Brisbane's front three were never challenged by Wigan's. Don't confuse your ability to churn up yards fifteen yards+ either side of the centre channel with being on equal terms with Brisbane's pack. With twenty five minutes to go Brisbane wrestled complete control of that channel (not that they ever looked in danger of being challenged there anyhow) and never looked likely to relinquish it.

As for blaming Wigan's total inability to control the centre channel in the GF entirely on Ben Flower. You shouldn't need me to remind you how silly that sounds.

Blame Ben Flower for the GF. Blame Shaun Wane for not picking some kid who hasn't even established himself as a first teamer yet.

If blame is to be apportioned me thinks you are pointing it in the wrong direction.

That's the strange part of your argument - we win the GF last year if Hohaia doesn't get away with a blatant forearm smash off the ball.

The size of our pack isn't a problem. The current structure and lack of direction from key areas is (Bowen, Wane, Smith et al).

Oh for pity's sake! Listen to yourself.

So, Zak Hardaker?

Gareth Hock Mk II

Certainly going that way. He still has time to turn it around though, for his sake and the Rugby league over here I hope he does because we simply don't have enough talented players that we can afford to lose one of the better ones.

He might be one of those players that needs to get away from his current environment to move forward, if that's the case I'm sure he wont be short of offers. I'd take a punt on him at Saints given our ongoing troubles at fullback , If Locke continues to do nothing at Salford I'm sure the doc will be waving £££ at him and given Bowen is done at the end of the year and Hampshire can't buy a game you lot would be interested.

Leeds might not want to offload mid season given the trouble they'd have getting a replacement but come the end of the season they may have already decided enough is enough ...