The tackling team cannot slow the ptb down deliberately. The tackling team can, in the act of tacking, position the ball carrier (turtled / pointing in the wrong direction) to the ptb is naturally slowed.

If the ball carrier wins the collision (ends up in a position where he is point in the right direction and can take to his feet quickly) then the ball is naturally played quickly.

HTH.

Showing a clear lack of understanding of the game here Martin.

The speed of the PTB is determined (as Rogues pointed out) by the players involved right from the initial collision. If a player manages to get past the gain line, to the floor quickly and on his front, it should allow for a quick PTB (as we saw from our lads on Sunday). If the defence manages to dominate the tackle & 'wrestle', putting the attacking player on their back and getting numbers into the tackle, it'll be a slow PTB, the defensive line is set, and everything is a lot harder for the attacking side.

Wigan are experts defensively at slowing the PTB down. Getting numbers into the tackle & winning the wrestle. It's not good to watch, in fact I don't really enjoy watching Wigan, but it's effective and within the rules.

You seem to be getting the play the ball speed mixed up with defenders laying on too long/not moving away from the tackle, which is controlled by the referee and should be ruled same for both sides.

Sounds sensible, the idea that it's actually in the rule book that a team can deliberately slow the ptb had me baffled!

You're baffled because you failed to understand what Rogues was saying & differentiate between; what happens between the initial collision & the tackle being complete; and what happens once the tackle is complete.

You're absolutely right. However the decision as to who has "won the collision/tackle" is a matter of judgement. Sometimes it's easy to see - other times it isn't. That can be where fans perceive a problem - sometimes rightly and sometimes wrongly.

Agree, but that's not what Wigan do, 3 men in the tackle, make it as scruffy as possible, no matter who's won the collision. Refs let you get away with it, even awarding penalties for your players trapping arms and legs in. Wigan are the worst team to watch and the dirtiest imo

I watched the game. The game earlier in the season you has thaler in your back pocket regarding the slowing down. 3 men in, 2 move away while the 3rd acts like he is trapped in the tackle

Hopefully Gareth ellis will gave a word to the official if the ptb is too slow for our liking

SQUAD:

Bowden, Ellis, Fonua, Green, Hadley, Houghton, Manu, Michaels, Minichiello, Naughton, Pryce, Shaul, Sneyd, Talanoa, Taylor, Thompson, Washbrook, Watts, Yeaman.

Manu and Michaels replace Tuimavave and Turgut from last week.

Id be tempted to go with the team from last week unless someone is carrying a knock.

At a push I might swap Manu for Washbrook.

That said it maybe worth Manu getting over his Jet lag so he and Frank are ready to tear a new one for rovers the following week?

Wigan:

John Bateman, Josh Charnley, Tony Clubb, Dom Crosby, Oliver Gildart, Anthony Gelling, Willie Isa, Dom Manfredi, Lee Mossop, Sean O'Loughlin, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Lewis Tierney, Joel Tomkins, Sam Tomkins, George Williams.

Hope Tautai plays, he's worth a few penalties alone!!

Unless someone is carrying a knock, there is no possible justification to change that side.

Apart from the Warrington away game his discipline has been ok this season. Only 11 penalties in total.

He's only played 2 games including the wire one though

I bring in Manu for Hadley.

Its tough on Hadley but is probably what will happen

Same but harsh. When Frank's back who do you drop? Not Thompson ATM. Washy can cover a few positions, so a tough one.

Their board reckons:

Sarginson
Manfredi Gelling Gildart Charnley
Williams Smith
Crosby Powell Clubb
J Tomkins Bateman Lockers

subs Mossop Tauati Isa S Tomkins

Vs

Shaul
Talanoa Yeaman Fonua Naughton
Pryce Sneyd
Watts Houghton Taylor
Ellis Mini
Manu

Subs Bowden Green Thompson Washbrook

Tough ask, probably the strongest team they have put out all season.

Ellis in the middle at loose instead of Manu, and I think that's spot on. It wouldn't surprise me to see Washy started at SR again either with Sika coming off the bench.

Indeed.

You could be right there.Washbrook had a real solid game at Saints.Worked his socks off and Tackled really well

Way you're playing it's a good job. I can still see us being very patchy with so many players just back and the return of Tomkins could see us lose a little focus.

It feels like a 50/50 game at best from our side.

Bookies dont see it like that, you can get 7/4 on hull, get a wedge on, might make up for the miserable night thats coming your way , hull by 20

. (Wishful thinking!!! Slightly)

Wigan favourites for me. Strongest team they've put out all year and we have a miserable record against them.
Will have to be at our very best to grind out a result (and I'm sure it will be a grind).

Wane again "biging" us up in The Hull Daily Mail again before the match, playing his mind games. Some would argue it worked last time. Also, I think he's taking the Mick, when he talks about the players on social media talking up our team spirit and when he says at the end "it was their best performance of the year, and they don't mind telling everyone about it." Thinks he's telling us to keep our mouths shut we've won nowt yet