Fifita for me played for the free kick.
I've criticised Burgess but for me that was a nothing incident.
From memory Thaler was on the spot and didn't give a penalty.

[other club fanTypical dirty wigan[/other club fan

It’s not like Fifita to play for a penalty

I can’t comment on Fifita in general but on yesterday’s incident he did seem to milk it a bit.
If the Disciplinary Committee are correct then Thaler needs to be spoken to as he had good vision on the tackle. I don’t recall him putting the matter on report or did I miss that?

It’s pretty pathetic watching Fafita against us recently. The bloke has it stuck in his mind that Wigan players are trying to end careers and spends his time on the field looking to referee the game and squealing like a pig. He went for Smithies after his tackle that was ever so slightly late, yet we have Tommy Leuluai hit just as late (later in truth) and injured as a result and we didn’t feel the need to blow everything up.

The weirdest thing is when he used to just concentrate on playing against us, he was battering us and we couldn’t deal with him.

He didn't do a great deal yesterday.
I have a huge dislike of players feigning injuries irrespective of which team they play for.

We look capable of being beaten by anyone again this season so teams just need to get us into an arm wrestle and we are very beatable. Saints will muller us again unless we can improve our discipline and take chances when they become available.

They'll paste us with the 6 again rule, but then yesterday Thaler seemed to forget it existed.

Thaler had his head in the clouds yesterday prior to their last try. The most blatant knock on at the play the ball you will see.

We don't lack for effort but too many players don't seem to back themselves enough. For example young Smith didn't get enough of the ball yesterday and he should have been screaming for it.

We don't look confident even when we are winning which is becoming a trademark rather than an habit.

Injuries and suspensions already racking up. Be interesting to see who lam will pick at FB if French is injured. Any chance of Hanley?

I would presume Zak with Hank at centre.

That's the obvious play but lack of pace in the back line would be pretty startling.
Not sure about Hanley's defence but he has the proverbial pace to burn.

Do hope we get to see some more young lads that can't play other games this year, hope they get some time under their belt:

Kai Pierce-Paul
Jack Wells
Umyla Hanley
Ben Kilner
Amir Bourouh
Joe Shorrocks
Sean O'Loughlin
etc.

First game after 4/5 months off and people destroying the team. Jesus wept.

We were bound to struggle fitness wise towards the end and on a hot day. Granted the discipline was bad but on the flip side we did pretty well to still win despite Wakey having so much ball second half.

Was impressed with Harry Smith but it’s a big ask to expect him to see a game out when he’s so inexperienced - Hastings needs to help in that department but kept seeing reliant on going down the left edge to Farrell.

Plenty of room for improvement but performances will pick up

Why were you bound to struggle fitness wise? St. Helens never did. If our club can do it, why not yours? Are we more professional?

Can you explain why Saints were dog turd back in February & March then?

What has that got to do with why we were fit as butchers dogs against Catalans whilst Wigan struggled fitness wise against Wakefield?



However, its an easy question. We were disjointed with constant injuries to key players. Now we have a full strength squad to pick from. I also think the new rule changes benefit fitter, more mobile teams which is what we have.

We lost momentum and field position through ridiculous errors and penalties, not because of a fitness issue. I see one player in that squad who has an issue with fitness and that looks an injury issue rather than a lack of cardio fitness. The rest of the squad look in great shape. If there are fitter players and more mobile forwards then guys like Faz and Isa across the league I don’t see them. The young forwards look like great athletes and there aren’t any problems in the backs for me. Even Lebrons Saints side would admit to blowing more than usual towards the end of their first couple of fixtures I’m sure. The fact they’d played so well and dominated would’ve meant they’d not been tested quite as much as some other teams but even though guys like LeBron Curry would have you believe they’re superhuman (weirdly we didn’t hear much from him or other Saints fans before lockdown), they’re not.

On reflection we did have some disruption with TL going off and French moving to the wing which didn't help.
As you say stupid free kicks given away (I think we were penalised again whilst we had the ball?) tend to disrupt our flow of play.

I think where we need to improve the most is taking advantage of territorial dominance and turning it into points. We just lack that bit of class/patience when we are in the opposing 20 where hopefully SOL can help resolve when he is back. For me the majority of the 6th ball play should go via Smith who has the best kicking game in the squad by quite a distance.

Saints are far more effective with a full squad to pick from than us but it will be interesting to see how they perform when they get a few injuries. They are setting the bar its up to us to try and match it. We have I believe a stronger squad but Saints have the superior starting 17.

Agree with this. TL was kicking on the last until he went off (with the exception of one Hastings kick), all were aimless. I always feel we should get it along the floor, cause some confusion and panic. At best we come up with a try/opposition fumble/repeat set. At worst we camp the opposition on their own line. Once Tommy went off we explored this method and it was more effective.

The first game after lockdown was like the last game before lockdown (Salford) - get into a decent lead and stop playing for the last half hour thinking the game is won, stop doing the things that got you into the winning position in the first place and invite pressure. Thankfully a different outcome (just).

Don't get me started on brainless penalties - we had a penalty against us TWICE in the second half when WE had the ball - brainless. The second of which started the Wakey comeback.

Same old story on the giving pens away in possession front sadly. It’s happened in other games this year (at least twice at Cas) and is unforgivable. The players really need to improve their discipline because it’s appalling. In other games it felt like all the pens were 6 again calls but with us it felt little had changed in regards the rules, as we still found numerous ways of giving traditional penalties (and field position) away.

If that doesn’t change soon we can write of any hope of competing for a trophy.

I'm not usually one to moan about refs but I think twice since the restart refs have gone on an "even-up-the-penalty-count" spree in the 2nd half, the other time was Leeds vs. Hudds where Leeds came back to win also.

Think at half time or mid-second half, the Leeds/Hudds penalty count was 8-3 against Leeds, it finished 10-9 against Leeds.

One of the main advantages of Wigan winning and Saints losing. It means they stay away from this forum.

I’m more than happy to have fans of other clubs contributing on here when they mean to do it in a decent way via sensible conversation and friendly banter but unfortunately what you mainly get is guys like Curry LeBron and his endless trolling. He had to change his username a few times during Saints poor run but unfortunately he’ll stick with it now with Saints being a good side and it’ll take another baron spell to get rid of that character and move on to a new one.

I wonder who he’ll be next time? Kevin Durant my moneys on.