This is an inquest thread. Warrington were 16-2 up after 35 minutes. Only a few teams have ever come back and won the grand final from a half time defecit, let alone a 14 point difference.

It's easy to blame the injuries. But warrington had began making errors and giving penalties away before that, which resulted in the wigan field position where monoghan picked up his injury.

Did warrington learn anything from last year, as they proclaimed beforehand? When you get your noses in front you have to suffocate the opposition. Wire invited them back into the game.

I must admit before the game i thought warrington were primed to do it. The grand final still eludes warrington. Not sure where you go from here.

Considering Warrington had only 2 subs for the last 30 mins and both of the injuries were outside backs, I think the injuries can be blamed. Warrington were lucky to have 13 men on the pitch however.

The injuries were unlucky and out of warrington control, no doubt about that. But wigan's crucial try just before half time and the injury to monghan resulted from field position which warrington allowed wigan.

If warrington had played smart once they were 16-2 up the monghan injury would never have occured because wigan wouldn't have had the field position from where it occured. You get me? Things in warringtons control, lead to an incident out of their control, and then the try (in their control) which completly changed the game.

You can throw about that Monaghan's injury wouldn't have occurred had we not conceded field position, but then you might as well say that we'd have been bringing it away from our own line and may have dropped the ball which may have seen Wigan score earlier had Richards not kicked the ball out on the full. We lost two of our backs and had nobody to replace them. Then we had Briers at full back, Bridge on the wing, it was a mess. We lost all our momentum and go forward when Joel left the field and Ratch got taken out, that is the main reason, as well as Wigan getting their act together.

What about McIllorum's soft try from dummy half? That had nothing to do with injuries, ratchford hadn't even gone off yet and it was down the middle. You won't see many softer tries than that in a grand final. That was such a crucial stage.

The injuries were tough but i still maintain you can't use that as the main reason. The momentum, through wires own play had already started to go back to wigan before any injuries occured.

Where do we go from here?? I'll tell you where we go, we get up and go again next season. The injuries DEFINITELY cost us the game without a doubt. We ended up running out of steam due to the fact we only had 2 interchanges for most of the 2nd half and ended up giving away silly penalties due to us being knackered. When you give away territory to a team like Wigan,they'll, more often than not, punish you....and they did. Really felt for the guys that are leaving though, Gaz in particular looked devastated. Cant even drown my sorrows due to medication im on! Oh well.....

Very similar to Saints' last Grand Final defeat to Leeds. All going pretty swimmingly until two injuries in the backs caused such disruption that it was the tipping point in the game.

How is Joel?

Last I heard he was on his way to hospital.

That was down to Carvell not paying attention and going back into the line on the wrong side, a stupidly gifted try and no excuse. But soft tries happen, Grix going over for us was just as simple. They were pulling it back but I maintain we still had go forward and were a threat at that point. We managed to turn around Wigans dominance at the start of the GF and I think we'd have dealt with it after half time too had we had all our players on the field. Monas goes down, we have no strike play to go to and instead have to kick along the floor. Ratch goes down and we have no second phase, those two plays are our biggest weapons and we lost them.

Had he tackled Richards with his left shoulder, he wouldn't have been knocked out. Unfortunately, he used the correct technique, right shoulder tackle and Richards step inside was enough to cause the damage. Hansen's attack at Rachfords legs was a turning point, but Westwood was lucky to get away with the punch on Green, so I guess it evens out. Presume any ban Westwood picks up will count towards WC games?

From a neutral fan, Hansen should have been sent off for that dangerous tackle on Latchford, it could have ended his career.


Losing Monaghan and him with players out of position, an ageing team and 2 fewer subs swung it for Wigan.

Sorry but I disagree. Green stayed on the pitch and influenced the outcome whilst Ratchford hobbled off and we lost part of our attacking firepower. (I'm not condoning Westwood's punch for one minute by the way) I can't see how that's even.

Wire lost because Tony Smith teams don't have the stomach, patience, Plan B or C, or mental toughness to win the really close games when things aren't going to their script.

The injury to Joel was the key to our downfall.
We simply switched off, and never woke up.

Our forwards were dominated in the second half.
We looked out on our feet after 60 minutes.
Wigan looked dangerous every time they had the ball in the second half.
We offered nothing in that second half.

Have we seen the trait.
That second half wasn't good enough.
A game too far?????????? yep

We were a shadow of the team we were a month ago.

Well done Wigan

Dust yourselves down, Wire

The injuries undoubtedly disrupted us and nullified a significant part of our attacking game. Losing one back to a game-ending injury is unlucky, but two? Disaster.

I actually thought the decision where (Matty Smith I think it was) knocked on in the tackle, Atkins pounced and shot away and the ref called interference was a huge turning point. Moments later Wigan were in, real momentum changer.

Thank you, you have taken it on the chin with a good honest post. A true sport, thanks again!

Cooper stole it, fair penalty.

I always call it as I see it. No point in looking for excuses. The best side won.

Many around me were blaming Silverwood, but we were masters of our own downfall. Dirty play on both sides (Westwood was a bit of a pillock pulling a stunt like that, so early in the match. He COULD have been sent off)

Yes, the injuries didn't help (obviously).

To me the turning point was the charge down of Matty Smith's kick the ball bounced for him,could easily have bounced to a Warrington player who would have scored next set of six Wigan scored 12 point switch around.

I'm sorry but no ur wrong IMO
The Hanson ratchford tackle wasn't even a penalty. He tackles not attacks tackles the legs. Not the knee caps front on or side but in the way they naturally bend. Unfortunately he got hurt. Guess what it's a tough sport were when 34 18 stone men run full pelt into each other for 80 mins people get hurt accidents happen
For you to say purposely punching someone in the face isn't as bad because green stayed on the pitch is ridiculous

No it isn't. It's a veiled trolling thread disguised as an "inquest" thread.

I think until Monaghan and Ratchford went off injured the game was all yours. The Monaghan incident was just one of those things, but hansens tackle on Ratchford is symptomatic of the Pies since maguire took over. Attacks to the weight bearing, standing leg has been used regularly by them as a way to remove opposition players from the game. The RFL needs to get a grip of this tackle, because the Pies have no regress in causing opposition players serious injury.

I was shouting for you guys tonight and thought you had it. I now will have to put up with gloating inbreds all winter, until next season begins, and the dance begins again.

Won't stop you from trolling on here or the VT though, will it.

Hypocritcal t**t.

TBH, I HATE the charge down. I can't remember it working in our favour, since we trounced Wigan at home, in Sept '11

You idiot!!!!!!!!!
What's up have Wigan started winning titles again????
Just remind me how your taught rugby as a kid because I'm sure I was taught to tackle round the legs as"they can't run with out there legs"
If 1or 2 men have tackled a player but he's stayed on his feet what you expect us to do let him stand and get a quick play of the ball or try and get him on the deck? Guess how you do that you take there legs from under them
Every team in the league do it even your lot when they don't miss the tackle
Fool