Cliché to say, but the game has gone soft.

Never a red card. IF it was however, why didn't both of them go? Look at this pic, how is one a red and the other isn't? It's almost like they are making it up as they go.

rlhttps://twitter.com/pjc_phil/status/1758917007351705698?t

As for Thompson missing next week, that's a farce as well. The fact they've just released a shirt immortalising the last WCC winners Vs Penrith and LT is going miss a game because of a headache, shows us what a sorry state we're in & where people's priorities sit.

I read an article the other day saying that "medical experts" believe letting kids play rugby is tantamount to child abuse. The RFL really listening to them? You'd have thought we'd had enough of these experts after the f over the economy during COVID.

Hill is nowhere near World Club Challenge level

I wouldn’t be so sure. It’s a fixture that comes around very rarely but one that drags special performances out of people. The lad is a huge talent and he looked very sharp in pre season. It will be a terrific opportunity for him and I’m confident he’ll do everyone proud.

Even if we'd rested some, those injuries would have happened to someone as they would have been in that position at that moment in time, and would Thompson and Leeming have been the ones rested anyway?

Havard was never going to be fit for the WCC but losing Walters & Thompson are big blows, the Panthers strength is their pack imo.

Thought Marshall, Mago, Wardle and Leeming were very good.

Wardle looks ready to claim the title of the top centre in SL.

Injuries and the Smith incident is a concern to loose Leeming in particular would be damaging.

Discipline is letting us down a bit in the pre season and round 1 need to fix that up ahead of next week.

Yesterday given the conditions the Penrith game was about the win and getting through unscathed with injuries.

50% of the job done.

Should Smith be banned (hopefully not) Peet has a big call to make.

I appreciate I’m in a minority in thinking this but I would go with Farrimond at 7. From what I’ve seen he’s a more controlling game managing 7 where as I see Rocky more in the 5/8th role occupied by French.

Agree with Mago, Leeming, Wardle, Marshall all having good games.

Mago probably had his best game for wigan. Played around around 15 mins first half and all the 2nd? This time last year he was getting pulled after 10 mins. He was out on his feet at the end but still taking the ball up from a scrum right at the end. Brilliant footwork for his assist to Bevan.

Ellis also had a very strong 1st half with some very strong carries.
Fingers crossed for Smith, I think there were mitigating factors but there's at least a 50/50 he'll get a ban.

I wonder why they kept Leeming on? He seemed pretty bad for the first mins after, but then scored a try - hopefully it shows it wasn't too serious and just needs managing now, but ankles are funny things to get right.

Last point - anyone know why Marshall got a penalty against him when he came away from the line in the 2nd half? He seemed to get caught off balance went flying got up and was tackled and the ref gave Cas the pen ?

Ref said he jumped into the tackle.

I think it was the right call although I’ve not seen it back.

I assumed Leeming was a bit of a dead leg (thigh) but I was at the game and not rewatched as yet.

It was definitely an ankle. He grimaced in pain but then seemed to run it off. He must've played around 10 minutes on it and despite whatever pain he may have been in he seemed to move freely on it for his try and in the minutes before.

I'm not an expert but could the protective boot and crutches be purely a precautionary measure to give him the best chance of making it to the WCC? Or at least until they get a proper diagnosis for it.

I may be being a bit optimistic with that but its the fact prior to being subbed he was running on it etc.

I really hope these injuries don’t spoil the season. We look on to a good one and I know it part and parcel of the game but I’m counting 6 players out (including Harvard and Juniour) in two games is just a joke.

We’ll be ok. None of the injuries are overly long term and the depth we have means there isn’t a major drop off. The one injury that could be a longer term worry is Thompson getting another head knock. He was having major issues with that but then obviously didn’t play much due to other injury problems. To get one in his first competitive game for the club is far from ideal.

I hope the club have some clauses baked into his contract around the issue. Like you said he's got previous with it and whilst I don't think this stuff is as serious as people make out, the rules say he can't play. If he's getting these regularly (which he is) then I hope the right conversations will be had.

I hope this is just a coincidence. It was a heavy knock he took from Byrne when you look at the injuries he copped - cut to the mouth, black eye, cut to the head. There is no doubt that he staggered slightly following the impact but it took a significant period for the medical team to remove him which I found bizarre. I think Luke would be better advised using some kind of head guard.

If it had been an innocuous challenge and Thompson had gone off with a concussion then it would be time to worry but that was a fair old crack he took there so give him a week or even two off and I reckon he'll be fine