I think we just shaded this win on points. It wasn’t the best we’ve played this term by a long way, but all credit must be given to Leeds for that, but having said that I did think we showed a lot of guts and spirit. Leeds got their tack ticks spot on, more or less forcing us into playing our game down the middle for much of the game. I think Leeds definitely wanted this one and came on with maximum effort. It felt more of a cup semi than just a two pointer. It will be interesting now to see their performance this coming Friday. Will they have the same mind-set, or will there be a mental backlash from our match?

It was a great game and defenses were on top. We were slightly off par in attack in the second half. We really missed Green but i think Powell played well considering hes a young lad and against a team like Leeds. He took some massive hits but he kept going and his defense was awesome. I think its a good sign for us that we didnt play that well in the second half but we still won the game. It shows us that we haven't peaked early like last year, so that is still to come and we still have a few key players to come back.
Very impressed with our forwards last night, Mossop was great, Lauaki was quality but Ben flower has improved so much from last year, thought he was our best prop last night. Immense.

I was actually very impressed with Powell. As has been stated the defences were on top and it was tough going with his options being cut off, but I thought he took the line on well. Looked very composed for a lad that hasn't started many games imo

I think Leeds really wanted it , as said they cut our wide options down, their line speed was very fast, Bailey is just an idiot , thanks for the penalties, but we toughed it out, now got to do it at the business end .
Also watched it again and it is true those 2 muppets are so biased towards Leeds

Between Leeds & Wigan today, 3 Aussies, 2 Kiwis, 1 Welsh, 27 English players, and 24 from the two academies!

=33 players


you misses one, or one of us cant add up

I've just watched the recording of the game.

Does anyone else think Sam's kick at goal was inside the posts?
Just do a freeze frame.

Yes thought that about 1 o'clock this morning but my head was nodding to one side

suppose the thing is Sam didn't show any surprise so presume it was the camera angle, also one of Pat's kicks looked wide on tv I think but it was given, perhaps the Hull player was not stood in front of the kicker, those camera angles can't be trusted, they also move the white lines about 5m

I really can't make my mind up about last night and if we were lucky to win or unlucky not to win by more.

On the one had there were a lot of half breaks and near misses for us. I lost count of the amount of times Sam made a half break but was tackled by some committed last ditch defence. We also should have scored when Charnley broke down the wing in the 2nd half or when Lockers off loaded straight into the hands of Moon. Again instances of desperation/dogged defence by Leeds kept them in the hunt. If we'd have been a touch more clinical then the score line could have been a lot more comfortable. Green probably would have made the difference there.

That being said Leeds were missing Ablett, Delaney and JP who i think are massive players for them. JP and Delaney in particular are real warriors and would have kept coming back at us with venom all night. Let's not forget that the game rested on a correct video ref decision that maybe in another game wouldn't have been picked up on. With the above in mind and also factoring in we failed to register any points in the whole of the 2nd half we can count ourselves somewhat lucky as well.

Very nice to pick up our 1st big win of the season BUT we have to massively improve on that for the play offs. If we fail to register any points for a full 40 mins in the playoffs we will be out.

Interesting that according to Sky's commentary team Wigan's last 10 wins were achieved without having played anyone at the top of the table. However, it does include victories over St Helens (who Leeds failed to beat when they last played them), and Hull away - and it will be interesting to see how the Rhinos fare in that fixture next weekend.

Something about Eddie and Stevo stinks to the absolute core at present.

SL Champions, world's best player, world's best winger, TMFMISL



it's chip paper now, and Leeds lost that game. We still need that "certain something" Leeds have had when shutting out a game, but we are getting there. That said, their pivot players are getting older, we have heaps of energy and back up players who can step up too the plate. Good day at the office.

It all depends on what side you sit or what you see.

For me Hull FC are currently hitting the straps but their current momentum only really started to grow during the tough fight they put up against us. Ellis coming back the week after our game has also boosted them. It was a good win for us but they weren't a major scalp.

Same goes for Saints. Of course it's always nice to beat them but they are a shadow of what they should be. You can't read to much into the Saints win vs Leeds as for me it seemed a one off fluke like the time Wigan under Noble always seemed to turn Leeds over. There is still a gulf in class between the likes of Wigan, Wire, Leeds and Hudds compared to Saints. Beating Saints on GF is always a must win/big game for Wigan but it's not a big scalp or good indication as to what we are like as a team.

Make no mistake last night was the first real test we've come up against in the 2nd half of the season and we've survived by the skin of our teeth.

And Ben Jones-Bishop



Great game though, best of the weekend by a mile.

I have to admit that i've not counted BJB as he's not in the same class yet as the others.

Vickery did ok last night lined up against Pat.

What is McGuire's problem as of late? Every little thing he starts pushing and shoving at! He's really starting to grind my gears.

WHAT?!!!!!!!!!

Dunno, maybe he's after a move to Wigan?

He's not as important for you as what JP or Delaney are. Both of the above are warriors who come to the forefront in big games like last night. I personally think you dropped off a little when Leuluai went off as it left Bailey to prove what a liability he really is. Peacock or Delaney would have kept coming at us.


It's not that i don't rate BJB as he's going to be a top draw player. Having said that Vickery did a very good job dealing with a former MOS in Richards last night.

Agreed re the forwards and we'll never know this but IMO if you take out Vickery and play BJB last night then Leeds would probably have scored at least 1 more try. Vickery did OK, if you consider not making an error as playing well at this level.

He took his chances as well as nullifying Pat as an aerial threat on the wing.

Either way there's obvious and easy improvements that Leeds can make to their side. That looks good for you as like i said in my OP you only lost the game by 4 points.

It was a lazy rip from a post on the Leeds board:



So don't blame me.

I somehow doubt that Eddie and Stevo gave it anything like as much thought as this.

)
1 Welsh (Flower)
27 English (+ Hansen? = 2icon_cool.gif
13 from Wigan academy (maybe 13 from Leeds, dunno)

That's probably a fair comment.

To be fair I think the whole Sky programme needs a good shake up from top to bottom.

Not a lot of people will watch it but Sky do an excellent job of covering the RU matches that they have. When you watch the broadcast it looks very professional and slick. Of course you have the jokers like Will Greenwood or Quinell who from time to time bring their own version of banter but they don't come across as idiots like Terry O'Connor and Stevo.

For me the only saving grace of RL on sky is currently John Wells who doesn't seem completely incompetent like the rest.

Agreed. Wellsy's analysis is very good and concise.