When was the last time you saw saints get caught on the 5th tackle, it happened twice on saturday, first one hargreaves, second one cunningham.

That's because the intensity and application of the Wigan defence was the best I have seen in a long time.

Is this now the end of the "sliding defence"?


Very much a "blitz" defensive system.

Partly i agree, but saints should have not given hargreaves a ball for a drive on the last tackle. They lost count.

Yes they did on that incident.

Don't be sucked into this "Stains had a bad day at the office" stuff though.

Make no mistake they turned up for the game. Wigan simply didn't allow them to play.

Is it the end of an era ? I am not so sure but we have now proved to have the beating of them on two occasions this season, they got out of jail on Easter Thursday but we made sure that wouldn't happen this time.

What I am more sure of though is that there is a side capable of winning something in there - For me Fielden is the key to the rest of the season - If he ups his game like he did on Sat on a more consistent basis then I think we could go a long way.

Not a chance Saints are finished, Long was still one of their better players and will carry on for another year. Last month it was sack Noble, this month we're the next force in SL.

We're definately building to a good finish this year, we'll be stronger still in 2010.

Anyone noticed at half time when the cameras went to the changing rooms.Potter was standing in the corner like he wasnt interested or even wanted to be there.

If you didn't know the score you'dve thought Noble was the one trying to rally his team at half time. Potter did nothing.

Didnt look like a coach in control of his team did it.

I think it is a bit early to say that it is the end of an era but Peter Snow's swing-ometer would be showing a swing to the right just now but not quite indicating a full election victory quite yet. We have won a significant by-election but not quite back in power with a safe majority. But after supporting Wigan for over 40 years I really believe that things are on the upturn. Lets hope Saints continue to hang on to their ageing stars.

Fair comments, but I also think that as well as us being off beam, you didn't let us play. The tactics employed were spot on, and the large majority of your forwards were outstanding and it was a well deserved win.
I havent heard anything about problems with Potter, however when your 24-6 down to your local rivals and he is stood at the door saying nothing it doesnt really inspire confidence.

We've looked half cocked in attack for since the beginning of the season. We clicked against Leeds and Cas away. Each time I've thought that we might kick on but it's not really happened. Even against you men during Easter we only really clicked for 10-20 minutes going forward, unfortunately for you that day we were matching you in defence.

This weekend we didn't, you had a gameplan that was implemented well by the players with hard work, you worked a damn sight harder than we did and reaped the rewards, I mean we didn't even put that defensice powerhouse that is Tim Smith under any pressure.

We dominated the game from start to finish, Noble deserves total praise for that gameplan.

As for Potter - Surely not trouble at club?

Don't wet yourself too early, you've won one, we've lost one, doesn't mean we're finished.

Yeah, whatever.

Any chance you could amend your sig?? It's (ahem) well out of date...!

Have you not noticed other games omitted from his sig? Bet you can't tell what they've got in common....

The game against bradford, we went back 50 meteres then got caught on the 5th

Wouldn't surprise me!

I'm sure you know better than to get carried away over 1 game mate.

Not getting carried away, just pointing out the finer detail.

In all seriousness, Potter has a huge job. In the next 2 years he needs to replace Cunningham, Long & Wellens and no matter what they say, Flannery aint replaced Scully.

It will be interesting what happens with the lad at Hudds. He is OOC at the end of the year, cant see him settling for another year on loan whilst Roby totters around as KC's seat warmer.

Cunningham said in the Mirror on Saturday(in the middle of his murryfield winge) that he will probably play on next season so to me that means Moore will be leaving Saints which could be a move that will haunt them in years to come.

Long may move on after this year and people can say what they want about Eastmond but he's yet to prove to me he's anywhere near replacing a modern great like Long.

Wellens has another 4 or 5 years in him probably but i don't honestly think his form of the past 2 seasons would warrent him being that much of a loss anyway if he was to retire.

Saying all that they've got new leaders emerging like Graham, Wilkin and Roby so they're going to be right around the top end of the table for a good number of years yet.

There is no way Wellens has 5 years left in him.

Long will go at the end of the year.

KC may want a new deal, but can the club be loyal at the risk of losing Moore? Its a helluva call, McMaunus & Potter have a horrid decision to make.

Just going off his age really.

What is he now? 28ish?

I can see him playing on that long in all honesty but surely a move away from fullback will have to happen.

I'd guess we'll see him moving to centre/second row over the next couple of years.