I try to back them when I can but nobody can defend that guy. He’s made the London game and tonight’s almost unwatchable.

The ref was pedantic, but Wigan were still caught inside the 10 too often. I'd be interested to know who NK thinks are 'way off'.

First half we were off it and Sheffield did attack with pace about their attack all evening so credit where it's due.

Second half I felt we had a lot more intent and that showed.

12-12 first half score.
32-6 second half score.
That makes the point.

I thought Wardle and Marshall were particularly strong second half.

Only one or two as I say and I cut them loads of slack. It’s been a whirlwind few weeks and months for all the players and it’s understandable that it’s taking some players longer than others to find that focus. I can’t be bothered naming players because I don’t want to call out lads who’ve killed it for us over recent months/years and when I say they’re ‘way off’ I mean they’re way off ‘their best’ and that is an extremely high level.

It’s just important now that all the players switch on. It feels a bit to me like the domestic season really starts for us on Friday. I hope and think the players feel the same and I do expect we’ll see a totally different focus and energy, both with and without the ball (we’ve not put together both those parts of the game yet).

It was a real stop/start game, party due to our ill discipline and partly due to the ref who certainly liked the sound of his whistle.

Sheffield are due a lot of credit, they were full of endeavour and energy but we were well off. It was obvious Peet have us a roasting at half time, for the first 10 mins of the second we stepped up a gear. The rest of the game we were lethargic and lacked concentration.

I thought Nesmba did well, Marshall was his usual self and leeming looked lively when he came on.

That sums it up perfectly.

Harry Smith.

Id agree the season does start proper come Friday I think we all felt there would be some form of blowback from the penrith game and to an extent there has performance wise but credit to Wigan they've somehow kept on winning.

Not heard that we suffered any injuries, hope not anyway.

I think we need to put last night into some context - it might have been the cup, but it was a nothing game. I might also go as far as to say it was potentially damaging to any new fans we might have picked up too.

Something needs to change in RL. I realise every game can't be a big one, or get you excited - but I didn't want to be there last night and it looked like the players didn't either. Everything just felt forced. The team was OTT, the south stand not being open, the ref being a pedantic pr!ck etc.

I kept drifting off and thinking of the atmosphere at the WCC. The Bevan no try and how the south stand erupted etc. How is playing a semi pro team in front of 5k supposed to give us that high or atmosphere?

My Mrs is a perfect example of why it's dangerous. Towards the end of last year I got her to come to a couple of games (Leigh home and the GF). She then came to the WCC and is almost hooked. The last two home games however have had zero atmosphere. It's a sure fire way to quickly kill off a blossoming interest.

We joked at the game how it felt just like Penrith. I have loads of sympathy for the players in terms of getting excited and being up for games. I’ve been to all the games since Penrith and have felt flat watching them tbh. The fixtures we’ve had have been both good and bad. They’ve been good because they’ve all been extremely winnable but they’ve been bad because they’ve been hard to get excited about. That charge on Friday and I think everyone needs it.

We've also got Leigh away the week after. Like him or not, Derek always puts a good show on for these types of games, so at least we know that we've got two weeks with a "big game feel" to them.

Other teams need to step up however. When it comes to atmosphere, it takes two to tango. 20 or so away fans and a drum, or 100 and a couple of cowbells just doesn't cut it.

I really do think us and Saints could be on the cusp of really tapping into our respective towns. It seems that, given the right circumstances, there's a real interest and hunger for fans to watch their both sides. KR seem to be getting there and Leigh too. How do the rest do it?

Yeah and potentially a big cup game after that. All games we need.

Couldnt go last night , who was way off in your opinion mate ?

I think you are right mate. I was thoroughly bored although I would like to give credit to Sheffield, they played some good stuff and treated the occasion like their cup final. The referee strangled the game, how he has risen to refereeing SL games is beyond me, he could even make the GF derby seem drab. what was once the main competition in the rugby league calendar is now an afterthought, a rethink is needed. Maybe the Challenge Cup is past its sell by date? It is obvious, by last nights attendance that the folk in Wigan think so.