Out of all the sport played over the weekend last nights game had to be the best value for money anywhere, the 2 teams put on a classic, yes i`m dissapointed with the end result but we were just inches away from winning a game where their didn`t deserve to be a loser. Losing Briers was a massive blow especially when Monaghan was already off the pitch with a knock, that was our 2 main creators off the field at a key time in the game. We missed Monaghan`s defence around the ruck, Wigan made a lot of yards soon after. Monaghan came back on but was obviously still carrying his knock, as for the whole 80 mins we know where we went wrong.

I`d rather us lose a game where the commitment and effort was never in doubt, that can be said for both sides. We can work on the unforced errors, dropped ball and not capitalising on a lot of good the field position that we had.

I read that David Solomona was on a downer after the game and made an apology to the players in the dressing room for losing control of the ball inches from the line, he has nothing to apologise for, it was his world class play that got him into the position of almost scoring the winner, i thought he was immense during his time on the pitch.

It was great to see the biff back brought back, Reg Reagan would have been shaking and spraying his KB`s champagne style.

Anyway, onwards and upwards. We have plenty of positives to work on and just a few minor things to put right, super league isn`t won or lost after just 3 games.

Me neither. It was only the third game of the season after all!

Finally a thread where a proper discussion can take place!

Fully agree Rob, I was saying at the end of the game that I was glad that this was only Round 3 and not Round 25/26 or a playoff game.

Yes, we lost against one of our rivals and in that lost our undefeated home record against them, but at the end of the day, it doesn't affect the table that much. There are another 23/24 games left in the season so there is a long way to go yet.

If Solomona apologised for him knocking on, then that's a very gracious attitude to have. He didn't need to though. It was Wire's decision to go for the try and they were very confident of doing so. They could have took the 2 and gone for the draw, but going for the try shows just how much belief we seem to have in our attack.

A few years ago, I bet there would have been no hesitation in going for the 2 points.

Good post.

Solomona shouldn't be disheartened. If you had to get the ball to one player to pull a result out at the death you would look for him every time. Pulls off the unexpected and unlikely.

it was a great game,the ref made a few bad decisions for both sides but ultimately the game came down to a couple of plays,you have to admire wigans comeback and we were unlucky in the last couple of minutes,it was a great advert for super league.
maybe we should have held on to our lead but this early in the campaign it was great to see that level of intensity from both sides.

Quote ="Mass Effect"If Solomona apologised for him knocking on, then that's a very gracious attitude to have. He didn't need to though. '" www.skysports.com/rugbyleague/ma ... 43,00.html

Quote ="Mass Effect"If Solomona apologised for him knocking on, then that's a very gracious attitude to have. He didn't need to though. '" www.skysports.com/rugbyleague/ma ... 43,00.html

I don't see how anyone could have been dissapointed with that game, even if the result went against us, it was fantastic entertainment.


TBH with both Briers and Bridge off the field I think going for the try was the only option from that position, had it been closer to the posts we may have seen Myler or Westwood have an attempt, but I think it's fair to assume neither would have kicked it from that position.

There were some real positives from last night - the first half was a superb display of controlling rugby - we dominated in the forwards and were very creative against what has been the best defence in the competition so far.

Fair video ref decisions as well - no problem with any of them.

I suspect Tony Smith will be delighted with what we did for 50-60 minutes with some more work to do in terms of decision making.

Wigan have to be applauded for hanging in there against a pack who were immense. They had little possession and territory and converted pretty much everything they created - there is a lesson for us there.

I wonder who most Wigan fans would choose out the hat if the last 4 in the Challenge Cup were us, them, Saints and Leeds. I suspect many would not choose us.

If (and that is the question) we can perform for 80 minutes I would back us against anyone this season.

Am happy overall but giving 16-4 lead away is poor though we really seemed to lose our away after Briers went off.

Mega plus for me is Solomona he had a great impact in attack also Bridge looked really good at centre great footwork and great pass for Rileys try.

I wonder how many players stood up and apologised for the number of missed tackles that allowed Wigan to run in 3 tries in 9 minutes.

Solomona will no doubt win games for us this season so he has nothing to apologise for IMO

I'll be disappointed if we finish a point behind them in the league, but I know what you mean. Thought the first half was the best we'd played this year. Only a slip by King allowing them a sniff. Onwards and upwards Wire!

If we can play like we did in the first half the rest of the season we will finish 4 top easily IMO its just getting it done for the 80 which is the problem.

I walkead away upset but happy in the sense that we played well and it was only slight things that made the difference. As mentioned on here already it's week 3 and we will improve.

This'll shock you Rob, i'm with you 100%.

That's why I get off my sofa every week and watch RL. Plenty of times I go to the game, we win, but it doesn't really inspire me, the odd fleeting moment granted. Then there's the times when we're plop, and you're stood freezing in Wakefield or Castleford pondering if sunday lunch and a walk around Walton Gardens was the better option.

Last night was RL. If you were trying to explain, talk it up, hype it, whatever, you'd package that up. Two massively commited sides, lots of physicality, plenty of skill, passion from both sets of fans and players in abundance, cracking atmosphere and the games goes to the last seconds still in the balance, brilliant.

I'm sure the Wigan fans will enjoy their victory and so they should, but we shouldn't be hanging our heads neither, we played our part in a game that could have gone either way.

It's been Leeds & Saints and then the rest for too long, it's about time a few more clubs put their hand up and showed that they want to seriously challenge for the title, both teams did this last night.

Great post.
That was a high quality game last night that could have gone either way. It has set the standard for the rest of the Superleague season. For all the soccer fans, I'll just say watch that and compare. No play acting, no primadonnas, no crowding the referee, just a good "combat".

Loved it, it's what makes our sport the best in the world.

Last nights game was a cracker and I am sure that both Warrington and Wigan will be in the running for honours this year. I think the Saints/Leeds domination of the last few years has come to an end.

Nothing to be disappointed about imo, worked hard, shown some quality, and although we had a 10 minute wobble when Briers went of than cost us the game imo, we actually recovered and had a second go but it was to little to late.

A couple of negatives are we had chances that weren't taken, the 40-20 which was knocked on at the first tackle, the Myler strip which was also eventually fumbled so if anything those chances need to be taken to beat the top teams at the top level. However i expect both teams to be in the top 4 come the end of the year.

Hmmm.

Indeed. Apart from Stains being undone by a performance by Sean Long in the first game (which was always going to happen) they have looked pretty good since. And Leeds have got one eye on the WCC.

it was a game that lived upto its billing and the hype that was surrounding it. neither team deserved to lose, and fair play to wigan for hanging in. thats what champion sides do, and wigan look like they could be a serious threat this year. although its still early days, it looks like maguire could be the astutest signing of the close season. solomona, on that performance comes a close second though, and if he can stay fit, then he could be a serious game breaker for us. watching the game on the telly, it was by far the best sporting spectacle of the year so far, and the hj comes across as an astonishing sporting venue when it is rocking like that. the passion was flowing out of the telly, and the sheer quality of both sides made it unbelievable entertainment. if we can get more games of that calibre on the screen, then the game will be in rude health for years to come.
Although disappointed with the loss, i won't be complaining if the effort and commitment is of a similar ilk week in week out, and if it is, then we will be knocking on the semi finals football door come the back end of the season.

i am gutted that we did not take the 2 points on offer at the end of the game. Why did TS not level it up by instructing the kick instead of the kick to the cornor.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but that was a poor decission.

Possibly due to briers having gone off and bridge being helped off the field at that point.

Plus i'd rather have the mentality to go for the win personall.

Thats foolish, when 1 point was on offer and the ball back from the ko.

hope the one point does not come back to bit us at the end of the season.

There were a few occasions when i think we should have taken 2 points.

I thought we certainly should have done at the end... but then again if sol had got the ball down it would have been a great call to not kick for goal.