Pat would have caught it with one hand. There was no pressure on the player from the opposition and it was a classic case of an inexperienced player making a mistake in a game he should have never played in.

Wane's choice of Murphy was beyond idiotic. It is a cardinal coaching sin to pick an inexperienced player in such a key position for a semi final. Has Wane made any excuse for this yet?



Well based on his performance this season we have already downgraded the coach.

After two years understudy to Madge all Wane had to do was maintain the same winning formula but he chose not to.

If you look back at interviews with Wane not long after he took over it was obvious he disagreed with the Madge style of RL and he was set to change it. He said he wanted to improve the side and win the close games we lost, games he felt we should have won under Madge. It was quite clear he thought he could do a better job than Madge by doing things very differently.

So he did change it not just by a bit to tweak it but he went right away from the successful formula Madge introduced.

I was pro Wane being the coach because I feared if we went for someone from outside they would change things and I was expecting continuity from Wane. I thought that was the whole point of him getting the job. A smooth transition and continuity. Alas my fears were realised by the very man I thought would continue the Madge dynasty.

If you have such courage in your own convictions that you will move so far away from a proven winning formula then you have to expect to be judged on your methods and your results and not let off the hook because it is your first year in the job.

Wane has made a lot of mistakes this year some of which were so obvious every one knew they were wrong before kick off and got proved right but that is not what I am talking about. I am on about his whole approach to the job. He decided to do it his way and was well and truly found out.

Correct , in Wigans favour last Friday night .

We were abysmal last week because we weren't allowed to be anything else. Not many sides would have looked good under the pressure that Leeds put us under both from their superb kicking game and line speed. Prior to the Watkins breakaway try we were well on top, but once they got ahead Sinfield murdered us with the boot.

Second half we put them under pressure with good line speed as opposed to waiting for them and it paid off with a few errors but we failed to capitalise.

yes the failure to sin bin the leeds player let alone penalise him in the dying seconds of the game was clearly in Wigans favour. And before you start banging on about the non-knockon that lead to our second try and then rewind a play when the players head was taken off and missed by Silverwood. When it matters.. when it REALLY matters Leeds get the rub. They did the Week before v Catalan and IIRC they won against Wire with a late penalty in last seasons semi. All teams get favourable calls but when a season depends on a call the refs are very keen to please the rhinos

We should have been better. Their game plan worked perfectly. Wane played into their hands putting a young inexperienced FB against Sinfield.

Quality!