Nothing else needs to be said.

That lad won't take a backward step in any situation.

In the second half in particular, he launched a non-stop one-man assault against the Castleford line which had them on the back-foot repeatedly.

If he isn't a shoe-in for Man of Steel this year, there's something badly wrong.

He is terrific. And, crucially, he's still getting better, season by season.

No doubt he will be off to the NRL or the RFU soon then, that's usually the case with our players, but not to bother as we have the best youth set up in the country don't you know and there will be another Bateman coming along shortly. if he signs a four year contract then that's when we should start to worry as that usually means he's in the shop window with a "buy me now" price tag.

Wane confirmed after the game that's Bateman's still been ill all week as have a lot of them. Sam Powell was in bed most of the week also but they didn't have any other option but to play him.

Bateman was sensational! Out of all the injured players who missed Wakey I sensed he could be the one who would really lift the side. He's an absolute warrior of a player who plays better when faced with adversity.

So has the name of this mystery virus been revealed yet ? It must have been an evil little blighter. A lot of them have still been ill all week ? But easily beat Castleford ? Something doesn't smell right.

So what do you think the truth is?

That Wakefield are basically 62 points better than Wigan?

Course they are, best team in the universe, and should be winners of the NRL GF too...

Still not up to going to the match unfortunately but not surprised one iota on your comments. If he were a little bigger he would be outstandingly good.
I love his work rate and when he is runs with the ball he always puts in 100% effort. I genuinely can't remember seeing him have a poor game.
He is for me our key player and hopefully will takeover SOL mantle when he eventually retires.

Bateman was superb last night, but I still have reservations about his passing. The one he threw (was it to Tautai?) just before half time was a shocker, it should have been a dead set try. So it's only 9.5/10

Isn't he a little short for a stormtrooper?

On the night, yes.
Wane thought it would be an easy 2 points and got it horribly wrong, he should have the balls to admit it and not make snidy classless comments about an improving team.

None of which, even if it was true, would be in any way relevant to the fact that Wigan were riddled with illness.

You're not doing yourself or your team any favours by dining out on a fallacy.

Riddled with illness but miraculously cleared up in 5 days ? I'm no doctor but if a squad is that crook, 5 days is a hell of a speedy recovery.
Anyway it's in the past now, i'm glad you beat Cas.

Same type of illness hit Southport FC according to the local paper. We are at the end of the winter vomiting bug/Norovirus season and yet a lot of experts out there cannot bring themselves to accept that it happens. These experts obviously have never had kids at primary school or they would know how quickly it come and goes. Of course it is more fun to come up with really complicated and totally unrealistic explanations so buy my new book "DaVinci code 2- Wigan didn't have the s it was a conspiracy." Available from No good book shops.