Aside from the two predictable week one blow outs, this must surely go down as the best play off series in years. Since those two games, the only one that has been won by more than one score was Cas V Wires, and even that only had two points in it midway through the second half. To some extent it's a shame that it's changing, but those two week one blow outs do highlight the need to reduce the format a bit and get rid of the second chances, and at least next year's 1v4 and 2v3 semi finals will be straightforward and hopefully competitive.

Surely there has never been a season when league position has been so tight though. On Thursday night it's 1v7, and although Saints are clear favourites, I don't think anyone is writing Catalan off anywhere near as much as they ordinarily might in that scenario. Everyone seems to think Wigan are the strongest team left in the competition, but we had them on the ropes three weeks ago and if we had managed to hang on 'til the final bell it would have been them that finished fifth and us second. It really was that close. As it is though, we're now ultimately in the same position. Yes, Wigan have had a stroll in the park and then a rest week so they should be less bruised than us, but we've had two must win games and got the job done so we should be battle hardened and ready. We will also have had a full eight days to rest and prepare by the time Friday night comes which really should be enough.

If that Wigan away result had gone the other way I have no doubt that we would have beaten Hudds and Wigan would have beaten Widnes and Cas. Saints wouldn't have chosen Wigan so we would be playing them this Friday, with the only difference being home advantage. Both teams have proved they can win on the other's ground in the last few seasons though. Wigan are favourites, yes, but they're not this big scary team some people seem to think. They very nearly finished fifth. Now let's get the job done that we really should have for the last three years and here's hoping for a 5v7 Grand Final with the Champions coming from fifth for the third and last time.

NOW THE WIRE

come on the wolves !

COTMW!

Yes, Tiocfaidh ár lá , as you would probably say Murphy.

more importantly DM, what will you be wearing for the match?

Last time I posted about that it got deleted and I got threatened with the ban hammer. If we lose I'll post a clobber update in a sulk on the train home because I won't want to come on here for months then anway.

Isn't it a different game when there's something to play for and intensity something we've all been crying out for, let's hope it continues all through next season as that is what the new format is intending to create, plus we get better value for our season tickets.

Hopefully it will. I don't think that it's a coincidence that the best play-off games have been the sudden death ones. at least every game next year will mean something.

So its a great playoff series because its exciting and unpredictable?

Great, that will address the low falling crowd attendances that we have seen all year because fans are voting with their feet and are switched off because SL has become a meaningless competition with a lottery at the end.

I've got an idea for an exciting format. Top 8 teams qualify and then all teams draw a number out of the hat from 1 to 8, the team that draws the number 1 is crowned champions. That would keep everyone on the edge of their seats till the final act of the season.

I am sure that if Catalans beat us in the Grand Final everybody will accept how wonderful it is for the game that a team that finishes 7th can be crowned champions.

Surely the rounds of the Challenge Cup are just as sudden death as the play offs so should be just as tense. We all know why the gates are down for the play offs & the CC .....lack of money on the fans part & the constant fixture changes. May be an all inclusive season ticket would work wonders to cover every game.

Maybe fans should save money by not buying a season ticket and watching meaningless games and instaed just go to the exciting and unpredictable CC and Play off games