He was world class for the first 40. I've not seen them but I'm guessing you'll be blown away by his stats. Problem is he's a very different hooker to Tommy, the key is to make the most of them both in that position and to tactically manage them appropriately.

To do that though we need another half back. Maybe get Sam back in there and start Russ at FB - but I'll guarantee they'll start Mellor there first .

That's all I've been saying all along. Hudds do it. Wigan do it. Every team does whatever they can to slow the ptb down. Just as most teams try to hold the tackler up to achieve the same end. Wigan & Madge didn't invent that, loads of teams did it before & will continue to do so afterwards.

its game 1 of a long season its a bonus win none of the 499 huddersfield fans that were there expected hoped for maybe but almost the same wigan team put forty odd points on a 'stronger' huddersfield team at your place last year... it appears tha Nathan Brown learnt a lesson last year and did it different and wigan on the day couldn't adapt !!

You shouldn't have let Deacon (i think he retired) and Coley go Deacon, Finch and Leuleui is a far stronger midfield 3 than the other two plus mcilorum his kicking wouldn't have picked out our defence with lazer like accuracy as it did yesterday !!

Also both Tomkins terrorised us last year but ones gone and sam was 'put off' when gerry McG mullered him and never got quite as involved again.If i was been mischievous I don't think he fancied tackling larne when he broke through good player but full back maybe exposes him defensively ala high balls and tackling on occasions....

I don't think we had any option to let Deacon go. He should have been dropped before the end of last season because his defence was shocking and his input during games was getting less and less. I think the problem is more to do with Leuluai not playing like a halfback should. He can pass well enough, and did well to set up Tomkins' try but throughout the course of a game his passing and kicking isn't up to scratch, and he hasn't got the pace to be a direct halfback.

The tackle from McGillvary won't have had any effect on Tomkins at all. He's had worse than that and gone on to play a blinder. The issue wasn't him not wanting to get involved but having no chance to get involved. The forwards didn't do their job of drawing players in which made the job of the outside backs a bit harder.
The passing moves were far too predictable. When players were taking the ball forward it was obvious they would pass to the next man and the next man would do the same. It was like watching an amateur side at times.

Defensively though he was very weak. He missed a tackle on Lunt in the build up to Patrick's try which should have been made comfortably, and for him to get stepped by a forward isn't acceptable.
Matty Russell was faced with making one on one tackles in the testimonial game and he made brilliant tackles each time. Tomkins has no excuse not to make those.

CP
Matty Russell also got stepped easily the game at Leigh.

www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... _1_4221773 COMPLACENCY!!! Totally unacceptable. We see it time and time again, yet players and management never learn. You never ever underestimate the opposition no matter what the circumstances. Wane spoke all week about this being a tough game, yet for what ever reason this message didn't get through to the players, not that they should have needed telling in the first place mind. I hope this isn't an early sign of the professionalism and standards slipping.

www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... _1_4221773 COMPLACENCY!!! Totally unacceptable. We see it time and time again, yet players and management never learn. You never ever underestimate the opposition no matter what the circumstances. Wane spoke all week about this being a tough game, yet for what ever reason this message didn't get through to the players, not that they should have needed telling in the first place mind. I hope this isn't an early sign of the professionalism and standards slipping.