For OP: wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2657 wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=1147

For OP: wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2657 wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=1147

Saints won 12-16 with three trys each plus two goals to Saints.
The difference in the scoreline are the two goals.
Just read in the trade press how super duper fantastic Saints were and we were well behind. Saints were good, for them, and the better team won. Whether they can repeat those kind of performances for the rest of the season remains to be seen.
However as far as Wigan are concerned, we had seven players out of our best 17 missing. Once we have Goulding, Thornley, Green, McIlorum, Farrell, Clubb and Pettybourne back we will have a far stronger squad than played last Friday. Add to that Joel Tomkins who will return at the end of the month and it looks a very strong squad indeed. If we can get those players back and match fit plus stem the injuries there's every hope for a good end to the season.

Ignoring any players missing (their loss of Walsh early on evened things out a bit) I think more of a factor on the night was players playing who were not fit.

Players will always play carrying knocks but there were Wigan players who were visibly not right.
Lockers, Powell, Charnley, Gelling & Bateman were nowhere near 100% imo. I didn't think the game was as good as is being made out, the quality from both teams was poor at times. We can play a lot better but I don't think that was Saints best either.

Oh and the main 'predictable' thing for me was losing another 'big game' at the DW.

On the plus side I thought that young Doran deserved some credit. He didn't look out of place, passed well and made the defence think a bit. I am not sure where he will end up because we have a glut of good stand offs but at 100kg and good ball handling skills he could do a job in any number of roles, once he loses the puppy fat.

im not too gutted like many other people have said. think overall we will still pip saints when it comes down to it. however, said it a few weeks ago that burgess needs resting. looking very tired and making poor defensive decisions. not having a settled centre is prob some of it but hes only a young lad.

its games like that where you realize we really do miss Tomkins. his x factor would likely have won us the day as bowen still flatters to deceive being too inconsistent.

agree with all the points about injuries - getting bodies back is easier said than done though

If we'd kicked all the conversions, we'd have won. Hardly a disaster. Sarginson has been one of out better players this year so I think picking him out is a tad harsh. I don't see anyone bagging Burgess for falling off Makinson when he scored...

I was just about to....

very poor attempt at a tackle, schoolboy quality, on the back of perfect positional play to force him to the line.

Will make him a better player in the long run, in a game that counts for nowt.

We looked drained. Thought Dudson and Flower were worthy of praise.

But no Plan B, until way too late.

No point having the two most potent wingers in the league if we dont use them...

Not if our 2 missed kicks had gone over too.

Dudson gave away the two penalties that lead to Saints scoring 8 points. The only thing he deserves on the back of those is a rocket up his backside.

Flower gave away the high shot which they kicked 2 points from.

Pretty much agree with this. I've noticed similar in games against Leeds. I'd say the only thing that makes your plays look a little predictable at times is when the dummy runners don't blast into the defence with 100% enthusiasm. If players are tired they sometimes coast a bit making it easier for defences to determine who's going to take the ball in. Wouldn't worry tbh; I think it's a point Wane won't shy away from making when the games really count. And as you say, you're a difficult side to defend against when that commitment in attack is there.

Regarding the refereeing decisions, like Saints fans you're obviously going to look at it from a Wigan biased view. The decisions went for and against you. It balances out. Injuries wise, we were missing some important players too. I thought we edged it and the result was fair, but credit to you, it seems that however deep you have to dig into your youth teams you always manage to put together a team that's very hard to beat.

That said, we won, HAHAAAAAA!