Wigan v Saints - Match Reaction!

[BriH]

Watched the game on Sky.
I thought our lads muscled up well and considering it was a bit of a patched-up team - no Pat Richards, Phelps just back after a couple of months, young Sam Tomkins first taste of the Cauldron, first start for Gleeson etc.
I have to agree about some of the refs decisions (or lack of them). I don't know the rules exactly but I would have give Hock's try.
I think Fielden's "knock-ons" were doubtful.
All-in-all extremely pleased with the passion shown and if they maintain this they should win a lot more games (Ever the optimist!)

[mike binder]

Superb performance from the lads! A bit more luck and some decent officiating and we could have won!

What an atmosphere!

I was worried when I saw Richards wasn't warming up, but I thought Phelps had a pretty decent performance at fullback - just one clumsy knock-on, ran the ball up pretty well from defence, and showed the occasional flashes of a decent kicking game.

Both wingers did well, Gleeson showed a lot of promise for his first game, Carmont perhaps shouldn't have played with his injury. Some lovely touches from both half backs, although TL's kicking game could have been better.

Good work from all the forwards, Hock especially. I thought Fielden was unlucky to have those two drops called against him - haven't seen the video yet but they both looked like steals from where I was.

Yet another indifferent performance from Thaler, particularly regarding their usual tactic of markers not square that they seem to get away with all the time. Our shoulders seem to be a lot higher up than most peoples' too. Lost count of how many high shots went unpunished.

I'd have settled for that result before the game, though - looks like the bookies got it right again (+8)!

If we could only play like that every week, we'd be up there with Leeds & Saints.

Much better performance from Gemma in the bingo box, too, clearly a lot of training has gone into it since the last outing!


And best of all, I scored 35 points in the preds league!

and even better i got 40 pts lol ,ur not singing any more your not singing any more

[the_Warrior_in_Brum]

Oh yeah and according to Stevo and Hemmings Wellens is World Class as is Gidley and also Eastmond??

And Saints have had it really tough this season.
The bias is unbelivable, questioning every single penalty against Saints. These two sould be sacked.

The reason why KFC and Roby get a quick play of the ball is because Saints never ever get turned on there backs in the tackle. Simple tactics

The margin might have been much wider had Wellens, Graham and Willkin been playing last night (sic).

Oh "God" dont you know you are not allowed to touch a Saints player when she's been tackled let alone turn then onto their back.
I was very proud of the effort last night

[turf]

Could someone explain to me why Thaler confused James Graham late in the 2nd half and gave a penalty to us?

Thaler seemed to say, "four, four" and then in his Yorkshire acent, he said, "play't'ball, play't'ball", so Graham, did, and then Thaler gave us a penalty.

Generous maybe or am I being pedantic, and that above, was a good piece of refereeing?

Speaking of good refereeing, how good was Thaler's positiioning most of the time last night, i.e, Wellen's foot over the in goal line, their knock on in the last 10 minutes.

He was also excellently positioned for the alledged "flop" on Tompkins, he said, "he's slipped, he's slipped" which then enabled the players to come and tackle Sam, and then he shouted "1" or whatever tackle number it was.

Both instances above are examples of good positioning, decision making and refereeing. All other SL referees take note.

What do you think?

[mike binder]

Oh yeah and according to Stevo and Hemmings Wellens is World Class as is Gidley and also Eastmond??

And Saints have had it really tough this season.
The bias is unbelivable, questioning every single penalty against Saints. These two sould be sacked.

The reason why KFC and Roby get a quick play of the ball is because Saints never ever get turned on there backs in the tackle. Simple tactics

The margin might have been much wider had Wellens, Graham and Willkin been playing last night (sic).

Oh "God" dont you know you are not allowed to touch a Saints player when she's been tackled let alone turn then onto their back.
I was very proud of the effort last night

i thought that stevo said sts have had a tough season excuse me havent we all the sooner sky see there senses and sack these 2 nunpties the better and yes take clarky the sts ass licker with them as well

[cpwigan]

I'm not a Wellens fan but to be fair he is playing injured and will have an operation ASAP. That IMO deserves credit.

I was really impressed how well we defended v Gidley. He only scored when our defence got disorganised. If the winger stays with Gardener (Ainsy did this superbly) and the defence works hard, centre, indide men he does not have the pace / strength to break through. He's a clever player though. Leave the door open and he will stroll through or let somebody else do it.

I like Graham as a player but we bashed him about a bit fairly last night and that for me was a great plus point.

[ian.birchall]

If we played like that every week we would be winning a lot more games than we are losing.

Yes we would but will we see the 'Barrow' Wigan turn up at Les Frogs?

[ian b]

I would have terry and Barry instead of those two w----rs!!they havent got a clue and like people have already said they show so much bias towards the stains its sickening.

[the saint]

Im sorry, but there's some garbage being written on here! You should be proud of your team, they played well. The truth is though they still couldnt beat a patched up 'stains' team in the rain (everyone knows saints are not the same team when they cant chuck it about) To whinge about the ref is laughable, Ainscough's try was 4 foot forward (no exaggeration) as well as in touch. Funny really, ive not heard any of you crying about that yet, and as for lying on, i hate it, its spoiling the game but every team does it, you lot included

[GeoffN]

Im sorry, but there's some garbage being written on here! You should be proud of your team, they played well. The truth is though they still couldnt beat a patched up 'stains' team in the rain (everyone knows saints are not the same team when they cant chuck it about) To whinge about the ref is laughable, Ainscough's try was 4 foot forward (no exaggeration) as well as in touch. Funny really, ive not heard any of you crying about that yet, and as for lying on, i hate it, its spoiling the game but every team does it, you lot included

Most of the comments are saying how proud we were of them last night.

As far as the ref goes (and Ainscough's try wasn't Thaler's decision anyway, it was the VR - correctly given as his leg was in the air) in the first half alone there were 3 high tackles missed, 4 ball steals given as knock-ons, 3 blatant flops, KFC throwing the ball away and not being penalised and yellow-carded, at least 3 grapple tackles, and constantly the Saints markers weren't square. Other than that, he did OK...

Oh, and the Hock try was OK, too.