Just to echo what people have said I thought Havard was brilliant, he’s a great player and I think really underrated, he’s going to the top imo, would just be nice to supplement him with some more aggression around him but he can do big minutes and make big meters, you can’t ask for a lot more from a prop.
I thought our defence was brilliant and we dominated up until the last 10 minutes but that was understandable, we really were out on our feet the last 5 minutes and Warrington blew it really but I’m not complaining. No matter how poor we have been this season in games we have shown up in a big game again so I won’t lose hope we can pick up silver wear this season, probably got the best semi draw too.
On another note, although not the biggest crowd it was better than what a lot predicted and it was a great atmosphere.

Think the team were excellent in effort and game managem , Havard was the best forward on the pitch by a long way, Smith controlled things brilliantly and French was very strong in defense. But the first 12 today were excellent . Hill loooked strong when he came on - looks like a prospect. What happened to Singleton - he came on brielfy second half didn't make much impact and then disappeared very quickly - did he pick up a knock?

King was good as well made some great metres- and his pass to Miski for the try was very good for someone who can't pass!

The knives will be out for Powell.

It was a stupid action and one that could have been costly. If I was a Wire fan though I would be extremely worried following that performance.

I forgot to mention King, I thought he was quality bringing the ball up and always looking for an offload.

How bad was the Ellis incident, only catching it on the screen it looked more like a football style pushing of the head more than a headbutt, the red must have been warranted as I haven’t seen much defence, was silly after a good start but maybe shows how fired up we were.

There’s one angle that shows from behind that he lunges a bit with his head but then the other angles don’t quite show the same thing.

Such a needless sending off. The game nowadays just isn’t refereed the same and while there was next to nothing in any of head movements, it’s just pointless and you’ll get pinged for it. The upside of it being that soft a head movement that I’m struggling to call it a head butt will hopefully lessen the games suspended he’s looking at.

Not sure i have seen this announced anywhere, but just been said on Wigan tv that Havard has signed a new 4 year contract. Strange aswell becuase the interviewer talked like it was public knowledge.

Very happy with that! What a performance and impact he had today, straight back from injury. Heroic performance!

Just shouldn’t be putting himself in that position, gave the ref no option.

It was a nothing action but to the letter of the law it was the right call.

On the positives, Havard outstanding and Smith just guided us round the field like an absolute champion. The kick from the touchline never looked like missing.

French I felt was outstanding in defence something he obviously really isn’t recognised for.

Honourable mentions to King, Wardle, Marshall and Miski too.

Potential season changing win after our recent loss of momentum. Forwards taken a lot of flack lately and rightfully so but they were outstanding today.

That is fantastic news if true (which I’ve no reason to doubt!)

Odd the club have not made more of it, as that’s a real coup to keep someone who must be drawing NRL glances.

I guess all i can think it's because Wigan tv is a paid service, so it's almost like exclusive content in a way.

But they didn't even make a big thing of it on there, was just a generic, run of the mill question in his post-match interview



Maybe our content person has messed up a little and wasn't supposed to talk about it yet and forgot?

Fantastic news. To put all the work in to these young forwards and show patience but then lose them at 22/23 is tough to take. He’s always signed shorter contracts from memory as well, so 4 years is very pleasing. No guarantees he sees it out I know but we’re a better chance that he does now.

Feel like Havard was announced as signing a new deal ages ago

I googled it after i had played it back a few times to make sure i heard right



He signed last year until end of 2024, but he must have signed a new contract for 4 years. Unless the interviewer got it completely wrong and he just didn't want to correct her. Hadn't thought of that haha

Did just go back and listen though, her exact words are "and finally, it has just been announced that you have signed a new 4 year contract".

Edit: he signed his initial one in june last year, this surely must be a new one.

On the Warriors website now https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2023/06/ ... year-deal/

On the Warriors website now https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2023/06/ ... year-deal/

Quote ="apollosghost"On the Warriors website now https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2023/06/ ... year-deal/'" That’s brilliant news

Quote ="apollosghost"On the Warriors website now https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2023/06/ ... year-deal/'" That’s brilliant news

Commitment and defensive intensity absolutely outstanding. Awful mistake from Ellis - just unacceptable. But maybe it gave us the kick up the backside that we needed. Havard and Smithies were awesome, O'Neill and Shorrocks had a real dig and Harvie Hill was impressive in his short stint. Great to have a crack at another final.

However (and I appreciate its not really the time to be negative) I was worried about our attacking set up. French at 6 looks all wrong to me - he looks lost. At times we actually look worse than how we looked with Shorrocks at 6. French at fullback was the one thing that was working really well and was not the change we needed to make. Maybe it will improve in time and clearly a lot of energy was lost in our defensive effort today but its a concern to me that it looks like we'll be going with this set up moving forward.

It's strange that at the end of last season French was unstoppable and saw his best run if form, yet he was wasted? Him and Field combined so well, I just don't get the wasted comments...

It'd be tough on Miski, but French back on the wing and maybe Hampshire in the halves?

Echo all the comments. A real professional performance. I would just like to add, i thought Smithies was a lot more effective coming off the bench, his aggressive drives at a tiring Warrington pack gained us a good few metres. I'd like to see Smithies used this way a lot more. Had a lot more impact today than he usually does when he starts.

Yeah, we are scratching for attacking cohesion at the minute but I’m with you, I don’t get the shout that French is wasted on the wing, him and Field were brilliant combining from full back and the wing last season. I think I would give French another go in the halves, he’s got good hands and is great in tight spaces side stepping, he’s more suited to playing in the halves than Field imo.

I’d just stick with it for a while. We’ll not see cohesion by keep changing things and we’re yet to see them play at 1 and 6 with a really strong set of forwards. In fact, we probably saw a bit of it away at Leigh and that was our best attacking display of the season (albeit with French at 1 and Field 6).

Seem to be a few posters missing from this thread that would no doubt have turned up had we lost.

I don't think French was wasted on the wing when he was SL's top try-scorer by a distance, and it's not like he hugged the touch-line, he was looking for the ball and creating plenty at the same time. But, saying that, I don't mind giving him a run at 6, as long as he is encouraged to run more, and kick less (which he pretty much did today). And he can defend at 6 and Field can't, which is probably the key factor. I thought French defended very well today, as did the whole team, really.

Nothing went as I expected today. I expected Wire's pack to roll us over, I thought Joe Shorrocks, who missed a lot of tackles last week, should certainly be given a rest. In both cases, I couldn't have been more wrong. And watching it back just now on TV, yes, Havard was terrific.

And you know it Egg.

What a fantastic performance 1- 12 and the subs.
This is what Wigan are about never give up never give in (apart from the odd blip

).

Well pleased for the team Havard/Smith superb the rest just fantastic