GAME ON : Wigan Warriors v Castleford Tigers - 19:45:00

GENERAL CHAT ABOUT THE GAME, BUILD UP, THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENS AND AFTERMATH BELOW.

Wigan are the form team at the moment so I cannot see anything other than an easy Wigan win

Wigan by 20

Excited to see Bevan French play tonight. He scored some freakish tries against Catalan last week, the guy has crazy footwork and speed to burn.

If we were guaranteed to be in the playoffs then it might make more sense for us to lose tonight, however hull could pip us if they beat saints. We've only conceded 4 tries in 4 games so there are some shoots of us finding form, 7 wins in 9 games. However, every game from here on out is m62 bound so that will be a big test.

Want Wigam to win, I've seen precious little pride from Hull FC (as an FC fan) this season, last thing I want is them to be playing an already unlikely win when it wouldn't make a difference if Cas win.

Not the best game in the world tonight thus far..... Castleford playing harlem globetrotter rugby and wigan just doing the basics..... St hellens have nothing ro fear from either

Cas have played really well but they look clueless near the Wigan line. Trueman was excellent last week but he’s back playing how he has every other time I’ve watched him this season, not very well. Just blew an easy try. To be fair to him, can’t be easy playing with Ellis.

Haradakers fall from Grace is sad. He used to be untouchable. He’s a shadow of the player he once was

Don't know about Harlem Globetrotter, more like panic, don't know what to do next, type rugby.

On this first 40mns though, I'd have to agree that it's looking like Sts would beat either team at a canter.

Having said that

it's all about bottle in the end

Sounds weird but I would rather lose tonight.

We win and we probably come back here next week in play offs which will be tough to come 2 week on trot and win.

Lose and yes I know we need to hope Saints beat Hull but if they do then we will travel to Salford or Wire which I think we have better chance in.

You are correct. This suggests that Adrian Lam was foolish to have loaned Morgan Escare to Wakefield. Escare is a much better attacking full back than Zachary Hardaker. Adrian Lam was a good player, but as a coach he is flawed.

It just shows how bad homophobia, a dislike of students and recreational drugs can be for a rugby league player

Partington is a bloody grub, he needs a good smack to rein him in, all that head rubbing and other niggle is gonna see him get snotted.

Bad reffing too, Sene-Lefao doesn’t take matters into his own hands if Child stops the niggling earlier at the Partington/McShane mess, but like the Catalans/Wire game he lets things boil over.

Cas are woeful fwiw, couldn’t score in a brothel.

An unworthy comment to be fair. Zac isn't quite at the level that he showed at Cas but he's not far off. It isn't a good thing to allow your past to dominate your future and don't forget, Sts signed Ben Barba who might not have received the guidance and help Zac has had from Wigan.

Sene-Lefao is a cheat and a thug, he was dropping his knees and elbows against Hull last week, and again today, I hope he gets 4-6 matches, depends what grade the charge is.

A very poor game, Castleford looked cluless (admittedly, not quite as clueless as FC have achieved this season.) the Sky commentary didn't help either.

We (Cas) dont have the big game mentality in our team. Ellis is not a starting 7 for a team wanting to finish in the top 5. We have too many average players around the team who when it gets tough just go hiding.

I’ve gotten to the point where I watch it on mute. As soon as one team pulls away slightly, the commentary makes out they’re world class and usually fail to point out the reality that the other team is dire. And the pointless voice that is Cummings just makes it worse.

Lenegan has mentioned in the matchday program tonight that Wigan will lose around 50k in revenue because of Sky switching the game to Thursday.

The sooner Thursday games are scrapped, the better.

amen, listening tonight you could be forgiven for thinking Hardaker used to play for Cas and Trueman had a decent game last week (but he was bang average tonight, whichnthey didn't mention)

The commentary is dreadful. What was it Phil Clarke said when Jesse Sene apologised to Smithies. Something like hes only apologising so he gets less games at the disciplinary. Utterly bizarre thing to say.

That had me shouting at the screen, his Wigan bias slipping out.

I don’t get this comment, those things are all factual and not Sky drivel?

I'm guessing they did the usual sky thing of mentioning it 506 times a minute

As a tv viewer I like the Thursday games, as a home fan I don’t like them.

However, Sky are paying £2m to Wigan and every other club so they deserve a say in when the games should be televised. The Wigan chairman agreed to the Sky tv deal so he shouldn’t grumble too much.

At the risk of going off topic, Cas's backs are woeful. Ellis, Clare, Minikin, Rankin are Championship standard. Blair so far is a waste of money.