That was the key decision for me,would have made a 16 point lead, ball back.

Went into touch second tackle, Wigan went up the pitch and eventually scored

Injuries played a part,Monaghan going off the killer as most teams dont/cant accomodate losing a winger and hed kept Richards quiet first half

Not here to crow, just to offer an observation from my son who said just before half time. "Dad, Warrington look knackered".

I think he was right and it was a key part of why we won. We were the fitter/fresher team.

Said exactly same thing to my mate that we looked ed just after half time + that is worrying when there's another 40 mins to play.Maybe that had something to do with the 1st half effort but from what I saw the Wigan team looked a lot fitter + faster.

Think you've got to look beyond injuries. Just before half time in 2010, Wigan were winning 16-6 and Pat Richards got injured which meant he missed the rest of the game. Wigan were smart enough to close the game out and win the trophy.

Feels cr4p now but your weren't a million miles off. You was in the GF and leading it in the 2nd half. Leeds, Saints, Hudds and Hull wasn't. Some of the players that let you down tonight are moving on and that means you are improving.

For once, I agree entirely with you.... I'm more gutted this year than after last year's loss to Leeds, simply because after that loss there was no 'what ifs' because Leeds fully deserved the win and were the better side.

Now I'm not saying Wigan didn't deserve the win, however, there is a definite stench of 'if only's' and 'what ifs' about tonight's game - The fact was, until Monaghan's injury, Wire were dominating, almost cruising to victory. Wigan were making mistakes, almost crumbling under the pressure of the scoreboard getting away from them.

Soon as Monaghan departed and Wigan almost immediately scored, then it was pretty obvious that Wire had a massive task on their hands... At half time, when we should have been pretty giddy about our prospects, I actually said to my son that we was in big trouble, simply because the whole shape of our side was now badly damaged.

When Ratchford went off, that for me was it....We had 8 forwards on the pitch, the structure of the team was in pieces and Wigan were able to force the pace of the game - The best side did win, but I think most sides in the league would have took that Wire side, with that (lack of) formation apart in the second half.

I'm not saying its a shallow victory for Wigan, but if they had lost Tomkins and Richards in similar circumstances, then I think its obvious the effect that would similarly have had on them and they would have been left thinking what most Wire fans are thinking tonight.

I've NEVER been a fan of 4 forwards on the bench.

It's an accident waiting to happen (especially when 3 of them a re in their playing twilight years).

Tonight, it happened.

Bugger!

Not sure I agree about the bench. The prospect of Morley, Carvell, Monas and Harrison/Cooper/whoever coming on during a match to lift momentum must have (must get used to using the past tense alas) been a huge psychological lift to the team this year and it has served us well.

Tonight, we suffered two serious injuries to two key backs. If Rathford had stayed on I really think we'd have battled back and it would have been closer, but losing them both was a blow too many.

In hindsight, who would we have put on the bench? If you are going to put a back on the bench then it has to be a utility, Ratchford for example, who can come on in a number of positions and change the game. As it is, most people thought the team selection was right.

Your son was correct.

I thought that the Mcllorum try really highlighted that and Wigan then looked much more confident attacking the line.

Yeah we did come undone because of the composition of the bench: I still think we could just about have won after losing Joel Monaghan but once Ratchford went we were really there for the taking: too many forwards on the pitch, two key strike players gone and not enough interchange so fatigue would get to us.

Wigan had their tails up and got in to us.

I think its fair to say that whilst it was unlucky for us to get those two injuries, it did expose that we're more vulnerable than we sometimes think: take out Hodgson, Ratchford and Joel Monaghan and our try scoring threat is a lot lower.

Still I'm not as disappointed by this as I have been with other Wire experiences, this is the first time I've gone in to a Grand Final expecting to win and the first time I've gone in to half time expecting us to be champions. The fact is we are up there competing as a top side and you can't make too many decisions or inquests on what happens in a one off game: without those injuries I think we would almost certainly have won tonight and we would be posting on here about what a great team we have.

I thought Wigan were up for it tonight and showed a lot of togetherness as a team, you have to take your hat off to them it is a fantastic achievement to win the double.

I can understand why warrington ran the ball. Sure, we all know why, they wanted to nail it home and get the game won. But in grand finals, unless you are down a deficit, you take points when they are on offer.

Warrington had already won the game. 3 tries and 14 points up is more than enough to win any grand final. Hell, in 2004 leeds doggedly held on to a 2 point lead until the closing minutes.

Warringtons focus and mentality at that point should have been to take the 2 and make damn sure they entered half time with that lead intact. The 2 points there would have totally taken the sting out of the closing minutes, there'd have been a break in play, they'd have been able to work the ball back and then pen wigan in their own territory. The half would have petered out and warrington would have gone in 16 points up instead of 10, which psychologically makes a huge difference.

Warrington rushed to apply a knock out blow which had already been applied, and they payed for it. It's symptomatic of a mentality which was wrong, and that's what ultimatley cost the game.

I agree with ratchford off the bench.
I just didn't wanna be the first to say it as I always have the same two or three that rip whatever I post!

I've never fully rated ratchford, he IS fantastic against a tiring defensive, so he often shows uo well in the last ten mins of each half.

at fullback he's defensively weak.
He certainly is no halfback.

I would have had no problem as coach of playing him off the bench and sticking Hodgson at fb, who seldom let us down.

Are you for real? Warrington's defence was fantastic for 35 minutes, Wigan made enough chances to win several games. Had Wigan taken their chances they would have won by a record score. Young bucks turned over an old Wire pack.

Send him to Wigan, he is a fantastic talent.