigan again.
They say that because they were playing the best rugby and winning more than anyone, losing fewer, scoring more points than others and conceding fewer.
Those facts select the best team in the League yet only in 2010 did the best team in the League win the GF.
The concept that the League Champions are by definition the best team in the League has been undermined by the facts as they currently are. Leeds were the best team in the League in 2009.
How we overcome this I'm not sure but one way surely is that the League Leaders get an automatic place in the GF. That's not going to happen as it would require a two week play off or otherwise the LL will be waiting for 2 weeks or more for the Grand Final to come around.
The other is to recognise the League Leaders properly with a far better trophy than now and also with a substantial financial reward for what is the most difficult trophy to win.

Were SKY around during that period ?



I've noticed it's always a 'love in' from Stevo (with his Yorkshire bias) and Hemmings, who doesn't know much about RL anyway, when Leeds play.

The NRL commentary team put the Sky mob to shame!

Last week Stevo actually commented on how straight the touchlines were at Headingley

Against Bradford Eddie said that it would be up for some debate who the greatest player to play for both Leeds and Bradford between Ellery Hanley and Jamie Peacock. Ten minutes later Peacock concedes a penalty which ruled out Sinfield's drop goal and then he got himself sin binned andBradford score on the next set.

Ridiculous statement.

For once, that wasn't such a ridiculous statement by Hemmings.

Hanley is the best player of the last 40 years and was very good for Bradford and very good for Leeds but spent most of the peak of his career elsewhere. Peacock has been outstanding for Bradford and outstanding for Leeds, probably better than Hanley was for both clubs. So it is a fair matter for debate who has been the outstanding performer for both clubs, which is what I took Eddie to mean.

It's certainly less ridiculous than using the evidence of 5 minutes play to settle the argument one way or another.

Beat Leeds in the playoffs?

Simple.

Well it's only 75 mins less than the time used as evidence to define the entire season with GF. How ridiculous is that??!

Eddie and stevo are a pain to listen to, enough said.

Yes, yes: everyone from Yorkshire who isn't from the city just LOVE Leeds.



This thread is hilarious

#obsessed

You are right, I often shout at the tele when the Dewsbury dew-drop comes out with statements like, yep this and yep that, and self-pronouncements on forwards, knock-ons, high-tackles, steals and the like which no one could possibly see.

Strange, I find everyone from Yorkshire hilarious, not just Leeds. Now I know why the good Lord made the Pennines, to prevent cross contamination to our side.

A perfect example of how to misunderstand a thread and not be ashamed to show it.

I doubt this, not least because it would mean that a degree of thought goes into what comes from the mouths of Hemmings and Stevo. I can remember their sticky moments over saints so can appreciate how it must grate although it irritates considerably less now that it's Leeds they're drooling over



In fairness though they did talk up Wire and then Wigan in 2011 and 2012 respectively during the regular season, routinely predicting that one or the other would be champions. These predictions were then unpicked by Leeds and, having been shown up as knowing no more than the average fan, they may now have turned towards supporting Leeds in much the same way that they used to trot out the old "never write off saints" mantra while worshipping at the feet of the likes of Cunningham and Wellens.

Going forward, I reckon you lot stand as good a chance as any as taking over the mantle of top team. Should this happen I'd say it's a cert that within a couple of years the Sky team will be 100% behind you and a similar thread will be posted on the Leeds/Saints/Wires board.

If that happens, I will unreservedly retract my suspicions. But I've always had an odd feeling that Eddie in particular is no friend to Wigan.

I wouldnt think too much into it. Its just Sky.

Im a Crewe fan and was watching them in the JPT Final on Sunday.

During that match they were raving about Crewe as if they were a premiership team. They obviously arent having "an exceptional season" as theyre not even in the playoff places in their league but youd think they were the best team in the country how they were going on.

Unfortunately Leeds are on TV every week? And get first billing on fulltime?

I think that a lot of you throw a deaf ear at Phil Clarke having a Tommy Tank over Wigan near on every week (if you're playing or not).

Both Eddie and Stevo Big you up also.

End of the day, do what we do and you might win something.

same old same old from you guy's one day you will realise the team who win the league are the most consistent side , the team that wins the grand final are a champion team . Also i await how well the next team to finish fifth on the ladder go in the play offs

You're welcome.
But I fully understand Wigan's obsession with Leeds. I welcome it. Leeds had a similar thing with Saints for a while before we showed them the door.