You could see it after five minutes of the second half, never taking the ball up, never supporting play, waiting around on the wing, no confidence when the ball did come to him. Not what Watkins usually does. My Mrs said it was like the ghost of Joe Vickery. For me it was more like the ghost of Senior in Cardiff.

Badly in need of a decent hooker and Sutcliffe should have come on for Watkins at half time. Wigan coaching team spotted the weakness and exploited it. I also fear for McGuire next year. Moon JP and Ablett played well to say we had no half backs or hooker tonight.

I thought most of the team just looked very fatigued, rather than actually injured. Watkins wasn't well enough to carry on after a tackle in the first half and JJB went off and never returned from what I recall.

What about sutcliffe to the centre.
I hope that we see ablett given the chance now to stay in the back row

What about sutcliffe to the centre.
I hope that we see ablett given the chance now to stay in the back row

What about sutcliffe to the centre.
I hope that we see ablett given the chance now to stay in the back row

There was something to be said for replacing Watkins with Sutcliffe at centre (as IMO this could be his best position) however after such a big tackling effort from us in the first half it was always likley that they would run in a few easy tries as we tired late in the game and I guess BM wanted Clarkson and Sutcliffe to come on to keep their forwards from opening us up. Watkins even on one leg has the talent to make an opening for someone else.

I do not believe had we fielded a different team our defence or attack would have been any better. Wigan were fresh and at home and we were tired from a tough extra game and from the injured returning just a bit too late to get their sharpeness back in attack.

No disgrace we were in it for most of the game and we closed down Tompkins and Charnley very well. So big well done to players and coach

our last tackle plays, lack of creativity, and fielding unfit players, Watkins should of been subbed, as said in a previous post slagging BJB performance, the bloke took more drives than half our forwards and I don't rate him but he didn't have a bad game tonight, I cant really single anybody out for having a bad game because I thought the majority of the team ran their blood to water, especially JP.

You find it very difficult to criticise this coach don't you? Really cannot comprehend how you can defend him keeping a close to incapacitated centre on the field with fresh legs on the bench, particularly when one of which could have been used as a direct replacment.
McDermott's inability to use his bench effectively has been a debilitating factor all season.

Well you would say that. Did you read my post? I suppose you think we could have won had we played the U19s.

Nah....U16s maybe

So lets ignore the fact Jjb ,Watkins ,Mcguire and Bjb all started when clearly injured?
Or lets ignore how long it was into the game before Clarkson or Sutty even got a sniff??
The lads gave their all and desreve the credit for that ,we have been spoiled over the last decade to witness such talent ,fire & predominatly homegrown talent do so well for us aided by some outstanding backroom staff and very good coaches.
Saying that AS a Champion Club should questions not be asked?
80 minutes from another GF is it really tactically/selection wise astute enough to select 4 players who CLEARLY are not even nearly fit enough for a play off semi final??

Watkins started the game with strapping on his knee, he must have injured it in training because i don't recall him hurting his knee last week.
If he withdraws from the WC squad that will be a big blow for England.

At this stage of the season many players take the field in a patched up condition. Coaches have to make difficult decisions and sometimes take risks. I very much doubt if we had started without the 4 players you mention we would have been in the game at half time. Did you ignore the fact that last week McGuire was also CLEARLY not fully fit yet put in a beautiful kick for Moon's try against the Saints, was unlucky not to score under the posts and won the game for us with the drop kick, Do you believe that McGuire should not have played last week then ?

JC-Cut out the BS and if you really need to feel free to look back over my previous posts re-injurys/selection.
Now are you seriously and in all honesty defending and agreeing with tonights selection policy and ALSO how we used the bench??
Last week means jack sh## ,today before the Team Bus left Leeds the Coach had some selection calls to make knowing full well the fitness situation amongst his available squad so are you seriously saying he was "Spot on" to gamble on not just 1 BUT 4 players within the 17 and to add to the woe use his bench the way he did?
If you agree and i mean "Honestly" then we have no more to discuss but no amount of history ,past results or quality of the players elceted can imo justify such a massive gamble in a play off semi final.
Not 1 player but 4 FFS come on Wayne Bennett wouldn't even take that punt!!