Props for me, koppy and eorl for me were massive in the first half but Wigan were hunting in packs and the only other prop we had was Patrick who is more of your bumped up second row impact prop.
Think with Fielden being out and then retiring and mullay not making the impact that many thought he would do left the two big lads a tad unsupported?
Although eorl for me has stepped it up that run hit three players knock one on there backside find your feet run again and knock another one over! Quality!

Was gutted but the effort was there and we managed a coulple of breaks and a fair amount of pressure with the drop outs created just couldn't convert

I feel it's far from over! Maybe not going to be our year in this part of the competition but looking forward to seeing the boys respond next Thursday!

Wigan wanted it more, end of.

Too few of our players were prepared to die on that pitch. Wigan were constantly putting their bodies on the line whereas we seemed to be saving ourselves for something. It's play off football, no second chances (although ironically we now have a second chance).

Far too many of our players chose last night to have their worst game of the season. Our line speed was too slow, we moved one yard forward and stopped. It doesn't matter how many props you have if you give 8 or 9 free metres every tackle. In attack we were too flat, too many players taking passes stood still and sauntering into the Wigan line. And far , far too much soft dropped ball. First tackle after a penalty, fourth tackle on your opponents line, second tackle coming out of defence. You can't do that at this level.

Bentham had a good match as far as I'm concerned. He made a few dodgy decisions both ways but was pretty consistent. Wigan got to slow the ball down because they were dominating the tackle, we weren't largely due to our line speed.

Agree with most of that, but Fielden is retired so we must get on with it. On that point though I felt we really missed Ukuma last night, he isn't a prop but he does bulk the pack up, during the middle third when Eorl and Koppy were off is when the game turned from us dominating field to Wigan doing so. I think Ukuma would have helped us maintain parity in that spell.

Another thing we did not do well was get the ball to our wide strike players, Ferres got a bit but not much of it was good, I don't think Joe Wardle got a pass in the attacking area, Leroy and Channy got very little. Of course Wigan set out to stop that, the 10 set by Bentham was very skinny (but always is) and our passing was not crisp enough. We reverted to one off plays in the attacking areas rather than patiently moving the defence and setting up the next play.

In the end we were not outclassed, but lost to a team who were more patient than us on the night. On last nights showing Leeds and Wire will not be worried about either side, neither looked like Grand Final winners, but both are capable of doing so.

We have not faced a stiff challenge since the last Wigan match at the DW, so maybe we were not quite ready last night, a hard game next week then Wigan again is a challenge, but one I am still confident we can be successful in. I am disappointed about the result last night but I am not despondant about our chances, we lost round 1 but do not yet look like a beaten team imo.

It's becoming a bit of a cliche, but still true: the level of intensity goes up a notch or 3 this time of year. I don't think Huddersfield went up with it last night. That's what they need to correct.

Other than that, I thought after the first 10 minutes or so you were playing differently to the style I've watched and enjoyed as a neutral this year: some of the directness went and the ball was shifted too early without earning the right to move it first.

Brough started with a super try, but lost his way thereafter. I had a strong sense that Wigan tried very hard to irritate him and get under his skin, and he allowed it to work. Might be wrong. Others stepping up is all very well, but when your 1st and/or 2nd receiver executes plays badly it's hard for the team to gain traction.

Wigan, as is there wont, looked shaky to begin with, but as soon as they got a sniff they were brutally ruthless. That's what it's all about at this time of year.

Nothing that can't be corrected. I dont think anyone should write the Giants off just yet.

I think you had a right to be confident. You finished top, were on decent form and were rightly favourites. What a lot of people suggested (all be it some in the wrong way) is experience counts for a massive amount in the playoffs. If you look at recent history Wigan made the semis twice before making the final, warrington finished top and didn't make the final, it took them a few years of getting knocked out early before they took the next step.

This is realistically your first year of expecting rather than hoping to do well in the playoffs. If you don't make the final it is valuable experience the team and coach will have gained for next year. If you do make the final then good luck (unless your playing us). I know how you feel as we felt the same in 2010. Finished top, lost the first game at home to Leeds. It didn't work out too badly for us that year.

I'm sorry, but watch it back and Hudds did their fair share of lying on and locking the tackler's arm with their own. Our domination had nothing to do with the ref...

Same way I feel, the Giants really shouldn't be too worried. You get an easier match next week to rebuild, then play a team that's possibly undercooked after a week off. Plus you've already proven yourselves away from home so there shouldn't be much to fear.

As for last night, it was 6 props vs 3 in the rain, not really sure what else you'd expect. We've had to learn our lesson about going into big games light up front over the last few years the hard way too.

clutching at straws i am afraid.

We lost the ruck simple as that.

If you lose the ruck your PTBs will be slower fact

considering faiumu isnt a prop when he has played there he has been one of the best! been in great form this season and a top performer in the latter half

must admit i was gutted last night as other posters have said wigan deserved the win, but the seasons not over yet, i for one thought we looked under cooked from not playing last week, even though thought that was the right move at the time.
I do think the 6 props v 3 was a big factor in the game wigans pack dominated ours, overall i dont think we played that badly just wigan were better, we need to turn round like wigan did after leeds game last week, which im confident we can.

I will second that! The players competed and know they have to step up a gear to win! Wigans defence was awesome, the way we played would have put many to the sword but Wigan were simply too good on the nught

He has when coming on against tired packs in games which we have been able to dominate the opposition, or in good weather when we have been able to utilise our backs more.

In a straight up fight in the middle he is not a prop.

He is one of our top earners and his salary would cover two craig Kopczaks. I know what i would have preferred last night and having two koppys on the bench would have been better IMHO

So incredibly deflated this morning. We can't blame the ref or the weather for this one, just beaten by the better team on the day.
However, I'm gradually consoling myself with thoughts that every time we've been beaten this season (ignoring the Bradford game last week for obvious reasons), we've come back stronger. With a home game against the lowest ranked side next week there's no reason we shouldn't be confident and still look to getting to the Grand Final.

We could certainly do with a replacement for Fielden, but there are not too many Koppys or Fieldens about, who is there available?

Will Mullally show a big step forward? Can Josh Johnson play 10-15 matches next season? With Wakey in meltdown would there be value in getting Andy Raleigh back for a season? I don't know, I am sure Paul Anderson has a plan and have confidence it will be a good plan but we do absolutely need to improve our front row options.