After watching the highlights, the manner at which the ball leaves Tautai's grasp is clearly hands in at the PTB. Look at the speed and direction it rolls and the Salford players at the ruck didn't seem too concerned that it was a knock on.

We're getting wins on the board and we have played some teams who should be up there (Hudds, Cats and Salford) come September/October. It was evident that the players were gassed after 60 minutes and I'm not surprised after last week. The referee was terrible for both sides, some very questionable calls. It is not often both sets of players and fans get so irritated by the ref and IIRC isn't this the same referee who had a mare at Leigh v London (something like 30 penalties). The Manfredi no try was a shocker, he was onside by a mile and how he missed Tautai's knock on before the match winner is beyond me. Also The play the ball before Salford's last try was terrible and also should have been disallowed IMO, so swings and roundabouts but a ref horror show.

We have 5 of our key players out and get we're 3 from 3. A very tough game at Hull next week and would t be surprised if our injuries and poor play catch up with us.

A lot of people agree that poor game management or not playing smart is a huge problem. If we're honest, we had the same problem through most of last season. As Cruncher says above, you can play unstructured if you have a few game breakers in your side - but given the team we have out at the moment, we need stronger structure, more discipline and a lot more guile.

Given this has been a problem for so long, why haven't we sorted it out? Is down to how they're being coached? Since Maguire left, we've gone from a team who played conservatively and perhaps even a bit robotically to a team of chancers with ball in hand. Or are they being coached to play to a rigid structure, which seems to go out of the window when they take to the field. In that case, you have to question the on-field leadership, traditionally you rely on your halves for game management or senior players - but there isn't much sign of that.

Officials were shoite (for both teams) and greatly contributed to what was a dire game.

We didn't play very well (except for that massive defensive stint end of 1st half, start of 2nd), and against good (dare I say quality??) opposition, and we ground out a win.
Some good individual performances to boot, and I don't think anyone had a stinker.

That's a good sign, and we will only improve as
a) players return, and
b) the rustiness wears off.

That's different to the start of last season, where we also played poorly in games, but lost.

Need to do a lot of hard work on our offensive game though.

All in all, I'm reasonably happy.

That was the idiot touch judge's call. The one with the ball spot.

Out of curiosity, how many of the controversial decisions did Sky show highlights of?
I believe the Tautai 'knock on' was (and probably flogged to death), but did they show the Manfredi 'no try'? That one looked good to me!

I was in line with the kick it was Farrell that was offside, the ref shouts at him to get back, he was in front of O'Loughlin when he kicked ahead.

Quote tedglen="tedglen"Out of curiosity, how many of the controversial decisions did Sky show highlights of? I believe the Tautai 'knock on' was (and probably flogged to death), but did they show the Manfredi 'no try'? That one looked good to me!'" Just these. Pause it at the Tautai ptb and you can clearly see the Salford hand come through. www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... port/12215 Also have a look at Salfords "ptb" for their third try.

Quote tedglen="tedglen"Out of curiosity, how many of the controversial decisions did Sky show highlights of? I believe the Tautai 'knock on' was (and probably flogged to death), but did they show the Manfredi 'no try'? That one looked good to me!'" Just these. Pause it at the Tautai ptb and you can clearly see the Salford hand come through. www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... port/12215 Also have a look at Salfords "ptb" for their third try.

Stokes was bad for both teams, probably one of the worst referring performances I can remember.

I didn't think there was much between the two teams, Wigan made full use of their breaks whereas Salford failed to capitalise on any of them. I thought a draw would have been a fair result, but it wasn't to be. Whilst feeling disappointed walking out of the stadium, it was nice to see us finally competing away from home against one of the 'bigger' clubs.

Salford will be no mugs this year, thats's for sure.

Quote Rogues Gallery="Rogues Gallery"Just these. Pause it at the Tautai ptb and you can clearly see the Salford hand come through. www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... port/12215 Also have a look at Salfords "ptb" for their third try.'" The Salford hand in at the PTB is obvious. If you pause it at the right time it's quite clear to see. Also Tautai looks towards the ref in protest of it.

Quote Rogues Gallery="Rogues Gallery"Just these. Pause it at the Tautai ptb and you can clearly see the Salford hand come through. www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... port/12215 Also have a look at Salfords "ptb" for their third try.'" The Salford hand in at the PTB is obvious. If you pause it at the right time it's quite clear to see. Also Tautai looks towards the ref in protest of it.