Some reference was also made to this in the Club Call thread.

The wire fans I watched the game with tonight were very happy as soon as they realised it was Ganson who had their game. They pointed out what many people had already noticed from last week when they had him - that Ganson seems to be spearheading the penalising anyone who slows the game down by holding on or just being slow getting up from a tackle.
The goons the week before were were penalised by Silverwood in a similar manner; again against wire.

Are we at last seeing a change in the way ref's have been instructed/directed in the ruck/PTB area?

If this is repeated in all the play offs, especially in our (probable) two games against the pies, it will surely benefit us as wigans whole game is based on slowing the opposition down and conversely our game is largely based on quick play the balls?

Comments welcome!

If it isn't coincidence and they actually have decided to clamp down on it i can only see Leeds, Wire and Saints being in the running

I'm glad if the refs do start & clamp down on this as I (& a few other fans I talk to) have been sick & tired of refs allowing teams to lie on @ the play the ball & get away with it - chief culprit being Wigan

The anti rugby tactic is finally being stamped out

A piece of pie on wigan board discussing how following Gansons performance there should be continuity in the play offs said, and I quote:

"we don't hold down any longer than anyone else. We send 3 men into a tackle, which allows you to extend the time. It's within the rules.........."

The first bit doesn't deserve comment but the rest can't be right, can it?

Don't know about poor reffing in the play offs this year but the are some bad results and poor performances which don't look good on the game.

Is there to many teams in super league and to many poor players?

Why change the focus/rules in the play offs? Fair enough at the start of the season or if an incident occurs where an injury happens but why now?

Players peeling off one at a time takes longer therefore they gain extra seconds before the ball carrier can play the ball. Perhaps we should have a stated time for getting off i.e. the player must be able to play the ball after 5 seconds. Players who try to milk a penalty by not playing it are penalised.

So here's a thought. If there are 3 in the tackle, then they have to have 3 square at the play of the ball. This would be difficult to achieve, taking 3 players out of the play. Teams may then avoid this tactic. Or is this a change too far.

Next year Wigan will employ the 13 men in a tackle technique.

14 if you include Bentham

Yeah I thought he was awful today.

He was determined to give them a try just before HT. Does anyone know what the flip all those pens were for?

Remind me of the penalty count today, considering the referees are clamping down on holding down.

Thanks.