Saw some positives with the enthusiasm but we were just overpowered and not helped by losing Sao so early. We are going to need to use our spare cap space and possibly a transfer fee to boost the pack. And ticket deals need to be banned, lost count of how many times we've disappointed newbies in the stands.

[quote="UllFC":wbamqrz2]Saw some positives with the enthusiasm but we were just overpowered and not helped by losing Sao so early. We are going to need to use our spare cap space and possibly a transfer fee to boost the pack. And ticket deals need to be banned, lost count of how many times we've disappointed newbies in the stands.[/quote:wbamqrz2] It's a shame it was Wigan really, I think we could have had a really good atmosphere if it had been say Cas. Blame the fixture planners!

I think there was always a chance of a score like this given the players missing and Wigan looking very strong. Most teams would have struggled against them tonight. Their defence is just so strong. In their last six SL / PO games they've conceded 0-0-0-2-1-4 which is crazy. There are some signs there, Barron and Martin are such talents and agreed on Salabio, could be an astute addition to the squad. Sezer looks to be a good signing. At the very least Andrew Thirkill will be clear about the task in hand in improving the squad.

A disappointing evening. There were a few decent spells, but we gave away far too many metres in the first half, we couldn't get anywhere near them. Different challenge next week, but not sure who will be back? Bourouh I presume will come in for Hutchinson and Ashworth hopefully in for Sao. I think I'd bring Moy in and move Chamberlain to SR with Rapana at centre. Fair play to Fash for sticking his hand up to play there, but it didn't work.

Well, we've still got plenty of work to do to reach their level. Losing Ligi on a stretcher was by far the worst part for me. Not too bothered about the scoreline, I know where the two clubs are right now. That one was a write-off on to the next.

[quote="Chris71":2rabotnq]Disappointing scoreline and again with a big crowd. Wigan are experts at slowing teams down and they did that pretty much all game other than that bright 10mins were we managed to get and play some quicker ball. Also thought defensively Wigan were on the move as we were bending down to ptb where as we were waiting until it was played so they rolled us down the field and we just couldn’t get going. Plenty of positives, we looked much more disciplined,looked better in the wrestle, certainly look fitter and you could see that we do have some structure to our play & Salabio looks like he may well be a pretty good pick up. Thought Barron and Martin again stood up well. Think there definitely signs that there’s more to come but as has been mentioned we have little to no depth once we lose 3 or 4 players. Ligi is a big concern as didn’t look good, also noticed that Asiata went off in the 2nd half and don’t think I saw him on the field or touch line at the end of the game. Definitely need some reinforcements / additions asap. Ultimately Wigan are a class apart and were very clinical tonight and found the holes in our rejigged lines very well and punished us. Happy to be 1 from 2 at this stage, long road ahead as we are very much a work in progress.[/quote:2rabotnq] Asiata took his bib off and was at the back of the team at the after match walk around, didn’t seem to be injured.

Was going to be tough even if we had a full team out. Squad is very thin and now with a few injuries it’s showing but who realistically could we sign..

Not bothered about the result, ae soon as I saw the two teams I knew it would be a hammering, was hoping Wigan would be a bit off, but they were fantastic. Hard not to be downbeat about the injury situation that's 7 players put or released that you could argue would be on the 17. Need to get a couple of players in, no idea who and we're from though. Not even sure if Sao is out for the season and we register him what position I would look at sign, could be centre, halfback, prop or backrow. I suppose I'd go for the player rather than the position. I'd be looking at Pryce, Livett and a quota player.

I'm fine with that tbh. It's just a reflection of where both teams are at the minute. They are a top quality team with class in every position. We are a team at the start of a long transition. We might have done a little better with our best players on the field, but in the end we tried hard and were outclassed by a much better team. As others have said I thought Salabio showed glimpses of being an astute signing, he certainly put himself about and I think he can make an impact., Sezer played well again, the wingers continue to impress, and I thought Briscoe did a lot of good things. I am very much warming to him at centre. I think Cartwright got the selection wrong though. Fash and Chamberlain on that right hand was a always a recipe for disaster and the two of them were chasing shadows all night. Not to mention we got them some really good ball at times and they just didn't have the quality to do anything with it. It had to be Rapana at centre and Chamberlain at centre, with Moy at FB. Fash on the bench for Gardiner. With all the will in the world I just don't think Gardiner will ever be good enough.

Look like we can add Asiata to it too That's 8

[quote="Mr. Zucchini Head":1j3fqbmf]I'm fine with that tbh. It's just a reflection of where both teams are at the minute. They are a top quality team with class in every position. We are a team at the start of a long transition. We might have done a little better with our best players on the field, but in the end we tried hard and were outclassed by a much better team. As others have said I thought Salabio showed glimpses of being an astute signing, Sezer played well again, the wingers continue to impress, and I thought Briscoe did a lot of good things. I am very much warming to him at centre. He certainly put himself about and I think he can make an impact. I think Cartwright got the selection wrong though. Fash and Chamberlain on that right hand was a always a recipe for disaster and the two of them were chasing shadows all night. Not to mention we got them some really good ball at times and they just didn't have the quality to do anything with it. It had to be Rapana at centre and Chamberlain at centre, with Moy at FB. Fash on the bench for Gardiner. With all the will in the world I just don't think Gardiner will ever be good enough.[/quote:1j3fqbmf] Agree think we have to go with Moy FB, Rapana centre next week

Wigan were excellent, particularly for a Round 2 game. Rock solid, very powerful in the forwards and Jai Field looks twice the player he was this time last year. I have a suspicion he's trying to put himself in the NRL shop window but we'll see. Hull tried hard and there were no overly soft tries conceded unlike last year. The short drop out was a bit daft. No getting around it though - unless the luck with injuries improves it will likely be another tough season. A real shame there are so many so early - not just with Hull but across SL. Ese-Ese, Sezer and Rapana looked decent and good to see Barron give Jai Field a run for his money.

Rapana is our full back. So no need to move him. Moy will just have to wait patiently. Shouldn't be to long a wait with our injuries luck. Our strongest three quarter line right now looks like the one that started last week at Catalans. With Chamberlain, Westerman and eventually Litten as back up. It'd be crazy to move your best full back to play at centre.

I like Cartwrights straight to the point interview style ""We played against a really classy team who played some really classy football. "We had to be at our best physically and tactically and unfortunately we were nowhere near the mark. "I felt we were hanging on all game. I thought some of our kicks at the end of sets were pretty poor. Look, they are a very strong team who will be there at the end of the year come Grand Final time. "They have class right across paddock. It was a bit of that and a bit of we weren't where we needed to be."

I was surprised with barrons pace. Any other full back in the league and he'd have scored. It also looked like field made contact with his head when he tackled him but that was watching from the east stand

Don't see the problem with short drop-out. What do we do, weere 18 points down and need the ball. In truth it was a bang on the money kick from Rapana, manage to knock it back but aren't alert enough to regain it second-ball. What's the alternativ, punt it downfield with the likelihood of them scoring with a full set anyway? Think we'll be big underdogs away at Giants but these are the games we need to compete in otherwise it's gonna be 2024 deja-vu.

I always feared that apart from Herman, there just isn’t enough size to win the forward battles up front.

Not much more to add to what everyone else has said tonight. Score was a little disappointing, but it was men versus boys out there. We don't have the firepower to be able to compete with a high-quality side firing on all cylinders as Wigan were tonight. They would have been way too quick, slick and clinical for virtually every other SL side tonight let alone against a club struggling to put itself back together out of the rubble of recent years. We stuck at it, everyone kept working right to the end and they didn't let their heads drop or start feeling sorry for themselves which is a big improvement on recent years. We ran headlong into the best team, by some margin as well, in the competition. We all said before the game this wouldn't define where we are or how the season may pan out, and that view still stands. Dust ourselves down, pick ourselves up and go again next Friday against Huddersfield. But we really could do with some good news on the injury front. Our thin squad is already, two games in, starting to look threadbare. Think we have no choice but to tough it out over the next few weeks unless we can bring in some decent reinforcements, but who exactly is the pertinent question.

[quote="Jake the Peg":1mqp1xyj]I was surprised with barrons pace. Any other full back in the league and he'd have scored. It also looked like field made contact with his head when he tackled him but that was watching from the east stand[/quote:1mqp1xyj] Looked like Field had done his hamstring trying to keep up with him but he recovered OK.

[quote="Jake the Peg":1x4aomfo]I was surprised with barrons pace. Any other full back in the league and he'd have scored. It also looked like field made contact with his head when he tackled him but that was watching from the east stand[/quote:1x4aomfo] Definitely contact with head, Field went high but completely missed by the officials... wouldn't have changed the outcome, but very frustrating some players seem to get things overlooked. Probably pick a 1 point at disciplinary on Monday.

Makes you realise that was some performance from Leigh in the opening round.

[quote="giddyupoldfella":3v8uyvx8]Rapana is our full back. So no need to move him. Moy will just have to wait patiently. Shouldn't be to long a wait with our injuries luck. Our strongest three quarter line right now looks like the one that started last week at Catalans. With Chamberlain, Westerman and eventually Litten as back up. It'd be crazy to move your best full back to play at centre.[/quote:3v8uyvx8] we dont have any choice now but to play Moy and move Rapana to centre unless another centre is brought in next week Hardaker is out for several weeks I dont think Westerman would have done any worse than Chamberlain tonight but i understand the coaches reluctance to play him and Moy tonight.against such quality opposition. Have to find another second row rapidly.Chamberlain offers nothing but a body either in the centre or second row

[quote="WIZEB":26gx8v46]Makes you realise that was some performance from Leigh in the opening round.[/quote:26gx8v46] Yes and who's coming next to the MKM...

You talk about how good Leigh were to beat Wigan , then how bad were Dragons to lose to us ? A sobering reality and the dangers of recruiting players over 30 comes to mind. We won’t be at our best until the end of the season - Carty has a big job on his hands but he will sort it

[quote:2pq0xck4]You talk about how good Leigh were to beat Wigan , then how bad were Dragons to lose to us ?[quote:2pq0xck4][/quote:2pq0xck4] Just for context, Catalans weren't good enough to make the play-offs last season, whilst Wigan ended up World Club Champions. [quote:2pq0xck4]A sobering reality and the dangers of recruiting players over 30 comes to mind. [/quote:2pq0xck4] Mainwaring to Pike, 'You stupid boy.' [quote:2pq0xck4]We won’t be at our best until the end of the season - Carty has a big job on his hands but he will sort it[/quote:2pq0xck4][/quote:2pq0xck4] A little trepidatious, but I'm waiting with nervous anticipation for the, [i:2pq0xck4]9 game barometer.[/i:2pq0xck4]