4th official was Thierry Alibert. Says it all!!

I'd say winning a trophy in AP's 2nd year would be better evidence of progress to being taken seriously than finishing, say, 7th. Winning the CC whilst finishing 9th was a springboard for Warrington.

Given our lack of attacking threat, as it stands we'll be missing 4 of our 1st choice 1-7. Lineham's importance is therefore greater than if the others weren't out too, in my view. Charnley and Richards are pretty handy wingers. Don't fancy Crookes against either.

Hence the reason i suggested in a previous post, stick Whiting there.

Yes many will disagree but Whiting has it all for a winger except the speed. But he's quality in the air under pressure and is a decent tackler also. Plus as today showed, great at interceptions.
Yes we will lose a versatile player off the subs bench, but it will give us the extra opportunity for another forward.

As you said, Crookes against either Richards or Charnley is a no go. Whiting against them more promising.

Quote ="Easty"You'll find it's a journalist who's mentioned it 1st. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyl ... eport.html Can't see Hull been docked points but I'm sure you'll be fined simply because the player who replaced Lineham should never have been on the pitch to make the tackle.'" Fair enough, just that someone on your board mentioned it had come from the club.

Quote ="Easty"You'll find it's a journalist who's mentioned it 1st. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyl ... eport.html Can't see Hull been docked points but I'm sure you'll be fined simply because the player who replaced Lineham should never have been on the pitch to make the tackle.'" Fair enough, just that someone on your board mentioned it had come from the club.

I think the main area we seem to be disagreeing is in Lineham possibly being the difference between winning and losing.

Whilst I know he's a cracking player and we do have attacking problems, it's worth noting that last week we got it right and scored 12 without him getting on the scoresheet. If we can win, we can win without him, just as we can lose with him, too. I just think that talk of preferring to lose games than have a player (and not even in a pivotal position without backup) get injured is silly.

Quote ="Easty"You'll find it's a journalist who's mentioned it 1st. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyl ... eport.html Can't see Hull been docked points but I'm sure you'll be fined simply because the player who replaced Lineham should never have been on the pitch to make the tackle.'" You're "sure" or you "think"?

Quote ="Easty"You'll find it's a journalist who's mentioned it 1st. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyl ... eport.html Can't see Hull been docked points but I'm sure you'll be fined simply because the player who replaced Lineham should never have been on the pitch to make the tackle.'" You're "sure" or you "think"?

It's our biggest game for 5 years and IMO he's a talismanic figure this season, our gamebreaker. Wing is Wigan's strongest position IMO. Apart from Holdworth, Houghton and Ellis, he's arguably our most important player to lose. I see your points and they are valid, but to me a Lineham-less Hull is a big deal for the final. We'd fancy our chances more if Charnley were out and replaced by a utility player for sure.

As you were



@KCCLARKY: For those asking about Lineham interchange. 4th official allowed Pitts on and signalled for Tom to leave on the far side #noproblemsthere

Rovers fans can put them straws down now.

It would be a plus for us, but it wouldn't have me writing them off. I'm just not convinced Lineham is as big a loss as you think it is. As unpopular as he now is, Briscoe would have been a bigger blow on the past month's form. Obviously I'd prefer Lineham to play, but the 2 points today were big IMO (both in terms of the table and going into the final with momentum), so I wouldn't trade them for his injury.

At the moment its all conjecture anyway. We won't know the extent of his injury until he's had a scan. Even then there's almost 2 weeks to the final so possibly still time for him to be available.

There... corrected it for ya ...

Fortune vomits on Easty's eiderdown once more.

Gutted is he misses out and it takes out some genuine strike we have. With Horne, Crooks and Galea also missing it's another blow.

You're even funnier than Travis Burns.

He can only count in multiples of 7

I'd check someone hasnt put something in your pies

Ah well if Clarky says it's alright..............

Wasn't Salford main defence on the appeal heard by the RFL that the 4th official gave the thumbs up. Did them loads of good din't it.

Non story no comparison to Salford who had 14 players defending a Cas attack with the game in the balance. Lineham was being helped off the pitch no where near the action IIRC.

Slap on the wrist or small fine probably coming our way. Points deduction would be a TRAVesty



That said our coaching staff ahould get a bo!!ocking for lettings Pitts take the field before Lineham was off the pitch, as Easty says thumbs up from the 4th official is no defence in the eyes of the RFL. Wonder if Terry Halibut will get a reprimand?

RFL reprimand a match official?

Forgot the smiley

Think you'll find with Salford that was just a normal interchange, Lineham was being helped off the pitch due to injury. the other difference was the both the Salford players were actually involved in play..

Should we also look at when Eden was being helped off the pitch the fact you had his replacement already on the pitch both while you where attacking and defending as it took him that long to actually get off the pitch..

Er Eden was helped off the pitch after you scored and before the game was restarted.

Based on this shouldnt we have given Whiting the number 2 shirt at the beginning of the season then?? Gentle correctly tries to players in there correct position (the home game against KR and away at London been examples of where we didnt and got stung)