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.

It was a very simple game, blaming anything but your own performance is classless. Wigan's defence is excellent, their attack virtually always the same, but performed (yesterday at least) swiftly & clinically, & always threatening. Hudds attack had no fluidity or organisation when you tried to spread it. It reminded me of Bradford under Noble.

Wigan were the better team and deserved to win on the night end of. They won the night and a right to have a week off, they haven't won anything other than that at this point.

We have to lick our wounds and prepare for Thursday, do what we have been doing all season and we will make the semi's, this is when it really starts, it's eliminations rounds all the way.

im glad you agree he has been one of the best.

i wasnt talking about what money he is on.

the bench was lastnight was wrong on this occasion, lawrence should not of been on it. He should of done 80mins tackling like he has been doing most of the season.

Hope I'm wrong but neither Mullally and Johnson make me think they will do much next season and certainly might not still be in SL in 4 or 5 years time but we shall see.

Spot on.
In fact how many times did Tomkins slyly kick the ball away to gain time, instead of us getting on with the job. The officials should have penalised him a few times but chose to ignore it.
Not complaining too much as we were second best, after a good 20 minutes, and apart from the above mentioned errors, I thought Benson refereed quite well.