By well enough, I meant that we were there for the taking and as well as the youngsters played they didn't or couldn't maintain it for the 80mins. whether that was us improving or you going off the boil a bit, its hard to say.


My only issue with the flak we are getting for the tackling technique is that it just seems to be a wigan thing, people arent saying that this type of technique is creeping into the game in general they are saying that it is a wigan thing, if it was as consistent as some are suggesting then we would be getting penalised off the park, which we are not. I always feel the coaches are the ones worth listening to not fans who are upset at a loss. Its no coincidence that we have had the likes of potter, Kear and co bleating about our technique from teams that we have beaten convincingly but yet you don't hear the same moaning from the likes of Smith, Brown from teams that are at the sharp end. It doesnt help that players are using the likes of twitter and fb to vent their frustration. a couple of weeks ago we had Briers moaning about 3 man tackles yet the same day in their game against saints, I counted Briers come in about 7 or 8 times as 3rd man and attack the legs!!

I thought that there was a lot of good hard tackling last night but I thought that a lot of tackles from you were borderline at best, I don't doubt that some of ours where as well but my take on it is that you lot gave more penalties than us away for high shots and had players spoken to about it. Thats my opinion and I don't necessarily expect you to agree

Thanks for your input could the same not be said about me??

The game was a very scrappy one and both teams had problems with weather, injuries etc but the biggest problem for both sides was the effing reffing.

We won last night but i thought Cas had a game to be proud of and i think your lads sent a serious message out to anyone who dares to write you off or think they can take you for granted and shove big numbers past you.
It was good viewing and some good rugby... credit where its due.

And Cas were just making 5 second tackles?

Dont think Widders saw onside all game but like alot of topics and posts on this forum only seen in an anti wigan way!!
So far only Wigan have 3 men in the tackle, only Wigan have the 3rd man in attacking the legs, only Wigan do high tackles, only Wigan slow the play the ball down, only Wigan try to win penalties whilst in possession, only Wigan do forward passes, only Wigan have dummy runners that obstruct!

Jesus, some Wigan fans have rose tinted glasses on and get slated for it but there are far more anti Wigan specs in circulation!

As I said I think inexperience was our undoing - it lead to a lack of composure for a ten minute spell in the second half in which conceded a few penalties and ended up under pressure and you scored.

The tackling technique debate does seem to focus, perhaps unfairly, on Wigan and Huddersfield. A few coaches and players have spoken out against it as you say and the media have picked up on this, which ultimately means the fans will too. Matterson's post-match comments suggest he's aggrieved with the timing of the fixture and that he's happy with the effort of the team but that's it. I suspect had he been unhappy about tackling techniques he would have mentioned it. Perhaps he's of the same mentality with regards to technique. There are, of course, no problems with testing the boundaries to see what's permissable and coaches are always looking for ways of having that edge in defence and attack. Someone in the "Dangerous Tackle" thread commented that the attacking the legs seems to have all but faded and the third man is now generally going for the ankles - obviously the next debate is bound to be whether that's safe or not.

'Borderline at best' with regards to our tackling technique takes me back to what I mentioned above with regards to coaches pushing the boundaries. One thing we did very well in the first half last night was stop Wigan's offloads - to do that you have to meet the attacker high up. I think had there been a problem we'd have conceded a lot more penalties, but clearly both teams were within the rules. Perhaps the lesson on both sides here is if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

As a Wire speccy it is obvious what result I wanted - Cas were excellent and only two incorrect video ref decisions cost you at least a draw. You should be proud of your lads not many will go to the piedome and take it to them as well as that again this year.

Nail on head!! Every team does it only one gets highlighted by other fans and by bill and ben on sky!

Ferres shouldn't have got the ball anyway, it should have been a penalty to Wigan.
Only five Cas players packed down into the scrum seconds before, alas justice prevailed.