In some ways last nights game was the polar opposite of last season as no one player really stood out from the rest. The major difference this time was that the whole team played at a level we rarely saw against opposition like the Crusaders.

Just look at the MOM thread and it’s clear it could go to anyone of about 6 or 7 players which shows just how well the whole team played. If any of those 6 or 7 would have played like that last season it’s fair to say they would have been the stand out candidates for the MOM award but this season it’s gonna take a real special performance to stand out from the rest.

The best part of the last night was that we got the job done easily and without any fuss. Everyone worked hard, the team worked well together and everyone did their jobs.

Just one point next for next week is that I hope we use Joel more. Every time he touched it last night he either bounced someone off for some big yard or made something happen for someone else. Although I don’t wanna go back to the days of over relying on one player like we did with Hock if a player is looking as dangerous as Joel was last night then we’ve gotta find a way of getting the ball to him a little bit more.

Overall I’m very happy with the committed, hard working and talented display we saw from all our guys last night. Long may it continue.

No point in going into microscopic detail, because everything that needs to be said has already been said on this thread - but for me the most heartening thing was that, in previous years, games like this have often been banana skins for us.

We apparently found it difficult to motivate ourselves for fixtures that were going to be 'easy wins' - the consequence of which was that we only just won or, more often, lost. It used to drive me mad that you could win at Leeds away, and then waste it by losing at home to someone like Wakey.

But last night we set about them in a professional, workmanlike fashion, and did what you should always do in games like that - have the points in the bank by half time. And even then there was no slackening off.

It was very encouraging indeed. Well done the training staff thus far, and in particular well done to the conditioning staff - because the lads all looked very fit, very agile and intimidatingly strong.

Joel Tomkins could be that ball playing, unpredictable back rower we spoke of going off last night.

He looked like a player that's had his shackles removed and told to use his attacking talents and passing game.

I agree, possibly.

Consistency is what Joel needs to strive for.

I hope so. I have never had a bad word to say about his attacking qualities, but in defence he has been shakey and inconsistent. The Pre-season games didn't offer much hope he had improved in this area, but last night, when it counted, he had a good game. Although he didn't have much to do, he still did what was required of him. I remember one incident where the Crusaders got in a good position and Witt put a towering bomb up in the air and there must have been about 3 or 4 players all chasing for it, but Phelps ended up with it. Sadly the play ended with a Crusaders penalty because we hit the kicker a bit too late.

Nevertheless having said that, we have to remember it was a quickly put together squad we were playing, made up of whoever was available. Phelps didn't have much to do last night and so the big test will be next week, when he has to defend the kicks from Dobson and Cooke who are both excellent in this department. Last night he didn't have much to do. Next week will be the real test and we will have a much better idea of whether he has improved defensively from last season or not. Let's hope he has.

Agree totally.

He's had good and bad spells in his time in the first team at Wigan but hopefully now is the time to kick on and become as good as he should be. He's got all the attributes to be a real handful and in all honesty to be an international backrower.

Consistency is the key.

I know people look at the 2 x penalties or 2 x dropped ball a game he can sometimes give away, however, I like to look more at the Physical threat he posesses when he is on the field.

It's a bit like the Hock situation, people talk about him having a Brain fart etc bu with aggressive type players you get that sometimes. I thinkif you ask these players to "Play Safe" you take too much out of their natural game.

A lot of people were looking for him to be left out late last year in place of Flannagan/Mossop but for me he'd be on the field as much as possible because especially since Hock's ban I think he has been one of the few that have given us a bit of Mongrel.

His 1st half last night especially was outstanding and I believe he has all the attributes to be one of if not the best 2nd rowers in SL.

I predict he will be on the plane Down Under end of season.

That would be the one where he went up for the ball surrounded by four crusaders players and took it faultlessly and then kicked it into the crowd when the ref pinged us I never saw the late hit I was too busy watching Phelps - he looked well pi55ed off and rightly so, it was a superb catch and we should have been able to build on it.

I've always worried about his ability under the high ball but last night he was solid - I think someone has been having lessons from Mr Radlinski

Dunno when Vievers is going to get a look in, hope he doesn't become another Briscoe and have to leave just to get some gametime. Maybe Madge will rotate where we have cover.

It's good to see people giving Amos, Stu, and Cam credit. And i'll reiterate again what i've said previously, the things that Cam offers going forwards are worth their weight in gold, especially when trying to crack a good defence - it's an even bigger bonus that the lad is essentially on buttons to. £ for £ i'd say he's the best option in Super League.

Good solid performance last night I think Amos has had a new change in attitude him and Gleeson combined very well, the forwards looked stronger and fitter even Stu impressed me. I know it was a game we were expected to win by a big margin but if it gives us good momentum into what will be a tough Hull KR match it’s all good.

Players should be paid what they are worth... IMO Cameron should be on a decent wage as he does very little wrong and brings alot to the side... I think we enter dangerous territory as a club when we screw players who deserve more than they get paid.... I only know from my experience of the work place... if you pay people peanuts and less than they deserve, it only bread jelousy and contempt.

IL pay him what he deserves... we should'nt be celebrating the fact that we have a player who gets paid very little for what they contribute... just like we don't like it when players get paid a fortune when they bring very little to the team.. aka Stuart fielden over the previous 3 years...

IMO we should champion the fact that Wigan is a club that pays what players are worth and rewards both commitment and loyalty..

Good team performance.

O'Loughlin was immense in defence and did a pretty good impression of a brick wall for most of the game.

A lot of the pre-season talk has been about our fitness and defence so i was pretty suprised with our organisation and attack at times - we looked to have a lot of options going forward which is very promising for the rest of the season, Deacon, Riddell, Tommy L, S.Tomkins, Gleeson and Phelps where all on fire and looked pretty free to play 'off the cuff' at times.

Special mention to the people that made the flags on the south stand, they looked epic from the West stand.

Even the music has improved!

You don't need to worry about Phelps!
He's getting paid a nice tidy sum & I'm sure he is more than happy with it!

I wouldn't call what he's on Buttons!


Other than that I pretty much agree, His positives far outweigh his negatives & I wouldn't be surprised to see him somewhere near the top of the "Try Assists" charts given an injury free run.
He is doing for us attacking wise what Wellens did for Saints, playing like a 3rd Half back and opening up options for other runners as the defences are having to watch him.

I shall reserve judgment until we've actually played a good side.

Me too.

The comment about him being on buttons was in reference to all the comparisons made to him not matching up to Hodgson, Webb and Greenshields, when I'm pretty positive he's on far less money then them and still learning his trade at fullback, yet still compares really quite favourably (certainly he's not leagues away from them, and I feel he'll continue to develop).

He was also our top try assists last season and 16th in Super League overall (Number 1 out of the fullbacks). So yes I think an injury free run, and under the new coaching setup he'll continue to develop even further.

I agree with you totally mate, I was merely suggesting that it's nice that we have a player who's continuously 'performing above his current salary and experience level', and I really hope he continues to develop and secure a longer deal. He's a classy player with a lot of heart, who's been doing a fantastic job in my opinion given he's not even had a full season playing at fullback in his entire career.

We had a 10% increase in attendance on last season's game against the Crusaders.

In addition, last season our attendance versus Hull KR was 13,415.....surely if the Robins bring a good 1000 -1500 we can expect approx 16K on Friday night...??

Maybe even more if they get a win today and after last nights result at "the shed" and Hull beating Man City in the football, The city will be buzzing about sport and maybe more will make the journey across.

It should be a good game on Friday... I cannot wait for a tough hit-out.

Lets see how we go against KR on Friday, they beat u s in the same fixture last season.

I wasn't responding to just your comments... Its just a opinion thats seem to have popped up a few times and just thought I'd throw my 2 pence worth in.

Yeah same, some good signs but nothing to get carried away with just yet.

But not defensively, lets wait and see what happens when we play better opposition and he's put under pressure from kicks both 'bombs' and behind him ( he seems to struggle when he has to turn and chase a ball ). I noticed on Friday when he jumped for a ball his technic was similar to Hampo's, it looks like he's been doing some work with him on this area and there's some improvement, its only game 1, long way to go, I hope he proves me wrong, good luck to him.