A lot of our problems lie in the smaller parts of the game. In defence we are very quick in making a tackle and getting set at marker. This avoids penalties but there is no wrestling tactics by Wigan which makes the dummy-halves job a lot easier against us. Look at what position our players are in when getting up to play the ball in respect to the opposition. This then negates a lot of what Michael McIlorum & Logan Tomkins can do in making cheap gains and further hampers our dummy runs which last night didn't seem to exist. This then puts far more pressure on our halves who don't have the time to get the balls out wide. We regularly played the ball quickly last night and Sam came into the line only to find the Leeds line had kept up with the play. If we do that we have to run down the middle and that becomes a bigger challenge.

Add to that our backs taking the balls in for cheap yards and somehow gaining none (We had three quick PTB's in a row last night with no markers set by Leeds & still had to kick from our own half) and our awful kicking game and its no wonder we are poor. Unless we get the tactics spot on regarding the small things we will never be in a position to challenge top quality sides with good defensive structures like Leeds, Warrington & Huddersfield

I think it is not a case of playing at 100% or 70% - I do not believe that players can switch like that.

It is quite simple - the last few games have not meant as much, there was nothing major riding on the outcome - last night was a big game and the players responded by giving that extra effort because it meant something.

From herehttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/sep/12/huddersfield-wigan-super-league-match-reportrl

[ileeds6
13 September 2013 10I thought a performance similar to their CC win from Wigan - they played well within themselves against a team that fluffed its lines on the big occasion (again). If Wigan can get O'Loughlin back they will be very hard to beat.[/i

So did I ! It's a pretty simple point I was trying to make and I have idea why you want to imply of infer anything else from my post.

And as to this "If a good kicking game is not part of the game plan then I am not sure what should be." I think you really are clutching at straws because the CC final and last night have featured the best kicking games we have had all season. They stand out as different from all the rest of the games in this regard and therefore this is why I said they were similar in that respect. A good kicking game is certainly part of the game plan in every game. Its just that these two games stand out in term of executing that plan.

So wane has told Micky Mac to play 100% each week?

Our attack was the best it has been for months last night. We had that pace and unpredictability about us. A lot of it came from Wanes tactics of running with a heavy pack. Personally I think that is the way we should be playing without lockers. Start with 3 props with Flower at loose and have 2 back rowers and 2 2nd rowers on the bench