Question is what's changed in two months. We won plenty of tough games in a row only a few months ago. Saints in the cup, Leeds away , Catalan away. I'm struggling to think what's changed between then and now.

I refuse to believe the absence of Tommy is the root of all this. Maybe in the continuity of the attack perhaps, although we really should have overcome that by now. But this sloppiness with ball in hand and lethargic aura that Wigan are giving off really is concerning. Has Wane fatigued the squad with the full contact training session's each and every week?




I'm beginning to worry the same myself.

Mullered in every department, hard to see how they can come back from that, If Warrington had showed a bit more composure we'd have been looking at a 50 pointer.

Is it that hard?

I don't necessarily think it is. We were poor, dropped the ball too much and were out-muscled in the forwards.

That forward pack more than held their own in the Wire game at home, it wasn't as if their forwards have murdered us every game we've played this year, and we went out to France and beat Catalans' pack pretty comfortably.

Our forwards are better than that 'effort' we got today, and getting them back to how they were 2 months ago is the key to Old Trafford.

We can't play the basics, which is very worrying. Warrington just did the basics right and thrashed us. I don't know where the team has gone that that smashed Saints and Leeds at headingley, but we need to find it fast or it could be a long off season.

Why are we blaming Wane for having players who can't catch, pass or hold onto the ball is beyond me. I hope this is a big wake-up call to the players as we have been quite frankly poor, lethargic and have had generally the wrong attitude for a number of weeks now.

It's clear that the loss of Tommy and Finch not being fully fit has made an impact. But the dropping of the ball time and time again is something else.

Yes, but how do they get back to where they were, they look physically shot to pieces, and God knows what that will have done to them mentally.

I think the training has something to do with it.

No need for it really. The players should be fully match fit and it's a case of keeping them ticking over and building confidence.

Easy to be negative, but I'd still rather be in our position than Warringtons. Top spot still in our hands.

Only one of those games you mentioned was a must win game though. In that must win game against Saints they were pretty woeful. We played well but that game didn't strike me as much of a test. Saints were well below what they were capable of.

The Catalans away game was certainly one of the high points of the season and it seems to have peaked at that point.

The players do look fatigued now and some important players, particularly in the forwards, have dropped off significantly in terms of performance. I mentioned on twitter that full contact training sessions must surely be counter productive at a time when we appear to be having so many issues with injuries and fitness. We seem to have had quite a few players missing with vague 'knocks' that they've picked up outside of matches. I mean how on earth did Powell and Tuson suffer their injuries? Wane keeps saying that he hasn't got many players to choose from, well how have these players been picking up knocks?

Today's game is more worrying from a mental and pyshological perspective. Yes it was another bad day at the office with a lot of errors and missed tackles and yes it only cost us 2 points. We are still top and it's still in our hands. My worry is that when we play them again in the play offs, they have a massive confidence advantage. With the exception of the CC game they have had us quite comfortably the last few years. I hate saying it but I think they are better than us at the mo. league position says otherwise but taken in context, they are in front of us.

I think that was said after the CC defeat. Something is lacking and not just missing Tommy. No leadreship or direction on the field. Dare I say it Thats it for this season. lets look forward to next But we need to recruit .

eh, they are in the cup final just battered us, have an easier run in and are in form...

Very disappointing today, we were just not good enough. It is the big games that count and against Leeds in the CC and today, we have been found wanting. Its no good putting 52 past Wakefield then getting beat against Leeds in the CC and the following week putting 44 on London.

I think its too early to say its over this season, but many of the players were below par today. Skill wise and fitness wise we can win the League and the GF. Mentally though I am not sure at the moment. Wire have their tails up now and no mistake, but its not over til its over!

2012 year of the Wolfs.

Again worrying.

I await the response of those who ridiculed my postings earlier in the season about "peaking too soon" or more accurately "reading into early results too much".

The reality is that I am now very concerned about Wane. You cannot help but like the guy, he is honest and a Wiganer, however, the question was always about his strategic nous.


I really and truley hope that he can motivate this team to win the GF.

However, irrespective of whether he does nor does not, I do believe that he has made mistakes. He hasn't appreciated the need to time the run in, he flogged our guys too hard in early (meaningless) matches and we are now seeing the results.

This is understandable, and he will learn.

I hope that it is not the end of our season.

But you are BOTTLERS...............

The problem for you guys is Wigan are bottlers.

Look what happened in the playoffs last year losing to Saints, twice. It wasn't exactly the all time greatest Saints side either....

Also whenever Wigan play Warrington they don't turn up. I'm not trolling, you guys know it's true. The one time you did turn up was in the Challenge Cup last year at Wire where Wigan were red hot and that's the only time in the past few years that Wigan have actually played like their normal selves against us.

Its odd watching Wigan as a Wire fan because when we see you against other teams on Sky you are a consistent side that plays good rugby and looks pretty formidable but time and time again you play us and just look nothing special.

La la la la

Remind me of the last time Warrington won the GF?

*Tumbleweed*

I'm puzzled.....over the last 3 years, Wire have 2 Challenge Cups, Wigan have 1 Challenge Cup and 1 Grand Final, which, if my maths is right, is 2 knockout trophies each.

So what's the big thing that makes Wigan so superior, or are you suggesting winning the Grand Final is more of an acheivement that the Wembley showpiece ??

Personally, I reckon that those who argue for the GF being more significant have simply been taken in by a Sky confidence trick.

Worrying thing for me, we looked a lot more tired than Wire with 2 more days rest, hopefully no CC final might give us chance to recharge, a few days away from the training ground would be my plan. Also would be great to get Tom and Paddy back but it will take time for them to get up to speed and we ain't got a lot of time.
One of the most important people at the club at this time Mark Bitcon.
Been a great season so far, regroup and on we go.
Hats off to Wire today, I did not think they could back up like that, but they did, interesting to see what the CC takes out of them, it took a lot out of us last season.

If Wigan hold on for the rest of the season and take the title off us then they will have had a better season even if we win both the cup finals.

We have built our great reputation for over 100 years on getting our games up for the big matches.

I am a little worried that of late, we seem to be failing in that department.

I know your presence on these boards revolves around getting bites out of the posters but you honestly can't believe that to be true!

Outplayed,Outclassd and more worryingly Outcoached