You're right. The problem is our record against the top 4 this season is played 6 won 1. That's the biggest worry going into the playoffs. We're flat track bullies, that doesn't win Grand Finals.

So there's only 2 games worth turning up for us speccies ?

The Grand Finat at OT and Wembley ?

I wish someone had told me that years ago.

Don't take this the wrong way but Tony Smith wouldn't touch Luaki with a barge pole. If he displayed as much aggression with ball in hand as he does getting involved in face to face or kicking stamping once he's lost the ball or just being daft then he would be a player.

Agree with most of the above but MM was the only player with any real fire in his belly as usual. There was nothing from most forwards and I agree that we miss lockers more than Sam. We had no leadership in the middle and it only went wrong once the subs started to come on. 1st 15 we were fine. Taylor went ok, MM was going well, enter subs, all down hill.

We will win at Wembley but I fear for the play offs.

If you watch the game again without the emotion you'll realise most are over-reacting. We weren't that bad.

The difference between the 2 teams tonight was the kicking game. Our kicks found the man, theirs found the floor. Had Sam Powell's penalty found touch i'd wager a very different result. That was the point of the game when Hudds took control. Obviously there was one shocking call which didn't help.

I have a theory on Tomkins. As far as we believe he is off to NZ at the end of the season and we don't have a replacement. This means one of the current squad has to play FB next year. You can put forward a case as to who you prefer, it seems Hampshire is the chosen one. If he is to play as first choice next year he needs game time this year. It wouldn't surprise me if Sam only plays the CC final and any play off games, ie the only ones that really matter to give Hampshire as much game time as possible.

In my honest opinion, if you couple that performance but factor in Tomkins, Smith, O'Loughlin and Flower, also take out the lunacy of Lauaki, we'll be there or there abouts.

Utter bollox.

Look at our record without Sam. Look at it without Lockers.


Lockers is a vastly improved player over the last 2 or 3 seasons there is no doubt.

However, our real problem is our lack of creativity. Our halves are hopeless.

We have rehed moves (which even I can work out now, obviously our opposition has. If I see the mis-out pass to Farrell on the left one more time, my head will be bloody from the facepalms.


Sam is the X factor. He makes our dull, repetitive moves look good.


If Wane want's to go down under next year he has my blessing.

Massively reliant on a once in a decade superstar.

Or you could have worked it out like the rest of us............

We didn't utilise Hampshire enough. The halves didn't create enough space for Hampshire to attack. Thats down to Blake Green, worst performance from him without a doubt, shocking. His passing and decision making was atrocious tonight.
When Sam Powell had the ball i thought we looked a lot more dangerous.
Our defense was awful tonight, ive never seen a Wigan team in the last 3 years miss as many tackles in one game than i did tonight.
We have to pick it up for Wembley, Hull will be really up for it and the way were performing at the moment we wont be bringing that Challenge Cup home.

We simply have to hope that it's a master plan by Wane.

Personally I doubt it.

I hope that somehow Wigan fortuitously turn it around and win the CC and GF, but if they do I am not convinced it will have been on account of Wane.

I had my doubts when he was appointed. I think it was right to give him a year, but 2 years down the line, I am unconvinced.

The moment Sam Powell (pretty sure it was him) failed to find touch with that kick you knew the game was gone - massive mistake which galvanised Huddersfield and we simply could not get in their half after that.

Overreaction of epic proportions. It's commonly accepted that 1, 7, 9 and 13 form the spine (or rudder, if you will) of a team. For us that's Sam, Smith, McIlorum and Lockers. You will notice 3 of those were in the stands. Also, we were playing the top team in the league when we had one eye on the cup, not bad that we were within a score for most of the game and we had a bad day errorswise. As for Sam, he was in the 19 on Wednesday, and I know for a fact his kit was put out on gameday, so whatever it was, he was planned to be playing. What the hell makes the OP think he's just picking and choosing is beyond me. Just sour grapes because he's leaving I suspect. What does he expect, Wane to play him when he's 50/50 just so we stand a better chance of beating Huddersfield, then maybe lose him for Wembley? I'd be the first to call for his head if that happened. Anyone carrying a knock shouldn't be risked in the league fixtures and I'm glad to see they aren't being. We need everyone available with gas in the tank for Wembley and the play offs.

This is the "glass half full" view of the world.

Personally I hope you are right and it's a master plan by Wane.

Irrespective of this we massively rely on Sam. Look at the stats.

Absolutely bang on.
Great to see someone talking sense. Why people ignore our win and loss record with/without Sam is beyond me. I think is possibly because Sam is going at the end of the season and Lockers isn't.

We might win the CC or playoffs with Sam in the team.

But don't people think its a MASSIVE concern how Wane can't get a win without Sam? Should be the main talking point! Especially with Sam on his way if we are to believe he's off to NZ

Watch it again and freeze frame where grix catches the ball. He has one foot on the touch line.