Huddersfield had what, about 9 or 10 out? Some of them long term absentees whereas Wigan only have Tomkins S out.

Joel Tomkins & George Williams also.

I remember reading somewhere it was 5 or 6. Might be wrong though I think there are a couple of forwards too. Those missing are irrelevant and only an excuse if they want it to be. It's about how they cope with it that matters and I thought Huddersfield did well and overall deserved to win a close game. They didn't, credit where it's due to Wigan for digging out a win with a poor performance.

Huddersfields naivety when they got to 13-12 was their undoing. I think Bentham did get the knock on call wrong near the end that gave Wigan another set but it's one of those that I can't blame him for getting wrong.

The silly kick from Ellis? when Huddersfield were on Wigan's line that gave Wigan a quick 20m tap was the real problem. If they'd just seen the set out there I reckon they'd have won.

Yep. When it got so near the final whistle with Huddersfield holding a slender lead, my mind went back to last year's Grand Final and the magnificent game management from Leeds. Huddersfield failed to control those final few minutes and paid the price,

It wasn't the best game I've ever seen, but when I saw the Huddersfield 17 pre match I thought Wigan would stroll it, so Hudds deserve alot of credit, they showed alot of grit to stay in the game and they should have won it.

If I have one criticism (and this applies to Wigan too to some extent), they were overreliant on the kick play. Kicking early when you are deep in your half is fine, but both teams kicked early on attacking sets when there really wasnt anything on. It often felt like the attacks were going through the motions until it was time to kick. You have to credit the defences for that I suppose but you still need to keep the ball in hand and ask some more questions.

On the subject of decisions, I wasn't sure about the one (can't remember the players involved now but think it was maybe Ellis) that was ruled knock on when the Hudds player tried to ground the little kick through. He clearly didnt ground it, but he got his hand on the ball and his hand was kicked off the ball by a Wigan player. The Wigan man is within his rights to try to kick it dead, but the fact Ellis won the race I would have been tempted to award a penalty. A knock on seemed really harsh in those circumstances.

IF the ball was deemed to have been kicked out of his hands and IF that had resulted in a penalty, is there an argument for a penalty try and/or sin bin?
Not saying it was (hence the capital ifs), just pondering the letter of the law.

Sam Tomkins
Joel Tomkins
George Williams
Dom Crosby
Lee Mossop

Not the worst injury list but still 3 England internationals, an England squad member (and current young player of the year) and a solid SL prop.

Both teams can take a lot from the game. Huddersfield showed the type of grit that always seems to allude them come the end of the season. If they can stay in games like that in September, with the added talent of the currently injured players, then they might do something this year.

For Wigan, firstly it is an away win. Therefore I believe they are up to 25% of their total of away wins from last season! Secondly, it might not have been impressive, but they rode it out. That it what great teams sometimes have to do.

All in all, I think Wigan were poor, the ref made bad calls both ways and was in no way a reliable caller of the game, and Huddersfield did a lot of things that they can be proud of. And yes, they should feel unlucky, but not because of the Ref, but because they could have won the game!

Yes. If you deem that the Wigan player committed a foul there then it has to be a penalty try.

Though like you say I don't think anyone could really make a case that the Wigan player should be penalised for that as it was a loose ball.

I was a bit suprised they didn't look more at what the restart should've been though, I'd probably say it should've been a drop out.

I don't think it should have been a penalty or a penalty try as it was just 2 players making a play for the ball. I think no try was the correct decision bearing in mind the on field decision but it was very close. It was the restart they got wrong. It should have been a drop out.

regarding Connor's no try, i thought at the ground it looked a try, but as the screen at our place is anged away from the kilner bank it's hard to see it properly.
however, seeing it back on the replay, i would be disappointed if that had been given against us.

That's what I thought too. Huddersfield player gets hands on the ball, it's then dislodged by a Wigan players foot. If that had been the Wigan players hand doing that rather than his foot I'm pretty sure they'd have given a drop out.

I didn't think the boot made contact with the ball, I felt he missed it completely and kicked the Huddersfield players hand away/off the ball. IMO Huddersfield penalty minimum.

I just don't see how you can penalise a player for attempting to kick a loose ball. It's not like it was well after the Huddersfield player got the ball.
It's the same as a tackle after the ball has been passed in my view. If it's in decent time then it's ok.

absolutely correct. Common sense really but video and endless replays can make anything look bad