I don't think I will be alone in saying that Leeds deserved to go through tonight, thought that tactically they got it spot on against us tonight and their old heads really showed up when it mattered.

As for Wigan I think that we have seen the warning signs for over a month now, very disorganised in attack and defence and only Hock looked anything like a danger with ball in hand but Leeds read our plays very well.

Our kicking game was yet again found wanting.

seconded. Thoroughly deserved and we had a few ridiculous decisions go our way. It would have been a travesty if we won that game. Fair play Leeds, well done.

Here's to an entertaining final.

It is really nice to see the opposition fans congratulating Leeds after a victory. It was a very good and fair game and a pleasure to watch.

Nice to see some Dignity in Defeat in these first few posts.







Leeds were the better side tonight. I am afraid without Sam you are not the same threat in attack. Big changes for next year with the amount of players leaving too.

Congrats on the Hub Cap thou

Finishing 1st deserves more credit than it gets and I think we all agree on that issue

a fantastic game. two committed sides. an absolute classic. shame there had to be a loser

I just thought that tactically Leeds nailed it and you got a sense of that when they opted to go for the two points at almost every opportunity in that first half and mentally I thought it really put pressure on us to come up with something spectacular.

Sadly our big game players just did not turn up tonight.

I was surprised at HT how few people were actually giving Leeds credit. It was all "we're playing crap" and "Silverwood is giving us nothing". The fact was that we were so poor with ball in hand because Leeds were in our face constantly. We weren't in theirs. Second half we were and it forced errors.

As soon as Leeds took the lead (we should have taken the two) Sinfield showed his rugby brain (he doesn't have the skills of some players but few have a better brain) and he kicked us to death.

Second half when we were ahead we still played dumb rugby. I've been his biggest fan for 2 years but Finch should know a hell of alot better than what he showed tonight. 12-11 ahead with 10 to go you either force a repeat set or you get the ball back with a drop goal and make them have to score. Finch put in a crap kick to Josh that was neither use nor orniment. 6 to go and he puts a flick kick inside when he should have drilled it so hard into touch that it landed in the Dougy. He then screams at people to do this and that. Paddy should have decked him under the posts.

Finally, I feel sorry for Murphy. He had a poor game tonight under the high ball but Sinfields kicking game was superb.

Well played Leeds. That first half was the perfect half of semi final rugby.

i couldn't understand richards late kick off, driving it straight to hardaker

I'm not sure that was meant to happen.

Well this is a turn up for the books, great game, well played both teams

Not all Wigan fans are idiots mate

I know that all too well from meeting plenty of Wigan fans but this board can be a strange place sometimes

Leeds fully deserved the win and we can't argue. Sinfield was immense all night and kicked the out of us again. Our kicking game has been rubbish for years and I only hope it improves a lot next year.

Oh well, roll on February!!

Fair play to everyone on this thread. It was the best game I've seen this year, it was massively intense. Hard hits on every set but very little dirty play. Leeds offered very little going forward apart from strong running, but our defence was brutal (as was Wigan's at times). The difference was the kicking games. Sinfield kicked like a dream and Finch kicked like a drain.

It is great to see a thread with so much sportsmanship shown, something which is rare on these boards these days!

Full credit to leeds, they really ground that out tonight, at times I thought they where gone but they have them players who will pick themselves up, dust themselves down and go and do something special.

Sinfield was outstanding tonight and I don't know why we didn't mark him out of the game with 2 defenders pressing him when it comes to the 4th and 5th tackles.

I also have to give credit to the Leeds coach Brian McDermott, he has his critics in the rugby league world and also amongst some of the leeds fans but one thing that can't be taken away from him is the fact that he has guided Leeds to ALL major finals during his time in charge! (I bet it has been an expensive, but enjoyful, two years for the Rhinos)

We as a club will learn from this. Murphy will pick himself up and learn as a player. Wane, full credit to him, he could had took the easy option tonight and moved Pat/Charnley to full back, will learn about how to manage his side and media commitments at the top level and players like Farrell, Charnley, Mossop etc... will have to take a reality check- they have had it easy coming into a winning team who where getting to finals, now they have been in a team who have just missed out. Hopefully this makes us as a group more hungry for next year.

Rugby League was the winner tonight and I will wish Leeds the best of luck for next week. And as someone who I know has informed me, which I feel is an important statement, Sport is Sport at the end of the day, it either has euphoric highs or terrible lows but one thing that should never be forgotten, its only a game!

Class response that - your coach could learn a thing or two.

Well said dude

Well done to the Wigan fans for their sportsmanship in this thread.

Leeds won it in the kicking game and the forwards. They also kept their heads and discipline when a few things went against them. Wigan's defence was excellent also (Leeds scored no tries from attacking play) and games like that remind you that this is The Greatest Game. There've been too few this season.

I remember a young Gary Connolly having much more of a nightmare at full-back in a major final, and he turned out ok. I wouldn't worry too much about Jack Murphy.

Turned out to be one of the best FB's in the game.

Leeds played well and showed some great defence, probably the best defensive performance of the season. They played a simple game plan and ground out the result like they have done many times over the last few seasons. I do think we played into their hands though and tried to play Leeds at their own game rather than the more expansive game that we have played all season. Full credit to them though and although I am not a fan of Sinfield I thought he was terrific tonight.

I've got to give credit as a neutral (Hull) to all the Wigan fans for being gracious in defeat and the Leeds fans in victory.

I feel like the playoffs begin at this stage as all the other teams are miles behind the final 4, so the early rounds are a waste of time.

As a rugby league enthusiast I really enjoyed last seasons semis and final and tonights game was just as good.

If only Hull FC could compete at this level.

Maybe next year........

Great game. Best two teams in the comp for me, the GF won't be as good

Leeds just have the know how more than anyone else, Wigan should still be proud of their efforts this season

1st half Leeds were magificant and we were completely battered. I guess a 'game of two halves' could really be applied, because when we went 12-11 up I expected us to have the momentum to go on and win, but full credit to Leeds and their tenacity, never say die attitude which is something i'd love Wigan to somehow adopt. Sinfield really made a mockery of his doubters (and i'll admit I have been in the 'Sinfield is w@nk' stable for many years) and his kicking game won the game for Leeds. Good luck next week, although it's a grand final so you obviously won't need it

Just makes you wonder how long we will have to wait for a decent kicking game which can make all the difference in knock out games.

On reflection I can't help but think that we are really missing Andy Coley and Paul Deacon, two players that would have made a huge difference tonight.

Gutted, but well played Leeds, deserved it for their defensive effort, God only knows how many ankle tap tackles they made tonight but that determination to "get there" won them the game.