Some grubby play from the Pies tonight.

Sarginson got away with a swinging arm on Wilkin and also a dubious and unnecessary shot into the ribs of Burns.

Micky Mac seemed to 'kick' Wilkin in the head with his shins which looked far from accidental. Also tipped Burns above the horizontal even though he didn't have the ball.

O'loughlin with a bad high shot but got away with just a pen.

Surprised nobody got 10 minutes as there were several bad incidents of nasty play that went relatively unpunished. Glad they lost.

Bolox

Agree with that. Wigan should have had both McIlorum & O'Loughlin sinbinned for the lift and bad high tackle.

If we're serious about head injuries then let's get serious about them. We have a fantastic punishment tool in the sin bin that is sorely under-used. Salford fans will rightly be annoyed that Griffin gets a red card for his shot at the magic Weekend yet one like O'Loughlin's tonight doesn't get a yellow.

Why is this question asked a lot these days? Why does looking after the safety of the players and eliminating dangerous play make the game 'soft'.

You need to get over yourselves.

McIlorum's dangerous lift on Burns was shocking. Really bad and could have caused serious injury. Yet was left unpunished. We have O'loughlin swinging his arm at Wilkin and then Sarginson hitting Burns whilst being held up. Admittedly this isn't an 'offence' but it's sly and cowardly and completely unnecessary.

Instead of asking 'why has the game gone soft?' Why don't we ask why the game isn't doing enough to protect players?

Sarginsons tackle in the air on Percival was a pretty bad one too, and just as dangerous ... 4 separate incidents in a single game doesnt reflect well on Wigan - and their fans wonder why they have a rep for it!

Didn't think too much of the burns tackle. Yes, it was a pretty grub move, and probably just the natural wigan progression now canonballs are clamped down on, but perfectly legal as far as Im aware

Travis Burns invariably infuriates opposition fans. I can understand this because he's a fiery competitor who's not afraid to resort to the odd bit of gamesmanship.

He's still settling in at Saints and so hasn't quite yet found his form. But one thing I've been impressed with all season - and this is something he rarely gets credit for is his sheer toughness.

I'm sure there will be the usual crop who think he deserves everything he gets - but that bloke has been belted black and blue this season. I really am struggling to think of anyone in a Saints shirt who has taken as many genuinely bad cheap shots to the face in one campaign.

It would be the easiest thing in the world for Burns to have cried off from any number of them. Against Hull KR he played on for sixty five minutes with serious facial damage and never once took a backward step.

Whether he's the player he was two years ago I don't know. But I'm sure most rational fans will agree that there are few more committed and determined players in SL. Like James Roby you'd practically need to kill him to get him off the pitch.

All teams with championship aspirations need players of his ilk. And no - Rugby League is far from "soft".

He's certainly tough but I doubt he gets any more back than he dishes out. Plus he whines like a 5 year old girl and actually isn't a very good half back

The old Roidhead is afforded more leniency than any other Superleague player, the likes of Silverwood are weak, weak people. Anyway, now the arthritis has kicked in, Mr Roidhead is becoming a liability with his overdeveloped body and shuffling movement.

Well, he's certainly not smashed anyone's eye socket in this season. As for not being a good half - he wasn't too shabby sending his side top of the league last night.

Legal tackle but with intent to hurt the player. Wasn't much need in it trying to take him out of the game but it didn't work.

I was more concerned for Wilkin who got penalised for not moving away with a potential head injury.

But it's a tough sport and they all know what it's about!

There was nothing good about it. The ball carriers was halted, the ball was wrapped up so not off load could have occurred, there were already 2 defenders in attendance, there was simply no need for The third man to attack the ribs of a prone player. It's a deliberate attempt to injure a player.

I'd say there is everything wrong with it.

The tackle in the air was a real bad one, that deserved a sin bin at the very least,that was cynical and really could have caused a major injury had he fell awkwardly, this is different from grabbing or tackling someone in the air.

I would say he receives more head tackles than any other half back in super league, it appears his reputation is being accounted for and hence does not get protection from officials when those debatable tackles go in.

There were more than 4. Joel Tomkins sticking the knee in to a Saints player's head (can't remember who it was now) was also pretty grubby.

Upshot is that it would be a disaster for RL in this country if ever Wane got anywhere near the international coach's job.

A tackle is where you get hold off an opponent with the ball to stop his movement. Burns was already halted and ref should have called held. Responsibility lies with Sarginson to realise progress had been halted. His action should have been deemed 'dangerous play' and penalised.

Swear you lot were loving it when Graham did it to Bailey.

Why did he have to leave the nrl?

He's not a bad player but he isn't top quality nor is he consistently good. Great competitor though

I would say he doesn't but I'm not a saints fan

That was the one i was most worried about too.
I don't mind Sarginson but that was quite silly and dangerous.

Nothing more than you'd expect from Wigan what happened yesterday but not saying that Saints are angels, nor are any other team.

RL does exceptionally well in protecting it's players so it's not gone soft, it's just become safer in my opinion.

It was a grubby tackle by Sarginson, if he'd attacked the legs it would have classed as a cannonball tackle.

As for Wilkin getting penalised for not moving out of the ruck, after getting a boot in the face was utterly ridiculous. Yet on the penultimate tackle of the game, Bowen (I think it was) was held down for an age, yet the ref just let it go, shouting “locked in” presumably as the time was nearly up.

I think Wigan's obsession with aggression is detrimental to there chances of success. It seems to be be toughest first, skill second.

Didn't work last night. It seemed to fire Wilkin up. They may get away with it against the 'lesser' teams but the big guns can match it as we saw last night.

He,s been on the receiving end of some bad high tackles every match this season, he does a few of his own and has copped one ban I think. Myler cops a few head highs, when he plays that is.

All I read is that a "copybook " tackle is being hammered by some, yet others far worse don't seem to be in people's radar.

What a strange game this is becoming.

O'loughlin should have walked. Not because it was necessarily bad, but griffin walked for exactly the same.

Mcillorum should be put on report for kicking wilkin. However nothing would come of it as it would be hard to prove intent. Can't find him guilty just because he's a scumbag, only he knows!

Sarginson didn't break any rules. He hasn't done himself any favours mind.

One thing not mentioned was wilkin on Tomkins for his try. Late and near the head.

My opinion is that o'loughlin, Mcillorum, wilkin and burns are all nob heads and give plenty out so should crack on when they get a bit back.

As a saints fan I thought it was a fair shot. Until I got home and watched it.

The tackle to the ribs is fair. Balling the fist is over kill.
Missing With the fist to the stomach and hitting between the legs is a low blow for me.