I don't think Sironen stayed down to 'cheat' and I don't think Farrell did. They both got smacked in the head. It probably hurt. Doesn't mean it's feigning injury, you just sometimes need a minute to get over the "shock" so to speak.

As I said before and to answer SP....the rule doesn't give the ref the chance to work out if it was accidental or not. His shoulder makes direct contact to the head.

I'm not saying they did - it's impossible to know. But the question is why this type of situation is different from any other situation on the field where there's a stoppage when VRs don't intervene. If you know you will get a 2nd chance at a penalty by holding your head in your hands then players will be tempted to do so even if they weren't hurt.

Because (& I wanna make it clear I'm including Faz in this) there's more to it than just winning a pen.

We're in the territory, of holding your leg like footballers do as you know it might go to VaR for a pen or the guy might get booked. Doesn't matter if you're hurt or if there's contact.

Turning point of the game was the daft offload from Bateman gave momentum back to Saints.

I know what you mean, but I don't think that was the case here as such.

Players holding their necks is one because they look for the crusher tackle penalty and a possible card.

Not here to gloat as that could easily have gone either way. However a few points I wanted to make…

Peet agrees with the red card or at least a yellow. Direct contact to the head. Letter of the law.

For all the Wigan fans having a pop at Saints fans for not rating Field, I give you Welsby. Outstanding today, still only a young kid and getting better. He’s not over rated at all.

Sironen went down but so did Farrell. Twice. The first time he did it was an embarrassment and he seemed to laugh afterwards.

The gap is closing clearly. However we have a kicker today and that’s a 10 point margin. He missed 4 (maybe even 5, would have to check)

Put TL and KPP back in your team this season and you are better. However I’d argue that we put Percival, Makinson and Walmsley back in ours and we are significantly better. That’s not even counting Dodd who is out for the season.

Finally Peet is an absolute class act. Magnanimous in defeat again, admitted Saints were the better team and we had quality players missing. Also said the red card was irrelevant.

This. Great game, edge of the seat stuff that could have gone either way.

We’re most certainly heading in the right direction.

Losing to Saints is never a nice feeling but I think that once the dust has settled we can be content in knowing we are heading in the right direction.

Adrian Lams Wigan now seems a distant memory.

When we had the red card I was still confident that we could win.

Take nothing away from Saints, I thought Passi was outstanding today and Welsby is clearly a class act and still improving.

Bit frustrated with Smith & Cust today, neither seemed at the races (not including Smiths goal kicking which was excellent).

Kudos to Havard & Byrne, thought they were immense and play with a maturity well above their years.

The gap is closing and Saints will realise that they will have a fight on their hands in the play offs.

On a side note, how many players in SL still can’t seem to play the ball correctly? Was it Isa that came unstuck today? Mago is another that needs to be careful.

Lmao! Farrell absolutely tried to cheat and it was embarassing

I'm sure the last part is Peet being diplomatic and not wanting to sound like a sore loser, but as I've said....letter of the law it's red. It's the law that's the problem not the decision.

Welsby was excellent. Rivalry aside, he's a superb player no doubt. I wanted to see him in a side not winning easy and he proved that today by dragging you over the line. Batchelor excellent also. Hopefully they take that form into an England shirt.

Farrell the second time, I'm not sure what that was. In the first half he was smacked full on in the face.

Gap closing, but you still have the edge. Your next coach is a massive decision, but if your defence stays as strong you will always be a threat.

Not been able to watch it but sounds like Saints were best team.

The gap is closing though. We’ll get them when it matters.

The build up to the final try was frustrating. Four men on Hurrell and he still gets an offload away. I didn't understand Marshall dropping back and leaving Bibby as the sole defender against four attackers. Cust being left for dead by a 2nd rower was a bit concerning as well.

Two points from the game for me-

Saints were the better team and deserved to win.

Singleton got Napa and Micky Mac’s red cards from last week.

Enjoyed it overall. We can’t keep making errors in our twenty but if we can cut them out we’ll go close. The games are so much better than last season.

Woolf alluded to that in his press conference.

So is that an admittance of trying to influence a referee