I just noticed on Twitter that Tomkins has had a dig at Bilko which has kicked up a bit of a storm.

A tad petty on Sam's behalf IMO at a time when he should be enjoying himself with his team mates. Those comments by Bilko clearly hit a nerve amougst the squad and you sense they used it as motivation.

Those comments by Bilko has ultimately played a pretty big part in the squad getting its act together by the looks of things. I'd say that's something he should be proud of.

You Wiganers love yer humble pie, that's for sure.

It was certainly an 'awful, awful, awful' performance against Widnes that night.

Got to say I am absolutely disgusted in Sam for his comments. Come across like the lowest of the low. He needs to take a long hard look at himself.

What's wrong with what Sam has said? Bilko is being a bit of a bellend with his comments tbh. How the f*ck has it been an "awful season"?

Was it an awful season up to the Widnes game? Yes.

Bilko is Wigan through and through and said it how he saw it at the time. If fans can't have an opinion without players questioning it then we might as well give up watching.

It's petulant and childish tbh. I presume he didn't know the back story to Bilkos frustrations (with his dad's illness) but that's no excuse.

Sam is very well paid (in rugby league terms) to turn out for a rugby league club that has very high expectations. The club talk about having high expectations of itself and the drive to succeed is clearly there for all to see. They looked frustrated with themselves around the time of Bilkos comments and by their own very high standards they couldn't have been chuffed with how things were going. If a fan who clearly loves the club makes points to that effect they should be big enough to take it on the chin.

In fairness to Tomkins he wished Bilkos father all the best but then seemed to carry it on with a couple more people. I think the club should give him some guidance on the matter tbh.

No it wasn't. I actually agreed with him when he was kicking off after the Widnes game but given what we've done since then he's coming across as a cock.

He's entitled to his opinion of course he is, but then why can't Sam try and defend himself and his team mates?

At a time when the club are looking to improve the relationship with supporters following the fan survey his post is petty & careless.

Bilko is well respected amongst Wigan fans for his balanced views and his comments about it being an awful, awful season was spot on at the time. He was definitely not on his own with that and it was a view shared by many supporters. Hindsight is a wonderful thing as he has quite rightly pointed out. The bloke has given up his free time to commentate games on Wish FM, countless hours on the brilliant Cherry & White site and has submitted videos for Wigan TV too IIRC. No-one pays the guy a dime for it either.

Ian Lenagan should have a word in the ear of him for that. Stay professional and enjoy the success.

I take it back actually, I didn't realise the date of Bilko's comments I thought he'd said it after the final. Definitely a bit petty from Sam.

Agreed.

Ian Lenagan/Kris Radlinski should have a quick word with him.

Edited-I can see you didn't realise it was post Widnes.

I've been with you for a lot of the season and tried my best to back the club but things were really poor that night when Bilko made his comments. The comments were after the Widnes game so made some sense at the time. I think Bilko himself would say they were possibly a little OTT but he clearly had other things on his mind (which he's since explained in full and fair play because it's a very private matter).

Poor on Sam's part to go trying to points score against a fan who like us clearly loves the club. It's part and parcel of being a professional sportsman. Your work is there for all to see and people have opinions. There's a time and a place for Sam to have a word if he wants and that's not on social media for everyone to see.

It's left a bit of a sour taste in the mouth after a fabulous weekend to be truthful and I don't know Bilko from Adam.