My thoughts on the game. Great to have Michael Buffer there, as a long-time boxing fan that's something I never thought I would see! I thought Leigh went very well. Mulhern had a great game, Tesi Niu was a handful throughout and Armstrong looked every inch what Leigh fans will have been hoping for. Pace to burn, safe as houses under the kicks, not afraid to get stuck in, very nearly created a try and will likely destroy teams on faster tracks. For us, I don't think it was as bad as all that. Field looked sharper than last season to me. Yes, he made a poor decision which probably cost us the game when he didn't pass out to Wardle but he was full of running, scored what would have been a magnificent try if it wasn't for the ball steal ruling (personally I thought the Leigh player had already lost the ball but I can see why the video ref went the way he did so I'm not going to get too worked up about it) and, along with Wardle and Marshall, looked the player most likely to make something happen for Wigan all night. Thompson was a beast as always, and unlucky not to score, Byrne went well in Havard's absence, Leeming had a good game too. Defence was obviously impressive. I think the Farrell sin bin hurt us, not just because we were down to 12 but also because I think that meant Peet held off bringing Mago on until Farrell was back. Ref went for a very slow ruck. I don't think that was an advantage either way but both teams would have been pinged for six-agains several times last season, playing like that. I wonder whether that was just making allowances for the start of the season, or whether it signals a deliberate shift from the referees this year? The sin bin for Farrell was unarguable but unfortunate, as I felt watching it back that he absolutely had been obstructed. Clearly not a penalty try, as Dave Woods briefly floated the possibility, but definitely a penalty for me. As I said before, I thought the Marshall ball steal decision could have gone either way. Keighran is probably lucky to only see yellow. I know the ref said there was mitigation but I think that was pretty generous - he had every chance not to make contact with the head though, so he could have gone for that. Probably cost us our last chance of the game as, if he had made the tackle properly there we would have had the chance to pin Leigh down and get one last shot at scoring in normal time. He started last season with these brain farts but seemed to largely cut them out as the season progressed - I hope he gets rid of them sooner this year! Eckersley does not look a natural winger to me. He put in a decent shift and defended well, but I would like to see Miski back sooner rather than later. I think Zack's future lies at full back or centre. All in all, I thought that was pretty good season opener. Gutted to lose, but can't really complain. Yet another game that makes this old fart long for the days of draws after 80 minutes, as it would have been equally harsh on Leigh if we had managed to snatch it.

I wish they'd put golden point in the bin. Forget us last night, we lost in a tight affair, against a good side and don't need every point we can get but Cas deserved something from that game tonight. I don't know why a draw can't just be a draw.

[quote="apollosghost":3iep7eef]Looks like we've got a game on our hands next week, FC currently beating Les Cats[/quote:3iep7eef] I know it’s just the opener but I thought Hull looked fit and well trained tonight

[quote="NickyKiss":1h5l1kpk]I wish they'd put golden point in the bin. Forget us last night, we lost in a tight affair, against a good side and don't need every point we can get but Cas deserved something from that game tonight. I don't know why a draw can't just be a draw.[/quote:1h5l1kpk] If they're dead set on having golden point for the 'drama' then I don't hate the idea of giving a point to each side for an 80 minute draw and an extra point to whoever wins.

[quote="Stranger":liawn407]I know it’s just the opener but I thought Hull looked fit and well trained tonight[/quote:liawn407] Having watched three games now, our pitch is a disgrace compared to the 2 on show this evening. It didn’t help anyone last night.

A draw at 80 minutes should be 1pt each. Don't forget the player welfare were players are allowed to play so many minutes in a season, and then we have this xtra time, and an extra game to play in the CCup. Flippin crazy.