Just a point to highlight our style of play improvement -

2 of our tries were from running the ball on the last play.

How many times over the last few years would that have been a nothing bomb from Tommy/Hastings into the corner to “turn the ball over in the right position”

Chanced our arm and it paid off.

I believe we need to refer to him as the poundland Morgan Knowles.

In all seriousness though, what a season Smithies is having. It's so easy to forget how relatively young he is, but he's really "arrived" this year imo. One of my favourite parts of yesterday was when Smithies took Marshall away from the ref, after Liam was upset at a 1st half call. That's a bit of real maturity and leadership - something that was probably the weakest area of his game.

He’s a terrific player and is maturing and improving all the time. Like everyone, he had a lull under Lammy but the good thing about him is that he was very honest and said he’d not kicked on as he’d liked to have done during that spell.

I think the only reason fans tout him so much is because everyone else says he’s just fast. I do believe he has more to his game and hopefully he can show it more. Can’t remember who it was against but he picked out a pearl of a cut out pass for a try. Also the tackle on hurrell he had no right in making, if that was Escare for instance he’d of bumped him off for sure. Hopefully a bit more development and a little less reliance on his speed he hopefully can progress

Why? It's the day after we just broke Saints hearts and got to the final of the Challenge Cup and you chose today to make criticism. WTF is wrong with you? Enjoy the moment.

Would you like to point to these other poor passes he's made? I'm intrigued.

So there's an area of his game he needs to improve. Name me a player who doesn't. He scores length of the field tries, is leading the MOS ratings, makes numerous try saving tackles and has literally won us games. But hey! He doesn't sweep as well as he might so let's focus on that.

There's only one of us needs to chill a bit and it isn't me. Have a beer. Enjoy the moment. As I say; you must be a blast at parties!

Harry Smith's decision on both I think too (certainly one of them was). Probably something he should get enormous credit for as you open yourself up to criticism when it doesn't come off.

Spot on.

For every so called bad pass, or missed tackle there are plenty of examples of him doing them not only right, but at an elite level too. Not every pass is gonna stick and not every tackle is going to be made, but when you can stop Hurrell with a great hit then you've got credit in the bank.

If I did want to be slightly negative about yesterday (only slightly), then it would be about French. He's elusive, but I don't think he's got elite speed (like Marshall, or French). He also doesn't bring it off our line well either. Reluctantly, I'd be happy to see him move on for next season. I'd love to see a point of difference in that back three. A big rangy winger like Richards was.

My favourite games this season have been ones where Field has been handled relatively well but we’ve still won. The most entertaining have been when he’s ripped it up but the most satisfying for me have been the games against Salford and yesterday, when the team have still found points from other areas and we have shown we don’t just rely on one man.

It was a different performance from Field yesterday but still a very good one I felt. It was one in the eye for those why say he can’t defend. It seems to be a unwritten rule that a great attacking fullback has to be wrote off as a defensive waste of time but everything I see from him suggests it’s also a strong area for him. He’s a brave lad that’s for sure.

Spot on NK. It's exciting to see Field ripping teams apart but I absolutely love it when win win when he's kept quiet! We're a one man team according to many Saints fans. They've been fretting all week about Field stealing a close game in the last minutes only for Marshy to do it instead. Priceless!

Genuinely, I don't know where the myth that he can't defend has come from? Like you mentioned, it's probably down to non Wigan fans assuming it to be the case, simply because of his size and speed. They haven't watched the majority of his games and trolls like LeBron, roll the old tropes out.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with Field as the last line of defence.

I'd go even further SP. I feel safer with Field having to make a try saving tackle than any fullback we've had for years.

Marshy needs to have better control of the ball going into the tackle, especially when he is coming out from our try line - a two handed grip would be beneficial. His tries were spectacular though and overall he had a good game.

No I didn't. I was responding to posts already made about him. I didn't come on here thinking 'I'm going to criticise Field'. I didn't think he had a bad game, just pointing out that up against teams that defend well, then the threat he poses is nullified. Is he a perfect player? No. Does he have weaknesses? Yes. Do I enjoy seeing him play? Of course I do. Would I want him playing against us? Would I f**k! However, whether you like to admit it or not, his biggest asset IS his speed. That doesn't mean he's a bad player. Some Wigan fans get their knickers in a right old twist when opposition fans point it out, including you by the looks of it, and I don't understand why.