Speaking as the person "threw his stats in your face" after last week, I agree with what you say. Against more clinical opposition, those penalties would have cost us the game last night. But on the other hand, just like last week his yards and tackle counts will probably be high and he was involved in scoring. I just think a bit of balance is in order if you're going to say a player is poor as you did after the Hull KR game.

I don't think he's perfect, I'm not even one of his biggest fans, but he's showing early signs of stepping up after disappointing form last season - particularly in defence, which for me, was one of his areas of weakness.

Mark Bitcom is certainly earning his money, as we now have props filling in at second row and he is having to get them fitter and faster in a short time scale. As well as bulking up the younger lads to play in there.

Probably one of the most important men at Wigan at the present time, and someone we desperately need to keep at the club.

We are light in the 2nd row but v Wire the coaches did seem to have found one way of preventing them doing to much "heavy lifting"
There were only a couple of minutes gone when Burgess was given the ball, he went around Monaghan and was tackled by Ratchford. He'd gone from our 30 approx to their 20 mtr line. That's a lot of yards forward our pack had not had to make. 2nd time Joe got the ball Faz scored.
That move was repeated 3 or 4 times in the 2nd half with Joe B making 30 to 40 mtrs a run. Hence his almost 200 mtrs in the game.
Faz and Bateman did make big meters but I did think the use of Joe B was well planned. Also bearing in mind Wire's starting 6 forwards were an average of 8 years a man older than the Wigan starting 6.

I think it was said on another thread, but Gelling must be worth a shot in the second row, big, pretty quick and he's shown he's got a decent off-load when he's played at centre. Useful player to have on the subs bench.

Can't see why he isn't getting a shot there to be honest. He's NOT going to make it as a winger, has too much competition at centre to be able to hold down a place. He makes good yards in the tackle and has a great offload. Plus if we get an injury in the backs during a game he can cover there. I only see him making it at Wigan if he plays second row but for some reason we are persisting with players who are under performing I this position rather than playing him.