Dont forget its Rads/Lenners fault aswell.

That game against Hull was played in awful conditions but you know what we won ,Cats game played in good conditions and you know what we won.This side are capable of winning the GF I have no fear of that,there is no team we cannot beat at the min.

Come on Pepper thats prob the worst insult you can throw at anyone on this site,I would be surprised if a solicitors letter isnt winging its way to you right now with a court appearance for defamation of character.

As long as people are constructive with their criticism, then I have no issue with it. The Hull game compared to last night, was chalk and cheese in 2 main areas and IMO they were intensity and concentration. When we get those 2 things right, we’re a very good side. We’ve only got those nailed in 3 or 4 games this season and it gives you massive hope.

I might agree with those points but I thought the French man of the match was a touch generous, he was good first half but didn't do much second half, I thought there were more deserving candidates , Smith , Bryne, Ellis and O'Neill were all in with a shout (surprised Miski didn't get it as usually anyone scoring 3 tries is a shoe-in for MOM regardless).

Still not sure of French at 6, but it is easier for him when the forwards get on top and he has space, just not sure of him in a tight game.

Still an excellent performance all round and shows what we can do - just need to keep it up for a few weeks and who knows what will happen - it is the inconsistency from week to week which could be our undoing.

Just seen the Tomkins raised knee incident again. Surely a ban coming his way! Looked like it bl00dy hurt O'Neil that!

Best performance of the year probably, but I was really disappointed in Catalans, they just never turned up. Or maybe we didn’t let them, not sure.

Was kind of hoping it would be a more competitive game but the atmosphere in the away end was superb and thankfully didn’t rain

Don't disagree with any of that - I thought you were implying that no-one should ever criticise or point out weaknesses. For me it's just felt that we haven't been near our potential since the games in and around Easter - great to see us get back there yesterday.

It all starts from our defensive intent for me. The intent and aggression in which we defended with yesterday was outstanding and we can then play off that. You look statistically and Byrne was no better than most games this season but clearly he was way way better. A prime example of stats not telling the full picture because there is no stat for the force you hit with, the way you lead the line speed or how hard you hit the ball up. He constantly challenged Catalans forwards on both sides of the ball. He summed up the difference to pretty much every game this past few months more than anyone.

Battered them, massive statement for the rest of the season. Outstanding from all the pack, which is great to see. I thought Dupree played really well, good to see that he's hit the ground running. I was really impressed with KPP, he started the game with intent and i felt that really set the tone. He was really aggressive with his defence and his carries. I've bagged him and Byrne this season as i've been disappointed with their performances but the last few games they seem to have turned a corner. Harry Smith's kicking game was exceptional, pegged them back every time and kicked a quality 40/20. I don't understand the criticism, quality player and will only get better as he gets older. French seems to be settling in at stand off, probably his best performance in that position, minus one poor last play which fortunately didn't get punished.

Statement win as i say, hopefully we continue playing at that level from here on in. Proud night to support Wigan.

Man of the Match is always going to be a matter of opinion. The point I was making is that he was in the mix and outplayed Tyrone May. You go on to say you're still not sure of French at 6 yet I'm guessing you'd be happy with May at 6? If so, how does that work?

I've even seen people suggesting that Keighran would be a preferable option there. Well we all saw them both perform last night. Does anyone still believe that?

That's the type of "Supercoach" rubbish that I was referring to.

I understand the point but hard to judge off the back of 1 performance especially when you consider how dominant our pack was.

I don’t think we’ve signed a dudd in Keighran just because he was outplayed by King yesterday.

FYI I’d love to keep King but I’m happy with Keighran as his replacement if that is not possible.

I don't think it is off the back of one performance Jon. He's been improving every game bar Hull, where everyone on both sides was poor, and not just in small increments but exponentially. Last night, after less than a dozen games in the position, he outplayed Tyrone May. I doubt anyone is suggesting "May is not a 6" but it seems fair game for the man who outperformed him! Do I think French is the finished article? No if course not! It would border on the miraculous if he was after so few games. Do I think he is showing he has the tools to succeed in the position? Absolutely in spades!

I'm not suggesting Keighran is a dud btw. Just rubbishing the idea that he would somehow be a better option than French at 6 as some have suggested. French has all the tools to be an exceptional 6 in this competition. All he lacks is the experience and he's even making that look like it isn't the hinderence it ought to be.

I was in the French isn’t a half camp but I’m starting to be swayed.

I would prefer a specialist quality half but given the lack of them available I’m starting to go with him as a 6 option and as you say he is only going to get better for the experience.

I wouldn’t want May over him but then again I see him more as a utility than a speciality half, he had a stinker yesterday though it has to be said.

No I did not say that,I haven't seen enough of May to make that relevant nor Keighran who has been playing centre anyway, talk about putting words in peoples mouth - you really need to back off a bit sometimes, you come across as the very thing (supercoach/expert) you accuse other of.Opinions vary - that doesn't makes yours any more relevant or better than anyone elses.

I am not convinced by French as he is still learning and we have yet to see how he performs in the toughest games under pressure, will he make it as a 6? Possibly, but it is early days. He did a few eye catching things in the first half but faded quite a bit whereas Smith was gong all game - that 40/20 near the end was amazing . I hope he makes it as it would solve a lot of issues for us but he is far from a finished article as a 6 for now (and by his own admission he has little experience there) - can we rely on him in the play-offs or a GF?

There are areas of his game that show he is not a 6 by trade but he is learning but time will tell. That is my OPINION.

I would love us to sign a top quality 6 as it would improve us massively but that looks unlikely as there are few available - French may be the answer but there are still areas he can improve.

I said "I'm guessing" and "if so" so I wasn't putting words in anyone's mouth. I also never mentioned Keighran in relation to you at all, unless you actually said you thought he was a better option there, which you're saying you didn't. How come I need to back off for giving an opinion but you don't for giving yours?

Anyway on to the actual thing we're discussing. You're entitled to your opinion. Of course you are. But equally it shouldn't be unmovable. If you're one of the ones saying French isn't a 6 (I don't know if you are) then could you tell me which areas of his game, experience excluded, where you feel he doesn't have the necessary tools to become a top 6?

Btw, didn't French move to full back in the 2nd half?

French has all the skills for a number 6,that little kick through for the try a number 6 would be proud of.
His willingness to learn and the talent he already has will make him a brilliant number 6 I have no doubts.

Only my opinion though.

Mine too. He has the best feet in superleague, defends as well as any half (and better than most), has an excellent short kicking game and his passing ability, as his try assists attest, is top draw.

He needs to work on pass selection, although that has improved massively in relatively few games and needs to refine the balance between run and pass options which also has improved and was excellent last night. Both of those things are experience rather than ability related though so, as I say, I think with more games under his belt and after a full pre season we'll have a quality stand off next year.

He took on the line for his try also. I think he’ll do fine and hopefully in the pre season he’ll develop as a 6 and the partnership with him and Harry will grow.

I saw a comment on the other forum saying he looked rubbish and they didn’t know why we’d bothered signing him. You can’t make it up sometimes! One iffy game doesn’t alter him having a very good season. I looked at combined try and assist stats for centres the other day and Keighran (on 1icon_cool.gif was the only player above King and Wardle (both on 16 at the time but now on 17). He’ll be more Wardle in style than King but that’s fine, as long as what looks a better pack fires.

Brilliant performance.
The pack was superb, over ran their forwards and out played them.
Byrne was outstanding, French showed what he can do at 6 behind a winning pack. KPP, Smithies and Nsemba put in some big hits but the pick of the big hit tackles was Liam Byrne's at the end of the game on Navarette. Absolutely smashed him.

Great win with a great performance, the hard bit will be backing it up!
Can they do it? Too right they can!

The forwards ran the show and we were 2 forwards down arguably our two best. We’ve still got to finish strong this year but next year with a fully fit forward pack I can’t wait to see it

I am not saying he hasn't got the tools to make it as a half (many full backs move to half later in their careers) - just that at the moment he is some way off being a reliable half and would he be able to handle the position in a tight play off game? His pass selection is some what erratic (and his no look pass is sometimes dangerous and liable to interception) and his choosing when to run or pass is still some way off but getting better - obviously more experience will help that.He also will need to get more involved in organising and I would like to see him at first receiver a bit more to take some pressure off Smith.

Much of what he does well is pretty much what a good full back linking into the line does - Matty Bowen used to do similar things when he was here. I hope French can make it as a 6 as it would solve a lot of issues for us given the lack of possible other options, you cannot fault his effort at all.

One worry I do have is that we are so reliant on Harry Smith - if we lose him to injury or suspension then we would really be struggling, we need to keep him fit to have any chance in the play-offs.

I am not sure if French went to full back in the second half as there seemded to be a few changes - Field seemed to be operating at dummy half a lot even when Powell came on for O'Neil so there may have been a swap around.

Smith is our pivotal player without him we would be rudderless. If he got injured we would be in the brown smelly stuff with nobody else in the squad being remotely capable of covering him. I love watching French and Field but neither of them could hold a candle against him in terms of running a team.

Spot on Itchy. Couldn't agree more.

1 match ban for Ellis. Not a single sighting for Naverette. Fine for Tomkins