Wigan have lost every game O'Loughlin missed this season & performances noticeably dropped when he was on the bench. 27 appearances this year out of 35, so one of his better seasons for appearances too.

I wasn't aiming that at you at all, just in general. Who has been better at loose this year? I don't think this has necessarily been his best year, although the stats with and without him say alot, but I am struggling to come up with anyone better.

And being able to make every tackle around the neck, whilst avoiding censure himself - he's like a Jedi.

That said - he's a great player - he can do pretty much everything the game requires, to a very high level of skill - for at least part of the season.

In other news Widdop was just named the best stand off in the NRL this year by a panel made up of mainly Australian (some kiwi) ex-players, even though he played in a team that didnt make the playoffs.

Sounds like lauding to me!

And i'm sure he missed several weeks through injury so pretty good going. To be fair they were flying before he got injured and would more than likely have been well in the play offs were he fit all year.

Widdop is a very good player, but so is Gale. IF, and it's a big IF the England pack can for once compete with the big two over there then i'm quietly confident both can impress in the WC.