2009

Hi Wigan fan here looking forward to the game on Saturday. Hope the weather in the capital is better than here, although you know it always rains up north.

I really rate your half back partnership, I've always liked Witt, and wouldn't have minded him last season when Finch left. As it turns out Blake Green has been a good replacement. I'm looking forward to seeing young Sargison again with all the rumours.

The young lads that Wigan have at the moment are turning into something special so I have no doubt that Williams and Powell will handle it on Saturday and as you said we do have Sam Tomkins.

I must admit it's getting really tedious going to away grounds and listening to the hatred and bile that Sam attracts so I hope that you really just enjoy seeing a rugby genius at work whilst we have the chance, cos if all the rumours are true he'll be off to the NRL after the World Cup.

June 2nd 2007 last home victory v the pies...can't see anything other than another loss myself....biggest crowd of the year to date of 4,200.

Hope you do get a decent crowd. If it's 4,000 it'll match Hull KR's rather pathetic effort last Sunday 1,000 of which was from Wigan mostly stood on a terrace somewhere in the North Sea.

I think this could be competitive if Wigan lack Green and Smith.

But Howell is not a great defender. Watch the Bradford highlights where Keith Lulia gets outside him far too easily.

Lulia is a decent Centre, I think Leeds were considering him before they went for Moon and maybe Howell will take a few games to get up to speed. I think he's a real asset when he's on form.

I don't think Shaun Wane will underestimte the Broncos especially after what happended at the DW 2 years ago when you put up the performance of the season. However this young Wigan team have been ruthless this year so far. They defend as if their lives depend on it. Look at the reaction of the whole team when Salford scored their only try with the last play a few weeks ago.

He attracts bile because on the rugby pitch he behaves like a bellend (even towards his own team-mates, in the case of Ben Flower in the Easter Saints game). There's no doubting his quality but he's also a thoroughly obnoxious character.

Anyway. Lacking their first choice halves could make this less of a drubbing than it would otherwise have been.

Just because he told a forward that it's the FB's job to catch the ball doesn't make him a bellend.

Tompkins isn't a problem - we'll just tell Krasniqi that he's Serbian, and watch the blood flow!

Not sure about your choice of language there Penguin.

If you listen to the blokes in the England team like Ben Westwood for example, they can't speak highly enough of him. He regularly goes to Leigh to support his best mate and the fans there love him as he gives time to talk to them, sign autographs and get pictures taken.

However you are right about his spat with Flower, it didn't look good. But I've seen practically every game he's played for Wigan and believe me that was an isolated incident. You suggested that it is a regular occurence - not so.

I personally don't like the haranguing of referees, but he's far from the only culprit there (Leeds have made it an art form).

But as the song says "To know him is to love him"!!!

The last time we played Wigan at home he spent at least 40 minutes post game signing autographs and talking to fans from both clubs.
A true ambassador for rugby league.

....I suspect we'll have a couple of "fans" from across the road casting an eye over him this weekend...

They can cast all the eyes they want, the greedy SOBs. NZ Warriors have him pencilled in for next year, along with Shaun Wane, and only Gold Coast Titans can stop them from realising their goal.

The RFU will get their man if they want him.....1 player at each club counts off their cap, they have central contracts and RWC 2015 would make him a household name everywhere in the UK other than a northern motorway.

As for Gold coast......no amount of star signings will pull in crowds there...it's a graveyard and The Warriors don't need a skinny white kid, we need to get rid of Elliot!

Ray French predicts a London win on Twitter!:

Why not? Good win in the cup. Home advantage. Wigan are due an upset..... I'd love an upset