Some real positives

[TrueBlueWarrior]

I really hope that shuts up any doubters because I thought we were definatly the better team and they all they all thought we were going to get hammered

Well it has surprised me for sure but lets not get to carried away.Warrington were slighly the better team but hats off to our deffence especialy in the second half when we were really up against it.I am a lot happier about our prospects after that preformance and like what has already been said before this team can only get better

I wouldn't say Warrington were 'slightly the better team', if anything we were the better team in my opinion.

[cpwigan]

I think we were better in the first 40, Wire in the second. Not much to choose overall BUT remember Wire were supposed to trounce us.

[butt monkey]

I think we were better in the first 40, Wire in the second. Not much to choose overall BUT remember Wire were supposed to trounce us.

On the back of a heavy penalty count AND one or two on the bounce I'm not surprised Wire dominated the second half. I think Tony Smith's interview after the game gave his true feelings away as he was pretty miffed they didn't "take" Wigan when presented with a mountain of posession

[stevethegas]

The whole evening was much better than many had feared. All the predictions were for Wire to win easily, but not so. I believe we were overall the better side and unlucky not to win (Wire lucky to draw IMO).

The other thing was Jon Wells' summary on Sky about Wigan before the game. He talked about the loss of so many influential players and of the talk of losing Sam, and what happened with Hock etc. "And then the season started, and this team went to Salford and nilled them, scoring 42 points in the process. . . "
A good summing up and another reason to feel good in cherry and white.

[cpwigan]

I think we were better in the first 40, Wire in the second. Not much to choose overall BUT remember Wire were supposed to trounce us.

On the back of a heavy penalty count AND one or two on the bounce I'm not surprised Wire dominated the second half. I think Tony Smith's interview after the game gave his true feelings away as he was pretty miffed they didn't "take" Wigan when presented with a mountain of posession

He would have been miffed full stop. The game was another example of Wire being overwhelming favourites and coming up short. A common event.

IMO their high risk offloading strategy is he reason they bomb out in many big games.

[TedMac]

Great match and great gutsy and tough performance from our lads. Farrell matched Westwood all the way - maybe he's been in the shadow of Gaz Hock and Hansen for too long.
Lockers was relentless, Mossop top-notch and Daz Goulding in the top two or three.(why didn't Madge like him?)Greg Burke was a revelation - that lad has massive potential.

Mickey Mac has to be one of the hardest players in Britain. He stopped Carvell in his tracks and gave Morley a few good hits. His running of the hooking job just gets better. Not a bad idea bringing Powell on to give him a breather - and to see which way Powell's career is likely to go - half-back or hooker. If it's the latter, where does that leave Logan T?
The rest of the 17 were all good - where's Jack Hughes going to play long-term?

Hudds Giants next week. Another good hard test. Can't wait.

TedMac

[No straw damn us]

Mickey Mac has to be one of the hardest players in Britain. He stopped Carvell in his tracks and gave Morley a few good hits. His running of the hooking job just gets better. Not a bad idea bringing Powell on to give him a breather - and to see which way Powell's career is likely to go - half-back or hooker. If it's the latter, where does that leave Logan T?
The rest of the 17 were all good - where's Jack Hughes going to play long-term?

Hudds Giants next week. Another good hard test. Can't wait.

TedMac

I agree that being able to bring Powell on at hooker really helps us because I think the one thing that used to let McIlorum down was a tendency for him to tire himself out when things were getting tough and he'd end up losing his cool too easily.
Having another hooker on the bench eases the pressure on his shoulders during a game by allowing him to have a rest and come back on rejuvenated but also keeps the pressure on him to perform by having some competition.

I do think that in the long term Powell needs more games in the halves though as that's where I think his future lies. His passing and kicking game is exceptional.

It doesn't mean playing him at hooker is a bad thing though. For me he's the natural replacement for Leuluai as someone who plays at scrum half but can be used just as well at hooker. Obviously Powell is more of a traditional scrum half than Leuluai was.

I think Logan Tomkins needs a loan deal at another Super League side. He's done his time in the Championship and now he needs to step up another level. In the pre-season games he was actually surprisingly good. Previously I didn't think he was likely to make it at Super League level but his good pre-season has made me think twice.

Agree with all your points. I actually think Powell is the nearest thing to a young Tommy Leuluai that we will see. his defence is very very strong and the fact that he can play 6,7 or 9 is a major plus for us.

[markill]

Just a question for you all, do you think the reduction in subs aided Wigan on Friday, a lot have said most of the wire pack where blowing through there backsides and where forced into rotating older players, where as wigan seemed to have the edge in rotating younger blokes ?

I don't think we fully took advantage of the edge you outline. There were a couple of occasions towards the back of the first half where we could have kept a last tackle kick in play or gone for a try rather than a penalty and really driven home the advantage we had in stamina. They looked tired. In the 2nd half they got more ball so tired less. Both defences were very impressive I thought.

All in all it was a positive performance as has been said. Another thing is thats a point gained compared to Wire games in the last two years.

[Kittwazzer]

I'd forgotten about that rule change, maybe that's why Stains had 4 forwards on the bench yesterday?

Then again, I remember the days of 14 & 15 whom you never saw barring injury!