You cant blame Wigan for bending the rules to the max. Its Cynical but its merely a way of reducing the oppositions effectiveness, in the past clubs would merely send a hit man out to remove a star player from the pitch.
Wigan actually tried that against Saints and got away with it with the shot on Graham.

Its upto other teams and players to play catch up with them.

Whats happening is that they are merely getting lots of bodies in at the tackle. The refs then give each player a set amount of time to peal away.

Their tactics are less cynical than Leeds, who introduced us to Chicken wing tactics, with the aim of injuring an opponent.

This thread is ridiculous (with due apologies to the sensible posters!). The ONLY difference between Saints and Wigan's ptb yesterday was that Wigan were able to control the ptb better than Saints. By that, I mean were able to increase the average time at the ptb, not lie on for longer. Saints attempted to slow it down just as much but were unable to do it consistantly. The same thing happened against Leeds last week (as it did for them against Melbourne in the wcc). Paul Cullen showed quite clearly in Boots n All that Leeds had the same tactics. They even put in one 9 second ptb!! The difference is in the level of consistancy. Potter should stop whining and sort it out. The rules are there to be used to your best advantage. There is no requirement for a team to give the opposition an advantage as long as they stay within the rules. If Potter is unable to do prepare his team well enough to play to their maximum advantage he should get out and let someone who can do the job!

Anyone saying Wigan (or Saints) weren't penalised when they got it wrong are just deluded. Look at the penalty count for God's sake! It's no use fans moaning and expecting penalties when the defending team get it right!

Can I just point something out here please (in relation to ALL of the highlighted bits above).
Team P W D L F A Pts
Wigan 9 8 0 1 296 114 16
Warrington 9 7 0 2 281 114 14
Huddersfield 9 6 0 3 234 108 12
St Helens 9 6 0 3 237 166 12
Hull 9 6 0 3 212 157 12
Wakefield 9 6 0 3 192 184 12
Bradford 9 4 1 4 141 187 9
Hull K R 9 4 0 5 147 193 8
Leeds 9 3 1 5 200 159 7
Castleford 9 3 0 6 174 232 6
Crusaders RL 8 3 0 5 138 215 6
Salford 9 2 0 7 111 229 4
Catalans Dragons 9 2 0 7 104 248 4
Harlequins RL 8 1 0 7 86 247 2'"

Get a grip, you wont be missed.

Our tactics were spot on. 13 on 13 we didn't concede a point, great effort!

It's pretty obvious that Wigan are using hudds slowing tactics at the play the ball, good on them, if the refs let them get away with it then so what.

They are getting away with it, so good on them, it's working as they are top of the league and defence has been awesome.

Saints are now doing the same holding down at the play the ball which needs sorting as it's spoiling the game in terms of attack.

It's not wigan who should be getting bagged, it's the refs for letting it go on.

Wigans defence has been outstanding this season although the way we have allowed teams to score try's late in the game and the second half performance at Bradford shows that there is room for improvement.

However our attack is also much improved over last season - players like Amos Roberts and Pat Richards have really benefited from some fine attacking moves.

Ironic that you should mention four players who were masters at unlocking a set and organised defence yet at the same time you are moaning about the slowing down of the play the ball. Wigan are playing within the rules and doing it very well. It's up to other teams to find a way of unlocking what has for the most part this season been a very competent defence. Unfortunately (for you) 5 scoots from dummy half or 5 quick flat pass forward drives and 60 easy metres isn't the way to do it because Wigan are organised and dominant enough not to let it happen.

As a previous poster said, it's usually a good sign when people are discussing your style of play as it must mean you are doing something right. As for spoiling the game, some of Wigan's attacking play this season has been a pleasure to watch. I'm the first to admit we still have room for improvement but harping on constantly about how we are ruining the game when we have outscored everyone this season smacks of sour grapes.

Mmm. They did brilliantly yesterday. Two tries for the whole of the match. Had you not been gifted penalty kicks by our kindly players, we would have nilled you in the second half. That's an astounding attack!

Oh, and had we not been so stupid with ball in hand, we would have scored when Meli went over the line (forward pass) and when Puletua did (no ball at all since he didn't catch it). That's twice more than you that we actually got over your line but we botched both attempts. And you had 13 men on the pitch on both occasions. That's how astounding your defence was (ie, no better than ours).

You should be thanking Saints that they couldn't get a decent bit of composure together for the whole match!

Iv read some bitter posts in my time, but that one takes some beating, well done. Read it in the papers, 18-10.

I haven't been watching RL long enough to care.

Remember the old saying, if your aunty had balls she'd be your uncle.
Ifs could haves and maybe's count for nothing.

Oh, totally. This is all just post-match discussion and what have you. Until the next match comes along with its attendant post-match discussion and what have you.

But I'd like to know whether Thaler has been told off for not sin binning your fullback for his professional foul against Wilkin.