Cheated our way out of relegation, an now were cheating our way to topping the table, happy days, its just because were bigger than everyone else and we OWN the RFL.

I say carry on cheating our way to the title

I totally agree.

So what?

Nobody cares, bye.

We held on too long in the tackle on a number of occasions and were duly punished.

HOWEVER, what all of those whining about our tactics don't understand is that we are not necessarily lying on longer than other teams in the tackle. What we are actually doing is slowing the tackling process down.

We get numbers in the tackle and make that actual act of tackling last longer than other teams do. This stops the opposition getting momentum and allows us to reset.

Watch the 3rd man. They will break as early as possible to reset, leaving just the would-be markers involved in the tackle. Getting numbers in usually ensures a dominant tackle also.

For me the Superleague refs dont know how to manage the NRL style play Wigan/Huddersfield have adopted. This tends to lead to lots of penalties or a passive attitude in the first half, then penalties for the opposition or an over worked whisle in the 2nd half to make it look on paper an evenly refereed match. The RFL need to get a grip.

You all sound like Huddersfield fans from last season.

At least we don't sound like Wigan fans from last season. You lot on the other hand ...



Welcome to the new world.

What people are not understanding is the risk in this tactic.

1) If the opposition has a real ball playing forward in their team then you have real problem, a Brian McTigue, Harry Pinner et al would have loved it. Three men in the tackle, ball out, try time. We need to bring that facet of the game back.

2) If you play the three men in the tackle and then peel off you have to be very fit to get those men back in the defensive line for the next set or you will be punished.

I have watched the game again very carefully and it is clear that Saints held on just as long as Wigan in the tackle or put another way Wigan don't hold on any longer. Which makes sense really because if Wigan were holding down too long they would be penalised and if Saints were not holding down long enough then fool them. It is the whole technique that Wigan employ which gives them a slight advantage i.e. 3 men in the tackle keeping the man moving until the tackle is complete with usually the man on his back pointing the wrong way. The time advantage, which allows the Wigan defensive line time to reset, is the added delay in completing the tackle and not from time lying on. The tacklers peel off at the right time so as not to infringe. An additional split second is gained because the attacker has to regain his feet and turn round. People who suggest that Wigan are lying on too long are missing the point by a mile.

Also they are missing the point by a mile if they think that Wigan's control of the ruck area is THE reason for their early season form. Wigan are paying attention to ALL areas of the game perhaps with the exception of field kicks which have room for improvement. If you win all the small battles then you increase your chances of winning the war.

Focus on Wigan's defence is also missing the fact that Wigan's attack is far better than previous years again through better technique and running lines. Robby Paul even referred to it as sexy rugby! None of this is down to luck. It is clearly down to good coaching coupled with good execution from the players. Surely that is what RL is all about.

How nice to be associated with this again.

There is the cunning part of MM's plan. How many true ball-play-forwards are knocking about these days. Also, this is the fittest and most well conditioned looking Wigan side I can remember.