As I've mentioned elsewhere, it was a match where we were down to 12 for a good portion of it and it's notoriously difficult to make metres when you're doubling up on defence. To put it in perspective Alex Walmsley made 85 metres against Salford.

I really take issue with the assertion that he is "a shadow of the player that left Saints" as I've seen him described, based on 1 game where he was playing in a depleted front row, 6 games back in his return from several injury interrupted seasons and on a heavy pitch and where he still topped 100 metres! He's been phenomenal so far making over 100 metres in most if not all the games he's played and absolutely leading the pack in terms of attitude and professionalism. If he carries on as he's started he'll be a major reason we win trophies this year if, of course, we do.

Luke was immense again tonight.

Had a real solid game for us tonight.

Poor post contact metres.

Not as good as 2018.

I don’t care about Thompson, he doesn’t care about me.



Sorry, was just trying save Saints fans a job.

Brilliant again tonight

Exceeded my expectations thus far - had a nagging doubt he was here for the pay cheque and would disappoint. Not a bit of it - an incredibly fit athlete and an excellent front rower.

Tough to really name a 4/5 prop rotation for Wigan if everyone is fit but it’s safe to say I’m looking forward to having Thompson and Havard in the same team. Two absolute athletes, capable of playing big minutes and a nightmare to dominate.

i've just commented on Warriors fans about our prop rotation, and could we actually go with 5

Start with Thompson and Havard, with 2 from 3 of Dupree, Byrne or Hill, with Mago as a real impact player to open things up. I've not included Cooper there as the discussion is about next year, we've also then got Eseh, Chan and Makin to come through and looking for game time

even if we split Thompson and Havard from starting, i just cant see the intensity relenting for 80 minutes in both attack and defence if they are all playing well

Say all the props were fully match fit for the cup game next week, I think I'd start Havard and Thompson and go with Hill, Dupree and Mago on the bench but it's going to come down to form at any given time. I just can't get a grip on where Liam Byrne is at this year. It's been so stop start for him and obviously now he'll miss a few weeks and you'd have to think he is in danger of losing a spot on a more regular basis. He's not a flashy player but I'm excited to see Mike Cooper back. He makes ground comfortably and doesn't miss much in defence and I can see him getting a place in our first choice 17 at some point.

Cooper is a little underrated as he's at the back end of his career but, in truth, he hasn't lost much over the years. He's always been a "quietly getting on with quality work" type of player and he's still that now. Not flash, just effective.

Harvard is the big plus though. He's simply one of the best in the comp when fully fit and on his game. He's consistently over 100 metres and can do long minutes. Havard and Thompson as an opening pair is as good as it gets both in attack and defense.

I concur with you there. The long shifts they put in also allows the coaching team to rotate the players more effectively which will mean that we should have a big advantage later in the game when the opposition forwards are tiring. Those two, and Cooper, when fit will be in the 17.

I loved Havard coming off the bench, his footwork against the slightly tired defence caused loads of problems.

Before his return game I might watch Warrington at home in the cup from last year. The best prop forward performance in years.


I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again

How we’ve gone from.

2020

GBurgess (injured)
Clubb on his last legs
Flower on his last legs
Bullock
Singleton
Mitch Clark
Partington/Byrne/Havard all being teenagers.

To 2024

Thompson
Dupree
Byrne
Havard
Ellis
Mago
Cooper
Hill
Eseh/Walters/Chan

Some transformation.

A hell of a turnaround from the dark days of 2019-2020 I agree. Still have nightmares from going into a playoff game against Saints with a front row of Clubb and a teenage Partington.

The only caveat with Havard is he has to be more consistent for me. The cup game against Warrington was awesome but then followed a drop off and its something that has been quite common for him at Wigan.

If all can be fit at the same time what the rotation? Harvard and Thompson start with Byrne, Dupree and Mago to come on? Rotate every week maybe as Cooper and hill wouldn’t deserve to miss out

Consistency is the only thing missing from Havards game. He's never poor but he goes from absolutely top class to just being reasonably good too often. His worst games are better than some players best games but he then shows you a glimpse of what he can achieve and you just want it more often. He's still young for a prop however and he has been impacted with injuries since that Warrington cup game last year. I think he will find that consistency at some point and you then have a regular international prop forward on your hands.