STUART Raper reckons his Wigan players have put their Leeds nightmare behind them as they build up for their big clash with Super League pacesetters Bradford Bulls.

A slack performance afforded the Rhinos their first ever win at the JJB Stadium last weekend and left the Warriors four points adrift of the leaders in a distant fifth place.

Coach Raper was furious after the defeat and slammed his players for letting another two points slip through their fingers.

But he insisted that disappointment had been put to bed and said he would not be swinging the axe as a knee-jerk reaction.

"You have to get on with it," he said. "You can't dwell on the past, you've just got to look at what happened in the game and how you can put all the wrongs right.

"I was a bit angry with the guys because we threw the game away and, after showing them the video, they had exactly the same reaction.

"I don't make changes in personnel unless it's absolutely necessary and I don't believe that someone can become a bad player overnight. The players who performed badly against Leeds have done a great job for us over the past few weeks."

Another defeat tomorrow would leave them some six points behind Bradford and effectively kill off any hope of finishing in top spot. But a win at Valley Parade is a tough ask with the Bulls still unbeaten in the league at home since moving from Odsal at the start of last season.

Raper added: "I'm not really bothered about the table," he said.

"If I start talking about them going six points ahead then I'm already contemplating a loss. We will just go there to try and get a win.

"They have been very consistent but they seem to be playing a little more flambouyantly this year and throwing the ball around a bit better.

"They are still a very strong side and it's going to need a tough effort on Friday because they have only been beaten once at Valley Parade - and that was in the cup.

"But the first Super League defeat has to happen at some point and it would be nice to get that this week."