Wire are just a different animal this year. Even last year when they really looked a quality side, they've gone up another level this year.



I can't figure out how we have a chance to go top.

Its a valid point about the playoffs, but they clearly have some pedigree in knockout games given their recent CC wins. Two contender race as far as I can see - a ruthless front runner against a durable machine.

Win on Wednesday. Simples!

It's different though. Winning the cup in recent years has been win, (week off), win, (week off), win, (11 weeks or so off), win (3 weeks off), win. It's not on the same level with needing to win 2/3/4 games in a row against the best opposition!



They are certainly a massive threat though, particularly because their goal kicking is not awful like it was last year. They need to keep Hodgson fit though!

Don't disagree - they are by no means unbeatable and inconsistency week to week has been a perennial Warrington problem. I'm just a little concerned about their ability to blow teams away quickly - Wigan will have to be on form to match them. I think if both teams play at their best (unlike at the DW) that Wigan can edge it, as we seem to thrive in close games and I can see Warrington getting frustrated and ragged if they fail to put points on the board early.

Was it Nobles last year when we could win a close game? Wasnt it something like nine games we lost within 6 points, if we had won them all we would have been top if i remember correctly

Close games in 2009 that we lost



Wakefield (H) - Lost 06-12

Hull (A) - Lost 10-18

Cas (H) - Lost 22-28

Hudds (H) - Lost 08-22

St Helens (H) - Lost 12-19

Hull KR (H) - Lost 12-20

Warrington (A) - Lost 08-16

Celtic (A) - Lost 16-22

St Helens (A) - Lost 06-10

St Helens (A - Play Off) - Lost 10-14

Yeh i thought so, shows how important having a cool head and a bit of expirence in close games is



As you say these are the qualities of champion teams

I'll just rebump this thread because that tonight would have been a miserable defeat under Noble. I'll take a miserable victory!

It will be interesting to see how we go against London...sorry ...Harlequins at the weekend, the last 2 games we haven't played particualrly well by our standards yet have beaten 2 teams who have played above their recent standard, is this a sign of a champion team ?, if we manage to pick up 4pts from Quins and Wakey then the last few weeks will have been very succesful and hopefully we will have got over our dip in form with maximum points

That tells its own story right there. If maguire was in charge theres no way we would of lose to Wakey, Cas, Hull KR (all at home) and Crusaders away!

Still havn't seen wire have to grind out a win in the big games. Be interesting to see them in a tight game against the best sides. Thats what happens in the play-offs.

It's well known in that Association Football game that a team playing badly and still winning are going well (United did it loads last season) and are ones to keep an eye on.



But - that's great in a 'league leaders win the title' sport, but in a knock-out play-off format you're asking for trouble. I still think we'll come good. We've been improving barring a couple of wobbly efforts. Play like we did against Hudds and we'll only be looking to Wire as challengers.

Couple of there fans are saying the same on facebook.



"wigan are winning when playing badly..when we play badly we lose"