Another predictable display for our courageous Warriors minus their two star players.

Anyone could see this coming, or at least they should by now, same old attacking structures which oppositions by now should see coming a mile off, structures that evidently rely so much on our gifted FB.

Dummy runner or hit the SR to the HB another dummy runner creating space for the FB to join the line next to either talented winger, but what happens when said FB is missing? Mounts of pressure on a young lad being asked to be the main switch/pivot in the line, as well as defend as a FB.

Such attacking structures work with one of the world's best at FB, but what does the coach do or change to offer another option? Absolutely nothing, hence another loss without our star player.

PS I do believe such structures are 'waneing' even with Sam in the line when facing the likes of Warrington or Leeds.

We also have one centre who's behaviour is erratic and other who despite being rated on here has little to no strike in attack, offers no outlet for the halves to attack in the 3/4 line like a good centre does (this has been totally absent since the departure of Carmont).

I shrug my shoulders at this, yes Sam will return and we'll crush London, and all will be forgotten, masking over the fact that without him, we seem pretty average, a daunting proposition considering he'll be using his passport in the very near future.

Add to this our halves offer bugger all.

Sadly reverting to type.

Halfback is such a key position and Smith nor Green are good enough for Wigan RL imo.

I see your point but honestly don't blame them, they play to the set structure, a better coach could get more out of both of them with a different style of play.
This working the ball across the line with dummy runners till the ball finds Sam is all a structure, no freedom to be creative and offer more in the middle of the pitch.

I thought the forwards let us down today, I'm guessing McIlorum must have gone off injured because he didn't return after the first 20 minute spell. Farrell tried hard, but there wasn't a lot else going on around him, this meant that the backs didn't have a good platform to work with and we were outmuscled. We barely had any possession for the first 15 minutes, which was our own fault.

I thought O'Loughlin was the biggest miss today. We needed some leadership and effort that was lacking without him.

Lockers is certainly a key player, but we had enough field position and quality in the pack to drive us on, put Lockers and Sam in that team and we would have crushed them.

In fairness if SOL was playing today we would have lost by more.

He plays much much better if he is surrounded by better players (forwards).

If he feels he needs to pull the game around on his own, he is a penalty machine.

Yes. Exactly. Basically what you've said above is one of the reasons i cited months ago on the VT as to why wigan probably wouldn't win the grand final.

Smith and green can slot into the structure and pick the runners out at the set times, but the wigan team overall lacks that creative edge to unlock the crucial title deciding games. Even with tomkins int the team they have been hit and miss against the better teams.

Another problem for wigan is unless they take command of the game in the opening 20 minutes they can often seem to struggle.

I disagree, the structures and openings were there, they just weren't being executed properly...runners either dropping the pass or the halves (Smith mostly) taking the wrong option with runners hitting a hole.

In the first half of the season, prior to Green getting injured our halves were streets on front of any other pairing in the league. Lockers was undoubtedly our biggest miss tonight as far I'm concerned. He offers so much in the middle in defence and barring the last try, all their breaks came up the middle. Sam is an incredible talent but to be fair, Hamshire was prob our best player tonight at FB.
I agree we seem to lack a plan B when the 2 waves of attack are being read. However, we made numerous chances and blew them (Smith not passing to Tuson being the best of them) to get a win. For me we just didn't play we'll enough and that's not down to structures it's down to execution.

McIlorum "wasn't worth risking" said Wane. Kind of understand because we should of won without him but in hindsight he should of returned.

Personally I felt Taylor was outstanding off the bench. Efforts in first 20 and last 20 though were not good enough.

Matty smith halted the attack tonight, not sam not being there. As i remember he only shipped the all on twice, once to the floor, the other was the first try.

A good post with which I agree the forwards, apart from Farrell who worked his socks off, and Mossop who showed how he will be missed, put in some good efforts. Some seemed too pumped up, too aggressive and lost composure, Dudson, Taylor and flower being the main culprits, Logan Tomkins’ one match imposed rest did him no favours. It is more signs of a bad dip in form at the wrong end of the season; I hope we can get back on track toute suite!

Everyone was talking about a fantastic drop goal and yes it was, but what else does he do he's cr@p. Lost all the speed he had looks a shadow of his former self

I wasn't happy with Mossops performance at all, in that first 20 when our backs where against the wall we needed him to step up and get some yardage. I seen him take 2 balls up in about 7 sets. We're lacking a pack leader without Hansen and O'Loughlin and I don't think Mossop is that, he will need to step up his game if he is to last in Aus. It came to a point in the 1st 20 when our backs where making the yardage for themselves with Gelling Charnley and Pat taking so much ball up. The game changed in Wigan's favour when Taylor, who I thought was outstanding, as well as Crosby coming on.

I think thats and absolutley ridiculous comment, for all Pat has given to our club you should be ashamed of yourself!!!!!

I think some are being a bit harsh we lost with one try with an understrength team, ive no doubt we would have won comfortably with sam lockers and hansen but at the end of the day silly penalties and mistakes cost us the game and valauble field position Flower had a nightmare, so did Dudson, Gelling made his fair share of mistakes but i think he levels this out with his go forward and inventive attitude. Huddersfield have to come to the DW after watching Warrington destroy them in the challenge cup i would put my mortgage on Wigan doing the same with a full strength team, so im not worried about the league leaders shield it will be siting pretty in our cabinet come the season end.