Showed his class again, Tony Smith (as you guys know only too well) is a class above, he is gracious in defeat and victory and again after tonights game was his usual self....then there's Wane, totally classless

I'd heard the same, and it didn't surprise me.

Could not agree more I thought he shown how much defeat hurt him and how proud he was of players - losing Bridge so early cost them the game. Amazing how many teams seem to get players seriously injured in games against Wigan.

Compare Smith's view to Wane's who basically wanted to blame the ref for Wigan not winning by more!! Bentham had an excellent game and should get the GF on that performance.

Given that only Farrell, McIlorum, OLoughlin, and Tomkins from last night featured in Maguire's teams, the inhertited tag has been overcome.

He can talk the talk however when it comes to the big games especially against wigan he can't walk the walk.

How depressing that none of the other teams know how to better the ape, see you at Old Trafford....oh but wait!!

We tried it but Leeds ,St Helens & Warrington look liked they had already been hit.

Quote: Wire Yed "Showed his class again, Tony Smith (as you guys know only too well) is a class above, he is gracious in defeat and victory and again after tonights game was his usual self....then there's Wane, totally classless'" www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-lea ... th-3099986 Remember these episodes?

Quote: Wire Yed "Showed his class again, Tony Smith (as you guys know only too well) is a class above, he is gracious in defeat and victory and again after tonights game was his usual self....then there's Wane, totally classless'" www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-lea ... th-3099986 Remember these episodes?

Excellent defence against being classless by the token Wiganer there

The irony is lost on this particular goon .

For the most part, I quite like the way Wigan approach the game. There is too much stuff that goes on after collision that I'm not keen on. But they have a ruthlessly simple and effective gameplan: it starts with the raw aggression of the forwards. Player for player they're not the most gifted pack (I'd take Flower and McIlorum off their hands and I'm a big fan of O'Loughlin, but the rest are pretty ordinary as individuals, IMO) but as a unit they hit everything that moves. That lays a platform for 2 decent halves who know the plan and play more as link players than glory seekers. They then have the job of getting some very dangerous outside backs on the outside shoulder of a defender and when they get a break they back up in numbers.

Wane is not the most likeable character, but he has a system and he gets his squad to buy into it. Surely that's what good coaching is?

The key with Wane I think is that it's 'his' club and one he was at well in advance of becoming head coach. Had he for example come to Leeds at the start of 2011 I'm not sure his style would've worked here, especially given the age and success our players were at in their careers.

Also the same with calls for him to get the England job, potentially he could do ok, but not having the players week in week out to drive in that agressive, let's do them mentality that he does at Wigan might mean he's not as effective in the area he specialises in when he only has several weeks with his team.

I don't think they surprise many people. I just think that when they're executed properly, they're difficult tactics to overcome.

You have to win the collisions and win the ruck. Knowing that is all very well. Doing it when they start at the pace and intensity they did against Wire is something else.

Agree on the rest. Even the hard men of my early days watching Leeds (Skerrett, Sorensen et al) or Barry Mac and Terry O'Connor would have eaten today's Wigan pack for breakfast. Widnes' pack of the early 90s, no contest. Even our 1999 pack (meanest of the SL era?). As you say though, it's a lost art in this hemisphere. Wigan have rediscovered it and rule the roost with it.