A lot of players made mistakes today. Austin made a lot more than Patton. Patton was good, we won,

I expressed an opinion, and invited people to examine a passage of play which sums him up. You counter with an insult.

We were saved today due to the creatively and speed of thought of Ratchford and Clark.

Not an ounce the insults you give Patton.

If you find that an insult then your a touchy so and so...the point being swallow your pride and give praise not harping on about what he did or didn't do for one moment in a game...hopefully Pattonplays well against hull...

No offence, but what a stupid argument. Picking one passage of play to highlight someone’s overall ineptness? If we’re doing that I could say Charnley is garbage because he dropped that kick giving Wigan prime position in our half at a crucial point in the game. But it doesn’t work like that pal and you know it. Now please pack your anti-Patton soapbox away for a change would you? I’m indifferent to him but will say that in a game where Austin was evidently both well-marked and also quiet by his own standards because he’d taken a knock, Dec did what he had to and had a decent game.

There aren’t many players in the entire league that would’ve outshined both Ratch and Clark yesterday, and rightly, he didn’t, but he didn’t do much wrong either.

Watching the Patton pass back it was a shame....Austin was the foil that rightly drew an eye of attention to create enough gap for Atkins. Patton got no mention from the BBC pundits. Even John Kear praised Austin pass. No one picked it up either.

Not surprising, since they were all so keen to heap the praise on the losing side, giving the winners as few plaudits as possible, it’s easier to highlight the star player (despite both ratch and clark outshining him). Very annoying and the mark of poor punditry.

As an aside can the bbc stop letting RHP onto the pitch during the game? Nobody wants him there and never give him a decent interview because guess what, they’re focused elsewhere. Thank goodness he didn’t mither any of our lads. Utter bell endery from whoever thought it’d be a good idea.

I think Patton has had a few decent games recently and credit where it is due.
There are a couple of things that concern me though.
A) I have never seen a player take so much stick off his team mates for errors. Usually the player that comes up with the error sticks his hand in the air as an apology and they usually get a pat on the back and a "don't worry" shortly followed by a collective signal that we have 1 set or 1 minute to defend.
Recently I have seen Currie, Hughes and Clark with reactions that I have not seen them give to other team members.
B) a lot of the good things that Patton does appears to be pre determined, even the pass to Atkins missing out Austin appeared pre planned but very well executed. His last play cross field kicks are very accurate so he obviously puts a lot of work in on the training ground to execute some of the plays. The part where Patton may need to work on is where a pre planned move is interrupted by something (a defender rushing up or an offload and a bit of broken play) as when he is involved in that he appears slightly indecisive.
I don't think he is the type of player that adapts his play based on what is happening in front of him ( a lot of the time) but if he can start to bring that a bit more into his game he will be a decent SL Half back.

Totally agree with these on the pitch interviews.. Couldn't give a hoot while the match is stopped for a conversion. And its usually the same old bilge like we are sticking to our game plan..didn't he have to leg it off the pitch at one point..

I think this is fair analysis. I think Patton can play well if he is given a decent game plan and a few moves to execute. He can kick a ball, he can deliver a decent pass, he can dummy and run at a hole on occasion. Has he developed the rugby brain and ability to improvise of a Briers or a Johns? No - but it is pretty sad to come on here week after week moaning that he is still the same player as the previous week. He is still better than Sam Powell.

Good reviews on Patton, next years starting halfback ?

For Atkins try, my reaction live was that Dec was in two minds whether to pass or kick but having watched it back I think it was quite deliberate and introduced a moment of uncertainty in the Wigan defence.

As for Dave Woods assertion followig his superb try that Clarke is behind Hodgson and Toby, well I nearly spilt my Harveys Bristol Cream. Hodgson isn't in the same class and Roby was a great, is still superb, but no longet has Daryl's pace and accelaration.

Finally, as for RHP and JWs intrusions on the pitch watching it back on tele I got the impression they'd been told Wires players wouldn't be getting involved; certainly after his try, Hughes gave RHP a sideways look of "don't even try".

Im puzzled as to why the BBC still do the on pitch interviews, they look and feel awkward and dont provide any additional information for the viewer.

This is surely a gimmick that won't survive?!

I've give it Patton a few times this year, but thought he controlled the game quite well today and gave an excellent ball out to Atkins for his try...

Watch out Dec. Kev Brown is back in training.

Seriously? That’s great news, we need him back no matter how well Patton is playing. At some point our first choice halves need rotating to give them a rest, especially if we end up in a cup run.

Maybe Price knew Brown wouldn’t be out for the season and that’s why he didn’t rush to sign someone on the cal space.

It comes to something when people want Brown back. If I had a quid for every time I’ve exclaimed “bloody hell Brown” when watching him.

Garbage IMO. I’d rather play Dec.

Of course I await my correction and abuse for holding this opinion.

A direct substitution scapegoat for scapegoat or have people forgotten that Kevin brown was recently our scapegoat? In all seriousness it would be good to have kev back, we need a bit more competition in the halves.

I know we got an exemption for Kevin browns wage on our salary cap but I'm not sure how that would work in brown comes back halfway through the season in terms of our cap space allocation. It must surely count in some capacity.

The exemption for Kevin browns wage on our salary cap was taken but we never signed anyone to take his place. So there is no problem. I don't know how Luther Burrell will fit into our salary cap. Maybe with the 6 months that Brown was not playing will take care of that.

Isn't the 1st season for Luther cap free returning after 5 years out of the game?

first 2 years of burrell's contract don't count at all on the salary cap. then 50% in the third year.

First season is zero on cap second season is 50% I'm not sure if 1st season counts as July to end of season.

he's exempt up until the end of his first full season, we've played a blinder on this in terms of cap management bringing him in partway through this year.

With some players absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Brown was slagged off for 2 years but since he has got injured his reputation has improved amongst the Wire faithful.

The same happens with Patton when he is out of the side. If Brown comes back in for Patton, after a few weeks this board will be full of posts slagging Brown off and hailing Patton as the home town wonderkid and future of the club being unfairly held back.