Optimism for Saturday?

[Shaun1967]

Last time out we played badly, Pat had a poor kicking day, they had McGuire playing, and we still only lost by one point.

I am optimistic about the result.

What I am not optimistic about is what happens if we open up a decent lead. Sam and Joel especially will be targets,
both could lose their heads but in different ways.

[Susi]

Feel is a winable game, must keep our discipline and not let them beggers niggle us

[JAHWarrior]

If Maguire was in the team, I would say that it would be another close one, where the outcome could be 50-50 whether we win or not, like when we last played Leeds.
However, with Maguire missing I believe Leeds are a different machine, it has been mentioned that Burrow is not the player he used to be, and at times Maguire has carried Leeds, with him missing i am really optimistic we can win! Hope the weather turns out nice!

[Kittwazzer]

In my crystal ball I see a Wigan/Huddersfield match. What do others think?

Huddersfield are enjoying the best winning streak of the four. Saints will underestimate them at their peril!

As for Leeds. I reckon we are due to beat them for once when it matters!

[Wigan_forever1985]

The game is ours to lose we are the better team considering who we feild for each team.

If wigan play their own game i think we'll crush them.

Too often we have been dragged down though.

In relation to the penalty counts. I have said this about 100 times the ref's aren't targetting Wigan however we do end up getting penalised for very little and the reason is simple.

To avoid controversy it seems like the refs have got a nice plan. How can anyone complain about bias ref's if the penalty counts are roughly the same, beacause of the speed at which we play teams often hold us down to prevent quick plays ref blows for a penalty. Now he has to square that off so say he gives 3 penalties to us he will have to give 3 to leeds if we aren't committing any thats when they go to soft easy stuff which makes it look like we are being targetted.

Basically i noticed this in other matches not featuring us the better team will be the victim of "soft" penalties

[bourbon_rat]

For Wigan the Double D will carry the day.
DISCIPLINE & DEFENCE

[cpwigan]

Very true Bourbon

I think if fans look at our matches v Leeds, McGuire has often been pivotal to Leeds having any success. His absence and a more disciplined / smarter effort from Wigan will see us win.

[BriH]

I think MM should have this blown up and posted all over Wigan's dressing room! Totally agree: discpline and defence will win us the game.
Let Leeds make the mistakes, and they will if we close them down - might even see one of the b......s sent off!
I'm very confident and I also think Hudds will beat the Nasties!
I think they (Hudds) are angry that everybody is writing them off. What better motivation can a team have?

[Fozzius]

This reminds me of the Patrick Swayze film Road house.

MM should be saying something like this to the players before they go onto the pitch

"If somebody gets in your face and calls you a c**k***r, I want you to be nice.
OK.
Ask him to waIk, be nice.
If he won't waIk, waIk him. But be nice.
If you can't waIk him, one of the others will heIp you.
And you'll both be nice.
I want you to remember that it's a job.
- It's nothing personaI. - Uh-huh.
Being called a c**k***r isn't personaI?
No. It's two nouns combined to eIicit a prescribed response.
What if somebody calls my mama a w***e?
Is she?
(laughter)
I want you to be nice...
..untiI it's time to not be nice.
Well, how're we supposed to know when that is?
You won't. I'll Iet you know."

Quoted from http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scri ... wayze.html

I hope something similar is being said to our players

[Kittwazzer]

I think they (Hudds) are angry that everybody is writing them off. What better motivation can a team have?

That will be the case every year with Clubcall. IL hit the nail on the head when he said he was glad he didn't have to make it. Going into a major semi final, last thing you need is to give your opposition extra motivation!

And I fancy Huddersfield as well, especially if Eastmond takes the place of Smith. I don't think he will be match fit and could get injured again!