Zak was brilliant at centre as was expected.

Agree that Bullock could make our season if his fitness and his defence has improved
For 20 minutes or so today we looked OK . I think the game to a degree also confirmed the need to keep SOL and TL on the field as long as possible.

Overall a good first half and a second half of too many youngsters on the field at the same time.

Not sure about ZH at centre but at the same time quite excited about French at FB.

Quite enjoyed the game.

I enjoyed the game too. A good contest in the first half against a pretty full-strength Leeds side with Gale already seeming to slot in quite nicely. Plenty of game time for everyone in the second half, fair enough, but plenty of positives there. Another unhappy day for Joe Burgess, all the more so when Marshall shone on the other flank. Let's hope he finds his groove.

Couldn't get there due to work commitments but I know there's a big focus on the ptb this season. Won't get away with as many clear stepovers. Better to learn these lessons in pre season

Marshall was probably our mom
Burgers needs to grab hold of Marshalls enthusiasm and work rate

We were comfortably the better side in the first half, both in attack and defence with Leeds only score coming from a lucky bounce pretty much on the half time hooter. Prior to that we had seemed comfortable in defence, Hurrell aside, and showed some invention in attack. The best being the O'Loughlin pass for Isa's try, which was absolutely sublime. Hastings also added a new element and overall there was plenty application and energy. As others have said, we seemed to lose our way a bit once the first team were on the sidelines.

Possibly the best pre season performance I've seen in quite some time. Even the kids had a dig in the second half but came up with a few too many errors. The final score definitely flattered Leeds as they had been outclassed in the first half and only came into the game once we were basically playing a reserve side. I think we finished with only 3 of the starting 17 on the field, all in the backs.

Good first hit out. I definitely feel there is more to come once Hastings has settled in more and the likes of Burgess, Manfredi, Flower and Gildart are available. We also had a kicking game courtesy of Hastings and how long is it since we've been able to say that?

I thought Liam Byrne & Joe Bullock were really good. Lots of positives for both teams.

Talking of positives for the opposition, I thought Jack Walker looked like he’s ready to kick on a level after an indifferent spell over the last 12-18 months. He burst on the scene and looked like a superstar in the making but it’s not quite happened for him but he was very good yesterday.

It’s a big couple of years coming up for England, so he’s hopefully one of a number of young players who’ll go up a level or two because we need some fresh blood.

So is anybody going to say how Budgie went

Maybe, they decided to be part of the 4,125 crowd at St Helens for the McCarthy-Scarsbrook Testimonial game against London Broncos.

I ask you, how on earth can a Testimonial game for McCarthy-Scarsbrook against London Broncos get a bigger attendance than a Testimonial game for Liam Farrell against Leeds Rhinos.

The crowds for non season ticket games at Wigan are a disgrace.

Change the bloody record

I wouldn't say they are a disgrace but they are very worrying. Me and my youngest were talking about "walk up" fans on Saturday night and how can the club improve the small number of fans who turn up for games but are not ST holders. Other than more cash only turnstiles we didn't come up many more ideas but then again that could have been the Estrella kicking in rather than lack of specific ideas.

I think that an even bigger problem for the club will be if ST sales are down year on year which wouldn't surprise me. Marketing wise the club seem very limited in their ideas but maybe it's hard to sell a product that has been on the decline for a number of years.

BY only opening 1 stand and filling it to capacity is why.

They should have opened the south stand for people to pay on the gate.

On another note I thought we looked slick and very dangerous in attack in the first half, we looked energised and fitter also. Defence has improved and we look like a team who know what they’re doing.

The only concern for me is Harry Smiths and Hankinsons defence, both looked lost and Hankinson was caught out of position numerous times yesterday.

This sums it up pretty well: https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan- ... 1-10210048

This sums it up pretty well: https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan- ... 1-10210048

It’s tough to give a honest opinion on him without it feeling like you’re getting on his back for the sake of it but he struggled IMO. His performance compared to that of Marshall was chalk and cheese. One looked desperate to be involved, to look for work and was popping up all over the place and the other just seemed to go through the pre season motions. There’s going to be a huge job on to claim a wing spot when Manfredi is back fully fit and Burgess will need to show more than yesterday to have a sniff of keeping his spot. I really hope he does come good because his talent is unquestionable.

Cheers

It really does seem a case of application with him, doesn't it? As you say, his ability is unquestionable but when you compare the effort put in by him and Marshall it really is chalk and cheese. I truly hope he realises it and doesn't let his career drift. That would be a sad waste of talent.

I do feel I fall into that category of being on his back much of the time but it’s hard isn’t it, when you’ve got other wingers like Marshall (and Davies in the past) giving the impression they ‘want’ to be involved.

Perception can be a big thing and Budgie just leaves so many of us frustrated considering his ability, perceived effort & application, all too often.

He didn't have the greatest of games, however I will cut him some slack with it being the first game of the season (but at the same time Marshall came out firing as usual).

Was at fault for the final Leeds try on the stroke of the full time hooter by fumbling a kick to the corner, if I remember correctly he fumbled one in the first half too?

There's much improvement required from him. Let's hope Manfredi stays injury free and in form, to keep Burgess on his toes to perform.

I think he is being judged on perception at times and I’m included in that. Stats may tell otherwise but he doesn’t look overly hungry for work compared to Marshall, Manfredi and before them Davies and if that’s the case you need to be a massive threat when it comes to broken field and finishing chances. He used to be just that and hopefully he can be again. It all feels a bit Jamie Ainscough watching him at times.

Newman dropped the ball with the line open early doors and Hurrell should have gone himself rather pass to Handley who was tackled into touch.
Leeds fans are not discussing that.

Not even close to the stands capacity

As was rightly pointed out in commentary when I watched the game back on Wigan TV, Leeds did mostly kick towards Marshall, in fact, they threw quite a lot at him, which partially accounts for him seeing more of the ball than Burgess, but he is always up for a carry out of defence, and often beats the first defender, several times the next one or two as well. We are just not seeing that level of display from Burgess.

Oh dear, someone's in a bad mood!