i thought that, although it would appear joel had a good game as is standard for him this season, he seemed to just be out to give the biggest hits and show wire he can be a thug which IMO was one of our weak points last night. too many players trying too hard to show they were a big hard man when in recent games we've stuck to sound rugby and great tactics and plays.

if the incidents where the wire players "should" have been sin binned are anything to go by, joel would have been as well.

i felt he was a bit too hot headed last night.

I like his hot-headedness. Yeah, I know he's top of the SL penalty list, but I think the passion he brings to his game justifies that. A bit like Hock, really.

What concerned me more last night was those two uncharacteristic errors in attack - the pass to Goulding and the kick on. Most unlike him.

of course, i want all of our players to play with his "passion" but last night it tipped over the edge for joel IMO and just made the difference between a top performance and trying too hard meaning errors of judgement and silly penalty being conceded. his kick was very suprising, especially on the 1st tackle i think it would have been??? but whose to say a good pass would have given us any better of a chance in hindsight anyway (sob sob)

all in all a superb match, but wigan certainly lost it rather than wire getting a good win in. i know this is a joel thread but that first 25 minutes or so lost us the game, we should have punished them on the scoreboard much more.

Did know one see how our pack was being bullied and dominated in the first half last night?

We needed a class, experienced house out there. Joel did what he could, get off his back.

imo thats what weve been missing for a while.. someone who will rough the opposition up! cant wait for gaz hock to come back aswel!!!

there's no point having players who will rough up the opposition when in doing so they are giving away priceless field position and needless penalties and also running the risk of a yellow card. joel along with the rest of the team have performed more than well enough of late before the wire game last night without going over the top - that was my point. i'm not saying i don't want him to do things like that, i support it just as you do, but i'd like it to be in a more controlled manner as we've witnessed before last nights game.

no problems with teams having enforcers, we've got more than our fair share, and a bit of niggle isnt a bad thing, but it looked like JT was only willing to try it with the smaller players last night, (myler, mathers, briers) to be considered a real hard player he's gotta be prepared to wind up our big guys too.

talented player though.

look at it from the players point of view, big game atmosphere, local derby and on top of that warrington were giving it out just as much as we were. i think its abit too easy to say you'd like to see it more controlled when your not on the recieving end of a high shot or a late knee! not having a pop at you personally just saying i can understand why joel got involved in stuff like that

Look what Carvell tried to do to Tomkins in the first five minutes, if Wigan would've hada few more forwards to take it to your half backs last night you wouldn't have won the game.

Many Many times in the past Warrington have been undone by forwards sticking it to Briers, and it frustrates me know one does it more.

i understand the tactic and believe it's an effective one, but if you're gonna give it to the little uns, you need to be able to dish it out to the big boys too otherwise you'll get tagged as a flat track bully.

And he does!

people dont run at briers no more as we have got strong tacklers out there and i think lee has improved on this as he does slow the forward down now so other players can finish the tackle. i like the way wigan get two players holding the player and another comes in with the hit very effective.

I am also a saints fan, i also rate tomkins as the best english 2nd row in super league this year.
I was shouting for the pies last night as it would have been better for saints to catch wolves as we won't catch wigan.

As the game went on i found myself shouting for wolves because of joel tomkins, some of the cheap shots was terrible. He is a class player and don't need to do that stuff.

I applaud Joel for the cheap shots as daft as it sounds, Morley Westwood and Solomona are 3 players who have always been cheap shot merchants or bullys against us in the past and at least he offered some back. Every team has at least 1 who stretches the rules.

not bullying all players are on the pitch and all play rugby just because there small doesn't mean players are a bully if they get a big hit and you see myler/burrow/tomkin all take it and get back up with ease as it doesn't effect them

What a terrible Quote!

If every player had that attitude we wouldn't have a game!

Joel don't need to stoop that low, he smashed leeds early this year with huge hits and IMO them big hits early on won wigan the game.

Just hope he don't get himself a bad rep that ruins his game.

I know, instead we have one far better in Ben Westwood.

dream on

my dad is bigger than your dad

Probably is, my dads shrinking

Didn't watch the game last night then? I await a sensible fans response, somebody like Rogues or NickyKiss.

Thats why i put as daft as it sounds, im not applauding dirty tactics but when the Wire lot were handing it out at he gave some back, i think if he hadnt of stood up the wire pack would of dominated and bullied Wigan into surrender. Wigan are crying out for some real size and aggression.

They did. I kinda get what you mean r.e Tomkins, better to do it with big hits though rather than cheap shots.

Didnt watch it, I attended it. you think Westwood is better than Tomkins then you need your head examined

are you having a laugh both wire second rows were outstanding last night westwood was amazing and loui anderson is still young and puts on some massive hits ans played brilliant all u wigan fans are stuck up and need to get a grip.