I think Farrell looks a good player, I don't rate him as highly as some. He's fast and runs good lines, he also has a good late side step. He's small and pretty light weight, doesn't have much of an offload and isn't very effective in a direct collusion, and I think this maybe what holds him from becoming an international. Stranger things have happened though and he seems to be improving so who knows

Agreed, he needs to work on his collusion if he's looking for an offer to play in the NRL.

Why didn't Wigan target Vickery like Huddersfield did, bizarre tactics kicking it to Hall all the time. Delaney is a machine, it's time the media give him some credit.

He's playing very well this season but as for Stevo saying he's establishing himself as one of the best players in the World

They had Jack Hughes over on that side. I think they were playing to their strengths as opposed to playing to our weaknesses. That's how it read to me anyway.

Yes.
Had Sam played at fullback and Richards on the wing with Thornley at centre then I suspect the point of attack would probably have been different.

I like Farrell, he's started to really take to this level of competition, provided he keeps his progression going he should be in with a serious shout of a stint in the England team for a long while to come.

You won't probably be aware of it but Farrell is the strongest and best athlete at Wigan. I was surprised when I was told of it at an u18 game last season. It was only when I was watching the tv of the training camp in America that I recognised the person who told me and why he would know.

He's very ugly.

A back three of him, JJB & Westwood would be awesome.
Frighten the Aussies to death

That's very unfair on Farrel.

He does look a fine player, but on present form I would rather have Delaney.

A very astute observation regarding flogging JJB whilst Achurch and Ward burned some calories on the exercise bike/warming up.

I've also commented elsewhere that the very impressive and hard working Delaney was having a breather for the Farrell try whilst Achurch and Ward sat on the bench.

Still, Moore got more minutes this week and took advantage. He even got on in the 1st half. Maybe the coach was stung by Griffin's observations.

JJB got man of the match at the ground. I wouldn't have said he was MOM but thought he was excellent.

Get a job/girlfriend/better porn collection.



Wasn't aware and don't give a monkeys what the kid can do in the gym. On the field he's already starting to look like a top performer in this league, and also seems to be getting better all the time, which is suggestive of a good mental attitude. If he keeps that up he could be a big star. England RL need more of those, so good luck to him.

I wonder what Ablett thinks of Farrell after his tackle, as 4th man in, to his unprotected kidney region?
It led to Ablett eventually having to go off.

To be fair, Ablett along with two or three others of our players have also done their fair share of similar cheap shots. Great players, give it and take it.

Not too concerned what Ablett thinks about it but I would be interested to know what the RFL video review panel and/or the RFL disciplinary panel think about it.

Farrell doesn't miss the opportunity to take a cheap shot into an unprotected area. He did so on the =#FF0000D of the referee's call of HEEEEEEEELLLLLLLL=#FF0000D He did so using only the shoulder with no attempt to wrap the arms. Dangerous, borderline late while also using an illegal technique.

As you say the player was injured in this incident and it would be inconceivable if this was not picked up by the relevant authorities after the event and looked at in detail.

If they're unsure when it occurred it was at 74:32 according to the Sky game-clock.

The sort of challenge you'll see a dozen times a game.

Farrell just executed it really well, as you would expect from a player brought up under Michael Maguire's tutelage.

We may very well see several game but in my opinion this challenge should be banned. Two players up top and a third round the legs, tackle completed and the player isn't moving with his sides exposed without any protection or way to escape.

Not too much in it IMO. Ablett's capable of dishing out similar and I doubt would feel unduly hard done by when he takes one back,

Ablett's the biggest cat on our team! The amount of late work he does in the tackle along with the sly digs he puts in, he was probably thinking "touché"

That's not really the point. It's not a player thing or a club thing but it should be a video review panel thing.

A player was injured and had to leave the field shortly after and took no effective further part in the game after the challenge.

It was also in a high-profile televised game which has been used as additional justification to look at incidents such as these in the past.

It's precisely the type of incident the panel should be looking for and have done so in the past. If you're going to examine crusher type tackles and players limbs/joints being extended and cannonball challenges that don't cause injury how can you ignore a shoulder charge (now apparently illegal) aimed at an unprotected area that contains vital organs.

I thought player safety was supposed to be all the rage these days?

I agree with most of this. Leaving this particular incident aside, the fact that it happens 10 or 12 times a game doesn't mean it should happen. (I have to leave this incident aside as the baby woke up with 7 minutes left so I didn't see the rest of the game....)

My solution would be, rather than dish out punishments for this one (I wouldn't want to single one player out for such a popular offence, I know others will see it differently and I can understand that) but simply to issue a warning that these challenges are not going to be tolerated in future and THEN start dishing out match bans for them. I don't think it'd take long for them to mostly disappear.

They're one of thos "game's tough enough" things that you could easily remove from the game without any detrimental effect on the spectacle.

Is there any news on Ablett's availability this week?
Or any other new injury news?

Hoping Sinfield is rested this week, with a tough Easter schedule coming up. If Hardacker is back then rest Ablett also.

JP late on getting penalised for incorrect play the ball was a funny call. Pick that one out. You see many of every set of six. Always seems a bit rich when they pick one out of the air to penalise.

It's not the first time this season that JP's been penalised for this.
I think that Silverwood had previously spoken to Sinfield & Peacock about not playing the ball correctly.
So it was a dumb thing to do.
I agree that there were other PTBs when the ball wasn't played properly but that doesn't excuse that one which was absolutely blatant.
Just play the d*mned ball correctly & you won't be penalised, simple as.