Hodgson's coming to the end of his career, so no surprises he's playing at about 80% of what he used to be .... but it's in the same way that a youngster like Currie is only 80% of the player he will become. That's how a squad develops.... the youngsters come up to speed as the experienced ones fade out, and I think Wire are doing a good job of managing that squad position right now.

Big difference between Tomkins & Hodgson is Tomkins bursts headlong into a play to take the ball, then runs & jinks about to try and find the space - Hodgson steps back, thinks about where the space is likely to develop, and manouvres himself AND the players around him to best use that impending space.

As Tomkins has found out in the last couple of years, better sides (Leeds, Wire, even Saints) can shut down a runner; thinking full backs however are a nightmare to defend .... and if he goes to the NRL he'll face 7-8 sides with that level of play. The lads got to learn how to think himself into space, or he's going to get hurt - a lot!

No.

He saved a certain Wigan try, and very nearly got the ball over for a try himself. Yes he doesn't have the pace that he had, but he makes up for it with his positional nous, running into the line, and reading of the game. I was very surprised when he was offered a two year extension, but I am happy to admit I was wrong - I think he definitely deserves another year.

He's always looked 'old' that's just Hodgson, it's the same as Westwood and Harrison looking knackered after 5 minutes yet probably being the fittest two on a field.

Can anybody provide the posession stats for the first and second half?

What a corker of a game, each team giving 110%.

Briers shoulder charge why did they ban that, understand if it contacts with the head should be a ban but not that.

Shudder to think what you and wigan will do to bradford in the next couple of weeks, boat without an engine atm.

I'd be more concerned why Wigan couldn't post more points in the second half, having the lion's share of posession for the first twenty minutes. We didn't touch the ball between the 40th and 52nd minute. It took until the 60th minute, before we completed consecutive sets of six.

It's ridiculous that the shoulder charge was banned. Dangerous tackles were banned anyway and that included dangerous shoulder charges but good clean shoulder charges are a great part of the game. Plus every time a player with the ball goes on a run into a tackle, he shoulder charges the tacklers and if he raises his arms dangerously it's a penalty, so what's the difference between attack and defence?

Stupid rule!

Wouldn't go mentioning that to the Ben's





Hodgson comments are OTT in my view. There are many still learning from him and he certainly helps organize the defence. I thought he had a very good game.
In fact most players did.

I agree with an earlier poster commenting on Woody and Hill being on top form.
They needed to be.

Wigans 'youngsters' played very very well.

The thing is, Logan Tomkins and Don Crosby played better against us last night than McIlorum and Prescott ever have.

Just like to say -what a great game and well done for winning.

(dead jealous)

I thought it was an excellent game. Wigan came into the game with a few injuries, so the pressure was effectively off for them... They had free reign to play with the shackles off. If they had got beat easy, it would have been a case of 'oh well what do you expect'.. As it turned out, they played very well and were a credit to their club.

As someone has already pointed out.. Logan Tomkins and Crosby played better than Mclorum and Prescot ever have against Warrington.

The thing that really struck me from a Warrington point of view was the contrast in the 2 front rows.

We look MUCH better with Hill, Higham, Wood as the front row compared to Morley, Monaghan, Carvell... The later being the best front row in superleague for a number of years (apart from st helens super pack obviously).

I think we are seeing why the club is seemingly shipping out quite a few of these. There must be plans a foot for a few new props before next season starts. You can make a case for us needing 3 new ones.

A few 50/50 decisions got Wigan back into the game just when they needed them.. if Myler hadn't been pulled back 16-0 could have gone onto have been many more.

Laugh of the game for me was Hansen running in and trying to put the big hit in on Morley.. 2009 'lights out, time for bed' moment still praying on his mind... he got the big hit in, unfortunately for Hansen, the result was almost the same. Poor lad got up and didn't know what day it was... 10/10 for effort though.

i've been meaning to start a paul wood thread for a few weeks now.

He's very very quietly, with no fuss transformed into a starting prop, and doesn't look out of place at all.

As you say, him and hilly, are giving some great go forward and equally good defence from the start of the game. He deserves some props (pardon the pun) for this considering his shakey pre season and shakier start to the season. He's knuckled down and just got on with working hard.