good to hear. thankyou

Just seen the highlights we scored some cracking trys & lookedto have threats all over the park.

Yep. It’s been a while since we’ve had that attacking zip to us.

Also, he’s taken some stick this week, but Walker looked good backing up and Watkins showed what we missed last year on occasions with his athleticism to just got clean through the line.

Yes me too ,Got to chalk something off my bucket list .......taking part in THE WIGAN WALK

Nice to see Watkins in the clear, I still don’t think we’ll see him back to his best for another 4-6 weeks.

Sounds like a good all round performance which is something we have not had for a while now.
Full credit to Walker who played well in attack and covered well in defence apparently.
Same team next week regardless of who might be fit to return.
Although spotted that Donaldson failed a head test so will miss the game against Saints.
Straight swap for Sutcliffe who will have to put in a shift in defence.

Sutcliffe couldn't do the Donaldson role. It would need to be JJB or Oledski (with changes to others) to do that. Sutcliffe would be replacing Smith if he gets back.

Sutcliffe could fill Donaldson role of making 20m a game quite easily.

JJB should be back next week though.

No he couldn't Marty, and you know that really. Put the agenda aside.

Donaldson's role is not the wide running back rower, it is in the middle and upping the defensive intensity, whilst taking plenty of carries to ease the burden on the rest. The meterage is a complete side issue, just the same as it is with JJB.

How would Sutcliffes constant high missed tackles fulfill the role?

Being able to start sets with 3 decent carries from Peteru, Cuthbo & Merrin made a big difference. It didn't matter too much if individually they weren't getting big metres when as a unit they were regularly coming up with 25+ to get us on the front foot. There were some good combinations between Merrin & Cuthbo as well. No coincidence that the game opened up for Parcell to get back to his best either.

Got to agree with you here - I actually don't mind sutcliffe as a player and I think he will go OK in the SR position but he and Donaldson are different type of players, Donaldson is a blood to water grafter I think JJB is the more natural replacement if fit.

Om Donaldson, I've been really impressed with him!

yes he has gone well, probably a low earner but proving a hard worker, defo an upgrade on Walters and to think we nearly signed the woeful Jordan thompson

If you watched the WCC yesterday that's exactly where Roosters one the game. Not only did they restrict the Wigan forwards hitting the line they pushed them backwards. The game was won and lost in the first 15 minutes. The fact that Wigan nearly clawed there way back just meant they hadn't read the script

All three have an offload game to be fair too. You're right it's just that direct middle approach we've lacked which lays the platform for everything else. I do like our back row options, we have skill and punch with Merrin partnering Ward, Ferres, Smith et al. Peteru has made a real difference coming in at prop for me.

We only need 1 or 2 more 1st grade quality props and we will look very decent, potentially. My view though is that we should free up cap space and wait for the right player, because we need someone who is at or very near international standard if we're going to build a side to win something again. We've been in sticking plaster mode for a while in some cases. A real quality prop would be good for competition and good for the development of a couple of exciting younger players we have in that position now.

I would prefer not to see us signing yet more players who are projects and hopefuls, and end up having to buy twice again. Our academy just provided half of the England side which beat the Aussies, and it's now about building the structure within which some of those lads can come through to first team with quality around them.

At the end of the game, he stayed on the field after the rest of the team had gone in to the sheds (after they'd come over to thank us for the support), and walked along the entire length of the stand shaking hands with the fans. I think it means a lot to him to be back playing.