Calderwood has suprised me by actually playing well in the play offs, he has been awful all year.

He owes the club some good performances which he as failed to deliver during his stint at warriors. I for one wont miss him to much due to reasons mentioned, having said that I'l be shouting for him and willing him on tomorrow and at old trafford!!!

Gardner has to be one of the most improved players in SL. Granted he is probably not the fastest winger in the game, but he solid in defence, great under the high ball in defence and attack (remember his try at the JJB when he leapt like a salmon)

His tries also all need finishing, he is developing into a really good winger. He has had 2 great centres outside him like you say but he still has to put the ball down over the line.

Going back to the GF, there is no doubt that Wigan have hit some form but you may suffer a Leeds backlash.

Also I think its right that Saints and Leeds who have finished 14 and 13 points in front of Wigan should play off for the GF. To finish top over 27 rounds played in all sorts of weather conditions and having injuries like any other club, should be recognised accordingly.

This is the 4th season in a row that we have finished top and its a disgrace that we should have to play off for the title of the best team. Thats not sour grapes in case we lose, I would say the same if any other team finished top.

In nearly every other team sport, the team that finishes top of the league wins the prize.

I take your point Luckygriff on him not having as much ball due to lack of feed from our centers, but wingers make try's as well and when he's had the chance he aint took them, I'm not a fan of his. Does that mean you dont want him to go?
Sts fan every warriors fan knows you would rather play Leeds again but its not gonna happen this time, sounds like you've thrown towel in already and are looking for excuses! The rules are the rules were playing to them like on salary cap for instance not sure sts are though. As for gardener I think he's good under high ball but he's no jason robinson is he?

I never once said Gardner was like Jason Robinson. Few were and few are. I was defending him against the previous poster who said that he was mediocre.

And can any of you true Wigan fans say that if we play anything like we did against Leeds, that we wont beat you?

Our defence was magnificent and we scored 38 points past them. Fridays game will take a huge toll on Wigan or Leeds. I know that the rest did us no good last year when we were well beaten by Leeds but we have more in the tank this year.

Anderson said at the start of the year that we would be fitter and we are. Players have shed body fat and are fitter and faster. Cunningham for example is 10 kilos lighter than last season.

I am looking forward to Fridays game. Should be a cracker. I hope both sides knock the hell out of each other!!!!

in reply to comment 4 every club at the start of the season nos that to finish top they are not champions but they have best chance to be champions. in 2000 warriors won easily at st helens in the last match to be come league leaders 42-2 warriors won. i could be wrong with exact score yet st helens went on to be champions and in those days their was no league leaders shield

in my reply to my comment on number 7. 2000 was not the only time that were st helens champions and did not finish top was it ste fan

Luckygriff: "this is the system we have to live with until the powers that be decide otherwise". I don't think there's any "until" in this. The play-off and Grand Final format works, it brings in punters by the thousands, Old Trafford will sell out yet again and there's no reason for it to change for as long as it is so popular.

The Saints fan complaining that the league leaders are not champions (after 10 years of Grand Finals!) is as pointless as us Wigan fans complaining that we're owed league leaders' shields from 1998 and 2000 when we finished top but the trophy didn't exist back then. These structures are now well-established in the sport, and in world Rugby League, and they're not going to change anytime soon.