Without any doubt, was a fantastic game, our defense was the difference, against another side Saints would have won easily.

Our defence was outstanding (again) and that was the difference between two great sides.

Just sorry it can't be us both having a great day out at Wembley.

Well done to our lads, and well played Saints.

I haven't read all the pages, but this is my take.
Our high completion rate in such a high pressure game was impressive. So was our ability to force repeat sets.
The reason we couldn't score was partly due to facing a good defense, but it was also that we seem to be creeping down the road of always taking the same option in attack, which is a problem compounded by the fact that option means the ball is dying in Wello's hands. I'm not saying we'd have had a hat full, but I reckon we may have maganed 1 or 2 extra tries if Eastmond was attacking in that position.

The other thing is that we seem to play a bit better when the pressure's off. LMS had a good game all round, but once we were 18 points down, twice he banged the ball up with extra venom and put a guy on their . Soliola did the same. We then went on to score two good free flowing tries.

Wigan are a better team. Not 17 better players. They have a better defence and when they move the ball wide in attack, they have a variety of options to take which they utilise so that each runner is a valid option.

Our season had a mixed start. Royce had a number of problems including family issues and Eastmondgate. I'd sugest we're 6 weeks behind where Royce would realistically like us to be and that if things had been a little different we could be looking at a team performing 5% better and maybe sneaking a win in situaions like Saturday.
Defence remains a bit of a question mark, but I think Silverware is a perfectly feasible possibilty under Simmons.

Well he certainly put in a great defensive effort that I can't fault. But offensivly with ball in hand I personally thought he was non exisistant. No little half-breaks or tackles bust. It's no wonder Saints struggled to score points when one of their supposed greatest attacking weapons did bugger all when taking on the Wigan line. Sorry I fogot he put in two grubber kicks to force repeat sets, get that man a medal! I know Wilkins a good player. I did afterall agree with you that I think he's having a better season overall than Lockers.

Slightly OT: But as I mentioned on the Wigan forum in regards to Sam Tomkins. So many so called "great" players do go missing in one way or another in big games. It's ok showing all the flair in the world whilst putting fifty past the likes of Wakey. But it's those truly great players who are able to replicate that kind of performance even in the toughest games regardless of the opposition. It's that kind of mentality, that type of quality that really sets apart the so called "great" players from the truly great ones IMO. You lacked on Saturday the game breaking ability that a Long or Sculthorpe once provided you with. Scully never shirked when the going got tough, if anything he rose to the occasion. That's what your lacking IMO.

if he had a inspiring 4 nations campaign, i wonder if the boos would still ring out?

McBanana needs to use him the same way we do then.

Yes thats the difference, nothing to do with not being behind a dominantt pack, or being against players far below the level of the Aussies.

You think Tomkins would have been able to reach out over the line with 3 Aussies tackling him....

Its the eqivalent of a player ripping up the championship and then blaming the coach when he does nothing in the SL.

Yes, I would back Sam to score exactly the same try again with 3 Aussies tackling him - Just because Richie Myler cant, doesnt mean Sam cant.

Sam didn't look exactly outstanding in the Exiles game. He looked ok, but not the stuff of which Billy Slaters are made. I'm sure we will get to see if he really can perform when he has to do so under a different regime with different team mates and facing a whole new level of opposition. I think that will be the test of whether Sam Tomkins really is an excellent player.

Just confirming how clueless you are.

You appear to have been banned off the Wigan board and are now coming onto our board to pick arguments with Wigan fans.

It's quite annoying to be honest, I'm not sure I've seen one constructive post off you.

No doubt about it, Sam Tomkins is the best English player we've got at the moment. Everytime he's got the ball the is danger.

England need to use him in the way Wigan do. I honestly think he will trouble the convicts and kiwis as it's impossible to pin him down from fullback as he drifts in and out the game.

Sorry, I'm "siding" with Ron against Mr Side.
Tomkins would never have scored that try against the aussies.