Vikings Dig Deep To Beat the Warriors After last weeks excitement at Wembley we returned to a full programme of Super Eights with the Thursday night clash being between Wigan Warriors and the Widnes Vikings from the DW Stadium. Widnes had nothing to play for but pride as a top four finish was now a mathematical impossibility but there was all to play for for the Warriors who could go level on points with the league leaders, Hull FC, ahead of their game against Saints at Langtree Park tomorrow night. It's honours shared between these two sides this season with both winning away from home during the regular season, but Wigan were strong favourites with the bookies to take the points on offer tonight. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Vikings Dig Deep To Beat the Warriors After last weeks excitement at Wembley we returned to a full programme of Super Eights with the Thursday night clash being between Wigan Warriors and the Widnes Vikings from the DW Stadium. Widnes had nothing to play for but pride as a top four finish was now a mathematical impossibility but there was all to play for for the Warriors who could go level on points with the league leaders, Hull FC, ahead of their game against Saints at Langtree Park tomorrow night. It's honours shared between these two sides this season with both winning away from home during the regular season, but Wigan were strong favourites with the bookies to take the points on offer tonight. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Did it finish up with 29 penalties tonight? Think SKY mentioned a 20 - 9 penalty count in Wigan's favour during the post match discussion.

29 pens is simply ridiculous and does not make compelling viewing for a TV audience. I know the ref will call what he sees but it just seemed to be a relentless string of penalties (and errors) tonight.

Compared to the final, that was garbage.

Wigan attacking play was as good as Wane's press conference

Breathtaking arrogance to decline the goal kicks. Almost as if showing a complete disdain for Widnes' resilient defence.

I'm pleased for Betts. More pleased at Wane's pathetic petulance again.

Should have been more penalties, Bentham had total focus on Widnes slowing the ruck down and lying on but missed al lot of offside from the Wigan players. Grabbing around the shoulder/neck area seemed to attract penalties was that because O'Laughlin wasn't playing to set the standard.

I think Bentham got caught out a bit with Wigan players diving/trapping defenders at the play the ball to try and get a penalty. Players like Charnley need to calm down. He virtually lost Wigan the game against Leeds through his inability to control himself when he's tackled and he was doing similar again last night.

However some of Widnes' hanging on was daft and I think the sin binnings were probably justified.

Wigan are terrible to watch.

In attack they've got nothing. No flair, slow, dull, monotonous. They pi£$ and moan at nearly every ruck, players not in the tackle pushing away defenders, trapping, diving/milking, gobbing off to the ref, waving arms about.

In defence they're well-drilled and strong, and they play to the very edge of the rules. Most refs are conned by their tactics of getting three men laying on each tackle, they miss the flops, the sly arms in trying to dislodge the ball, the messing about at the ruck. It creates dull, dour games and the refs let them get away with it time and time again. This is before mentioning their grubby elements like cannonball tackles, headshots etc.

A horrible team, but with talent in abundance being coached out of them by a horrible coach/man.


Compare that to the manner the CC Final was played in last weekend. Both sides throwing everything at each other, played in the spirit the sport should be played.

The draw would have been of little use given their points difference.

With reference to another thread, if Tomkins is selected ahead of Shaul then there is simply no justice in the game. Not saying he is a poor player, but he has lost his spark, his speed. Without that he is simply just another player.

My thoughts exactly.

To be fair how many teams are good to watch? Probably Wire and Hull and that's it.

Wigan have been awful this season yet sit third and could still make the GF. What does that say about the rest of SL.

It says we need the magnificent Bradford Bulls back in SL to show everyone how to play.

I see this in every team, last night Widnes had two players sin binned for holding down and a flop, there were a whole collection of high tackles from Widnes. Plenty of penalties for interference and the like from Widnes, was it three team warnings? But it's Wigan who are conning the refs? You honestly think that Wigan con Bentham, you know the ref that Wigan didn't win a single game with him as the ref a few years ago?

I think Wigan fans should be very frustrated with Tomkins, he isn't half the player he was when he left and they are using the marquee player wage to fund him.
It seems to me he is scared of the contact now, and all he does is moan to the ref and touch judges for not giving him the penalty he is trying to milk.
Shaul should defiantly be ahead of him for the England fullback shirt but it wont happen as he doesn't play for Wigan or Leeds.
Who is betting Matty Smith is in ahead of Luke Gale and Tomkins is in ahead of Shaul, also how many Leeds players will make it after their shocking season?

The difference is Wigan get away with it, whilst Widnes didn't hence the penalty count and sin binning.

They are a very smart side when it comes to defending.

They need a new coach and for the good of th game I hoped Wane doesn't get another job in RL.

We probably had about 70% possession and field position, you would expect the penalty count to be skewed if the they are. Widnes deserved all they got (including the win).

To be fair, he's right about Wigan.
Their attacking play hasn't been good all season.

Castleford, when they've had theri first choice backs playing have probably been the "best" attacking side this season but, their defence hasn't been consistently strong and Saints are starting to find some decent form and with so few club's hitting the heights, is probably the reason that Wigan are sitting 3rd in the table.

We haven't had our first choice backs out together all season, we have been playing a prop or hooker at HB most of the year, and for the last few games a half back come fullback on the wing, but i have to agree our attack has been pretty fluid but defensively we have been terrible.
Had we not had our 'injury' problems this year (imo the worst in the league) we would have been in the top 4.
Maybe next year will be our year like it has been Hulls so far this year to finally break the top 4 and win a trophy or 3.

You have to laugh at some people. Widnes commit 20 fouls and they still have to criticise Wigan.

Well they are coached by an ex Wiganer and are full of ex Wigan players.

Erm are Wakefield not coached by an ex Wigan player? And your side is full of former Leeds and Hull cast-offs.
You really need to get over your obsession with Betts. Did you catch him with your wife or something?

Calm your knickers if anything I was having a dig at Wigan.

I can't see Wigan winning any more games this season, and mathematically could finish 5th.

This is another amusing habit of the RL fan. A team sits 3rd in the league and just beat yours 25-0, but a 2 point defeat indicates they won't win another game.