Wake Me Up When September Ends

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As we enter the home straight of the Super League season, Wigan sit on top of the Super League table with a game in hand. Every trophy available currently sits in Wigan's trophy cabinet.

There is no on-field relegation from Super League this year.

Leeds have an outside shot at a play off spot but a tricky run in. And, frankly, even if they do get there, with the manner of Leeds' performances this season it would probably be a face-saving exercise which would simply have the effect of delaying mad Monday by another seven days.

At the start of this weekend, it was hard to see any other outcome aside from Wigan retaining the League Leaders' Shield.

With Hull FC's surprise victory over Wigan and a top two clash between Wigan and Warrington on Friday night, the dynamic of the league has changed slightly. By 10PM on Friday night, Wigan and Warrington could be tied on points. With an improbably large win, Warrington could go top (though Wigan would still have a game in hand).

Yet I saw many comments from Wigan fans about how Saturday's loss to Hull FC meant little and may even be a good thing in the longer term.

Whether you agree with those comments or not, a set of fans are at best ambivalent to losing a fixture which may harm their league standing. 

I think there is some merit to those comments. Whether you finish first or second, the prize is largely the same. You get a home play off semi final. Notionally, first place gets a tie against an easier opponent but when you take into account form, that is not always the case.

Of course, there is the difference in prize money if you finish first but that is something that will excite board members rather than fans.

There is the League Leaders' Shield prize too. A prize that clubs have (disgracefully) being mocked for celebrating, leading to the unbecoming sight of others refusing to celebrate at all. It is a prize that means very little if you don't go on to win the Grand Final.

I am fascinated by the vagary of a system which has created a situation where the last third of the regular season feels so unimportant for the best side, yet demands they rise to the highest of standards for two matches in October.

I wonder how or if this attitude extends to the players. They would not be elite sportsmen if they didn't have a burning desire to win. But they wouldn't be human if they didn't recognise the relative importance of the remaining regular season fixtures compared to the play off matches.

With no relegation, no play off race and a race for the League Leaders' Shield that fans don't seem to treat with importance (understandably so), it feels like we are just killing time until the play offs hit. 

Is it any wonder that the value of our TV deal is decreasing when large parts of the regular season feel immaterial? In the words of Billie Joe Armstrong, wake me up when September ends!

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