big difference between being an athlete and being fit. His size, body type and frame shows how much of an athlete he is. I agree his fitness isn't where I'd want it to be (especially recently coming off a pre-season) but I still think he'd make a good hard running back rower. Additionally to this, the SR position requires a different type of fitness, hence why they spell props more regularly.

I think transport in the borough is ok.

I work near Widnes and got into work ok today, in fact it was better than normal.

Lets not worry about the M74...

Game on, Brrrrrrr

I was due in Edinburgh on Tues for a 2 night stay, but for once took advice from the weather forecasts, i had booked to be back for the game so it worked out ok in the end. I have had updates from Virgin and no trains or replacement buses running yesterday or today.

Couldn't make the game (a real rarity for me!) as no one I go with would brave the weather. Thoughts on the game from those who went appreciated! Was surprised Navarette didn't get a crack after Wane's comments midweek, how did Sutton and Tautai get on?

Sutton much improved but Tautai non existent I felt. The team started as they did last week but managed to pull it out the fire with some urgency in the 2nd half.

The good

Bateman ain’t a centre but he’s a fine player and we’ll miss him.

Tom Davies and Joe Burgess worked hard.

Flower and Clubb did pretty well again.

Willie Isa had his best game of the season and added some energy in the middle.

The bad

The Tomkins, Powell, Williams, Leuluai and Escare switcharoo is starting to look confused and pointless.

Gildart is bang out of form.

Williams had a shocker and really needs to simplify things.

I’m backing off typing this but I need to. Sean O'Loughlin looked slow and lacking in any sort of impact around the middle. Unlike him he seemed more interested in arguing with the referee then trying to inspire the team.


Overall a wins a win but there’s plenty to work on.

Yep I agree entirely , the switcheroo as you call it is disrupting any momentum that we have. I thought Davies was superb tonight and Burgess looked to be his old self, I’m still not sure how Sutton got MOM though and as you said Williams had a shocker.... again.
Well done to the fans that turned out tonight, it was colder than the mother in laws affection out there.

Both wingers played a huge part in getting us back in the game. They both held nothing back and constantly tested the inside defence of Widnes. That’s really pleasing in regards to Burgess because he’s been lacking in work rate at times and I’ve questioned his desire to do the tough stuff but he turned up tonight. He’s proof of what a few weeks out the team can do.

There are a few other players either close to or already at the point of needing some time out of the side. I’d say Tautai has more then reached that point and his place must go to Navarette next week. I don’t think Gildart is a million miles at the back of him but a lack of options may save him. I wouldn’t go as far as to say Williams is in need of dropping just yet but he’s certainly needs to be told to simplify things and just keep the ball moving at points rather then kicking or shuffling back on the inside. He’s just putting no doubt in the oppositions mind because they’re expecting the risk play every single time.

Well I am not long back form the match and what a strange game. The first half form Wigan was utter garbage right down there with some of the worst of last season. The two penalties given away right in front of the sticks were stupidity personified and the attack was as clueless and as error strewn as anything we saw last season.

The the next 40 minutes we all of a sudden we are far more direct and start running lines reminiscent of the Madge ers. There were even dummy runners! Faz and Sam's try were great to watch but one bit of skill I really enjoyed was Budgie picking that ball up off the deck to stop a Widnes penalty finding touch. For those who could not make the match and have Wigan TV I hope it makes the highlights. Just a bit of skill that makes you smile.

As to player performances/observations. The half back sub thing really needs to be ditched. Now. No, Bateman isn't a centre but he is a better one than Sarge and caused them lots of problems in the 2nd half and put Davis away with passes more than once. Joel Tomkins had a very good game and tackled everything that moved. Lockers decided him and the ref were going to discuss Brexit, the Syrian crisis and everything else he spent so much time in his ear. Not without reason I might add but I wonder if Wane taking him off about 14 mins form the end was to stop him getting sent off. The ref was none too impressed (nor impressive as a ref..).

It's two points in the bag and if we can play 80 like the last 40 we will be OK but if we let better teams in as we did in the first 40 we won't.

My main thought is that Gildart's agent needs to add an extra line to his application to Aus:

'He plays a lot better in warm weather. Honest.'

Wane spoke warmly of Navarette again post-match, so I imagine we'll see him soon. Jeez, we were bad in that first half.

I agree the switcheroo should be dumped, but, to be fair, I thought Sam Powell was better tonight, Although he may have been at fault for their first try. A bit.

[edit Actually thinking about it, it's a bit of a thing, isn't it? I used to think he was a pretty good defender at 9, but he's been caught out a few times at 7.

Widnes fan here (obviously) I thought Wigan were very good in the second half, Wigan’s pack was well on top. We we didn’t set up for a drop at the start of the second half when we where on your line... f knows. Best team won though.fair play

First half terrible,just terrible but in fairness Widnes played well,second half as everyone says much better.

Bateman played pretty well I thought as did Powell in the second half,Williams poor again he needs a spell out of the side maybe and pair Sam and Powell in the halves?just a thought.

Wingers pretty good but awful night so it wasn’t going to be a classic.

Gildart is woefully out of form,it happens of course and he’s in a bad trough at the moment,so plenty to chew on but play like that first half against better teams and it’s bye bye time,

Or conversely play like we did in the 2nd half and we'll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

It’s a difficult one because this whole ‘playing when we’re in a bad position’ has been going on for three seasons now and against better sides we won’t see the turnaround we did last night.

I’m not sure if it’s a lack of energy, excitement, a bit of arrogance or just poor tactics getting us in these positions but title winning sides (which we want to be) don’t just play when things are getting out of control.

I sat there last night longing for the Maguire and early Wane days of us blitzing teams in the first twenty minutes. It is far less stressful

The backs are struggling against set defences, the obsession to move the ball wide when its not on is frustrating. The pack need to lay a better platform or the whole back line crabs across the pitch, the centres either die with the ball or offer the wingers no option but to cut inside. Williams is kicking behind too much but he's often not left with a better options.

You did right not coming up mate Edinburgh was at a stand still Tuesday to Friday . No trains no buses no taxis all grounded . The trams were running but they are as much use as a chocolate tea pot . Enjoy your stay when you eventually get up . Edinburgh really is a great place ....but expensive.

Regards EW

I was in Edinburgh last week it was so sunny I was walking around with my coat off,what a difference a few days made

Thanks

i usually get up a couple of times per year, had a nice apt booked near ocean terminal booked. I will try again when its warmer, then again i nearly got hypothermia when the magic weekend was on in Edinburgh

Joel has had a great start to the year! Hope he stays injury free. Had a try ruled out for a forward pas, was it forward ? I was in the south so couldn’t see.

I’ve been down on these 2 this year for wanting to move to Aus but Sutton and Burgess were very good. Sutton admitted in the interview after last week he was crap so made a good response.

From east stand it was forward, Joel deserved a try and was a MOM contender

What did we learn from that?
1. Catching the ball is good.
2. Do not wind up the ref or you will be penalised.
3. Running hard with the ball is necessary.

I may be in the minority, but I didn’t think that first half was as bad as people,are making out. The lead up play was decent, we spent a lot of time up their end but daft mistakes right at the end of the move spoiled it. Once we sorted that bit, we took off nicely!

We’re proving very convincingly that if we have the ball enough, we’ll trouble the opposition. Our big problem is giving away penalties. It really frustrates me that when we pin a side in their own 10, we always give them an easy route out and it’s time we learned!

Would you take Joe Mellor back? would he be a better 7 over Powell? Is he playing better rugby than dare I say it, wonder boy George?