Leeds have no right to moan. They were beaten by a far better side. Richard Silverwood is an awful referee, but that is not why they lost.

I think Melbourne would have loved nothing more than to get a quick PTB. They have the best hooker in the world in Cameron Smith and if it was that type of game they would have torn Leeds apart. The conditions didn't allow for it though.

Of course they were.

Play the game on a dry field in Melbourne and Leeds would get whitewashed.

Stevo definitely is. That's why Australian backs are so much better than our current crop imo. In Super League in the past it's been easy for teams to just scoot early in the set and make easy yards downfield without having to play an awful lot of creative rugby. If the SL refs gave defenses time to get the line properly set it makes the attacking team work harder to move the ball and score, which is what everyone wants to see

That is essential IMO. The best players will be easy to spot this season if they have less time on the ball. Players who thrive on quick play the balls will be none existant e.g. Leon Pryce.

I re-watched the Wire game last night and we weren't far off doing the same. Very rarely did we get off the tackle before Homer called 'move'

Enjoyed reading this thread & there's some well reasoned posts.

MHO for what it's worth is that Melbourne couldn't have played it any other way than 'to the ref' in such wet & heavy conditions. Only Melbourne & Canberra have games on cold wet grounds,though never as bad as Elland road was.This is why G I was almost non existent as an attacking force & why a gang tackle defence was so effective,(a little needling didn't hurt either). I see no reason why playing to the ref should not serve Wigan well on heavy grounds,whilst still playing a fast paced,offload attacking style of game on fast dry grounds. What many see as slow,dour or spoiling defence is only so if it is not done skillfully & as the conditions dictate.

Here's to a great 2010 season for Wigan