Rubbish. Wigan-Warrington games from two or three years ago were neither boring nor "predictable". Both sides balanced the need for exciting play in the backs against sound forward pragmatism and rock solid defence.

If Rugby League has evolved beyond the need of yard-making props and defensively robust back row forwards then why isn't the NRL currently pre-occupied with fielding two teams made up exclusively of backs?

I mean, you'd think experienced watchers of SL would know only too well the folly of mobility over all else. It wasn't that long ago when Ian Millward (coming off the back of a SL title) all but declared hard yards to be an anachronistic obsession best thrown away like yesterday's trash.

To be fair, the decision appeared sound enough when Saints blew away all comers early in the campaign. But come the season mid-point, when players are picking up injuries, tiredness is an increasing factor and intermittent bouts of changeable summer weather wreak havoc with handling, Saints' form collapsed entirely. Millward's mobile forwards counted for absolutely naught when bigger sides were smashing them for a handful of yards per carry. And with no forward momentum the backs very quickly found it impossible to hit the ball running. Instead they often received the ball whilst rooted to the spot and thus were easy meat for the defensive wolves.

There's a reason teams don't win Grand Finals (in either hemisphere) with props who can't manage five carries in a game despite being on the field for the same amount of time as their opposite numbers.

And if we think the Aussies are lambs to the slaughter in the face of this new brand of "miracle rugby" a very, very painful lesson awaits.

Shocking defense on show last night. Wigans pack is so weak. I suppose the signing of Sam Tomkins will help them next season but they need some quality in their pack. if they can get this in the off season they would walk SL next season

Regard

King james

Hampshire has full back covered and Sam is joining as 10 to help the pack.

If Wire had had any brains they would have constantly targeted the Pies left edge. Bridge was walking through Sarginson as though he wasn't there.

That can't be the same incident that many Wigan fans at the time described as a deliberate forearm smash of such savagery, that it warranted the retaliation meted out by Flower? Shurely some mishtake...

Are Wigan fans still carrying on with this 'Hohaia started it' nonsense

They are, and oddly enough he wouldn't have got a ban after the game if he was without blame.

I find it amazing that lots of other fans bleating that Flower is the devil incarnate but not a thing about players like Hardaker and Minchella who are welcomed back into the Leeds team without any real punishment despite a "nasty assault" activity in somebody's home in the early hours of the morning. There's been a moment of criticism of Chase for his recent play and very little about his jaw breaking skills with a very clear unprovoked elbow against lower division Featherstone.

The mock outrage and subsequent punishment by the RFL was and still is overly exaggerated for a moment of seeing red.

Flower received death threats for Christ sake! Is this really how the fans should treat players of The Greatest Sport?

Although I agree with much of your post, Flower fully deserved a long suspension. Not for the first punch, but for punching the head of a defenceless man already prone on the ground. Had it happened in the street and caught on CCTV, he would have expected a custodial sentence.

Yep.
First punch = a bit of biff. A warning to those pesky halves to sit down and shut up ya girl. A sin bin from the ref and a commendation from the PFU.

Second punch = Total no no. It's not tough to do that. Definite red card & definite very long ban. He was lucky to get only 10 games for it. I'd have added another 3 or 4 on.


However, he's done his time. Good luck to him except when he plays Leeds.

Fantastic defence from the saints tonight