so when vid ref Thaler awarded a a penalty to Salford for ball ripping when Ashurst was over wigans line ...?

I left the game last night majorly disappointed, yet again. Before the game I was one of a few who thought we would trouble Wigan and in all fairness we should have done. I felt Harris had the tactics spot on, our kicking game started better than it has been all season, we were making yards and then when it came to having the ball in their final third we panicked, lost confidence and the unforced errors all came back. With the amount of ball we had in the first 25 minutes, we should have registered points. I cant work out what the problem is, but one thing is for certain we seem to be forcing it too often when a better option would be to either take the tackle on their line, or put a grubber in and force a repeat set. We seem incapable of building any genuine pressure and rush our attacks.

General defence I saw improvements, we were forcing them back, turning them over and working hard. However defending our line was dreadful yet again. Everytime Widnes got in our 10 they scored got over the white wash last week and Wigan did the same.

Forwards were fantastic again, let down by the backs again. Disappointing to see us picked up injuries to both our centres – where does this leave us? This season just keeps going from bad to worse.

Pretty sure the ref can only give a penalty try for foul play (e.g. high tackle, knees in the tackle) or pulling a player back/tackling a player without the ball.

Not so - From the rules of the game:

Penalty try: The Referee may award a penalty try if, in his
opinion, a try would have been scored but for the
unfair play of the defending team. A penalty try is
awarded between the goal posts irrespective of
where the offence occurred.

All that's needed is unfair play which ripping out clearly is - on reflection I think we wuz robbed!

I have only just had chance to watch the game due to working last night.

I actually thought we looked more structured in the first half and think we were a bit unlucky in places - if the game wasn't on sky our first disallowed try would have been given and maybe that would've helped us kick on and build some confidence, but it was not to be.

It is worrying that we had so much possession and came away with nothing in the first half but I think major credit has to be given to the way the Wigan team defended. You could see how much they wanted to prove everyone wrong and keep us out at all costs. I feel all the teams who play us this year are raising their game against our so-called "superstars" (the Doc hasn't helped this).

There is no chance of us being able to defend our flanks until we have some genuine pace in the backs. As soon as any quick winger or centre gets a small gap they are away and under the sticks! Hopefully the new arrivals for next season will remedy this.

As depressing as it is, I think we need to target specific games to help us stay away from a relegation fight. I can't see us getting anything from Saints next week so the Bradford game is really important. If we lose that I really fear for what could happen!

Still excited for the future of the club, we just need to keep supporting them and keep the faith. God knows I've seen much worse in the past!

Thinking back again to the game last night. - we've said numerous times this year about how much we seriously lack pace out wide and that was underlined in the last 10 minutes. Danny Williams made a break that was almost a carbon copy of the one Burgess made at the end of the game. Burgess scored with ease once he was clear, Williams was caught after about 15 or so metres. Looking forward to having a bit of pace in the side next year with the likes of Locke and BJB

With regard to the non penalty try.
We have the laws of the game,but unfortunately under Mr Cummin's reign we had interpretations of laws introduced.
He decreed that a ball steal in the act of scoring would only be a penalty,not as the law says a penalty try.
Remember ball stealing is another interpretation,anyway.
Guess what the current debacle with obstructions is another interpretation,and I am sure it will be scrapped soon,certainly after last nights nonsense.
All in all there are people at Red Hall trying to justify their jobs,and making a right pigs ear of it.

Very interesting though. How many times have we seen players held up over the line by brilliant tackles when the attacker has been attempting to get the ball down. Would the attacker be better served to just relax his grip on the ball to make it look like a steal and get the penalty try?

SEE ABOVE

Williams got a leg injury making a tackle, was limping, struggling for the last 20 minutes. He may be missing next game

Given the injury situation and the 'request' by supporters for immediate,noticeable to all,improvement a request to Leeds for the loan of BJB would be appreciated.
He wasn't in the Leeds 17 last night and with Gleeson also taking a knock on Thursday the right side is depleted.

Evalds & Owen recall for me - as over 1 month their loan arrangement apparently can be rejigged to suit us.

Chase can do things on a Rugby pitch that few others can.

The problem is he blows hot and cold and he's a lone wolf.

From what I saw on Thursday, Harris is trying to install the Wigan set plays. I don't know if Chase is the man to run those from 6 because he's too much of a maverick. He's undoubtedly more talented than Smith/Green/Powell, but they're all going to run the plays as they're drawn up.

Chase is more likely to try to do something magical off the cuff and break down the attacking structure.

It's part of the reason I wasn't too fussed when Wigan didn't go in for him.

Think we have improved a little bit defencely round the middle just edge defence needs sorting