A lot of clubs tried and failed trying to keep up with Wigan at the time and paid the price down the line .

Don't think that's quite the whole picture here.
In the late 80s the Wigan board (Lindsey and a couple of business partners I believe) made a hefty injection of cash into the club, at a level well beyond most other club's reach at the time.

The end result of this investment was that by the early 90s Wigan were operating a full-time squad within what was then still ostensibly a part-time sport. I believe Leeds were moving towards a similar model as the winter era came to a close, but virtually every other club in the game at that time simply didn't have access to that level of funding, even if the wish to do so was there. Certainly was the case with Hull Fc who hit financial difficulties as the decade wore on.

I don't deny that it was forward thinking by the Wigan board, and it did produce a superb team arguably the best club side the British game has seen, but it was unquestionably operating in an uneven playing field, hence my point above about your achievements when set against, say, Penrith's four successive NRL titles in a salary capped competition.

The equivalent today would be expecting championship football sides to compete with Manchester City. I admired the Wigan side 1990-95 and respected the raising of standards and new professionalism they brought to British rugby league, but the caveat remains that it happened against diminished opposition. They weren't tested often enough because the rest of us were incapable of putting together a team to compete.

That's fair comment and eloquently put I may add

Trueman named in the Wakefield squad for the semi final against York

NEWS REPORT

Reports have come through that Police have stopped and arrested 50 Hull KR fans on the M62 with flares as they were on their way to the Grand Final v Wigan at Old Trafford today.
It turned out they were the same flares they were wearing the last time they won a trophy in 1985

Wigan Wigan.

Think this evening may revolve around which is the bigger factor; Wigan's experience in seemingly to always pull out the right performance on the biggest occasions or rovers hunger and desire to end their (long) trophy drought?

Reckon Wigan will just have that little bit extra class and know-how to get the job done tonight, probably by a score, around 18-12, but it could easily fall the other way.

My nagging doubt is that sooner or later someone has to bust open the Wigan/Saints/Leeds cartel and lift the trophy. Let's hope it's not tonight



C'mon Wigan, you have half the City of Hull roaring you on to victory tonight!!

Get in!!

Bevan French is different gravy!

Christ.
Bevan French is ridiculous. Best player in the league and wasn't far off the MOS shortlist even after missing 8 games.

No substitute for pace as they say.

That offside rule needs changing. We got done for similar against Catalans. It's garbage.

How many of those sort of offsides get totally ignored during the season? Daft rule.

Pass that on to Richie Rich

French has done the obvious eye catching play, but Smith is absolutely bossing Wigan around here.
Rovers doing well to hang in it but Wigan look fairly comfortable to me. Happy to just grind up the middle. I think they'll start opening up the play 2nd half and throwing the ball around a bit more now they have a 2 score lead.

Smart move to take the drop goal.

Keeps Wigan in the lead for at least the next score and adds psychological pressure.

That last 2 minutes was ridiculous Wigan defence. KR should have had 2 walk ins.

Forum in November.. Fill ya boots!

Rovers will nick this.

Seen a replay of the Nsemba knockout, Burgess’ second effort on him should’ve earned him a ten minute rest. Not that I’m biased.

That’s what I thought too.

Lewis a turnstile all night then he goes and does that!

Wardle definitely should have sealed the match then. Outstanding effort by Hall but Wardle looked like he took that whole thing far too lackadaisical.

Think Peters might actually start crying here

Since......

I been saying all year that Ese'Ese is the best prop in the league but I'm wrong, it's definitely Thompson. I've not watched a whole lot of Wigan until back end of the season and he is an absolute machine. What an effort he's given tonight through the middle.