Hudds had to back up from the Monday but we (HKR) had to back up from the Sunday so we only had one extra day.

Saints had an easy game against Salford last Friday but we played Cats away on Saturday and had to back up at Saints last night despite losing 4 players to illness yesterday morning.

Then the 84 - 6 drubbing on Easter Monday I'm sure was a culmination of us having to play the Cas game on the Sunday before our Good Friday derby - so it's all swings and roundabouts.

The one thing I'd be really concerned with as a Wigan fan is though, is that I think many Wigan fans actually underestimate the positive cumulative and knock-on effects having a world class player in Sam Tomkins in your side brings to your team.

For instance, in CC match at Craven Park, your forwards were getting smashed from pillar to post but Sam Tomkins contribution to 3 rapid tries turned the game on it's head, then we were starved of possession so our forwards momentarily tire, the lack of possession backs up, the momentum snowballs etc. etc. where as last night you didn't have Tomkins to pull rabbits out of the hat and the rest of your team were found wanting.

I really rate Blake Green but he's never been a player to turn tight games when they are in the balance unlike Travis Burns so Rovers definitely did some superb business there.

Wigan RL do the "bread and butter" stuff better than every other team in SL but it is lack of individual, top-end quality that will see you fall short of the SL title this year.

The Cas players have not won a single (official) away game for over a year. Perhaps they wanted to celebrate the fact that they had removed the mill stone from around their necks, against a team currently sat at the top of the league. Also, what better way to repay the fans who have consistently travelled to away games to support them than to stand in front of those fans and join in their celebrations.
Personally I want RL players to get excited about the game they play, rather than them being robots who give a token clap to the fans before walking from the pitch.
Sour grapes spring to mind (not everyone though, some have been ver complimentary; mr wane included, some would do well to follow their coach's lead).

First away win in 15 months, first time wigan have lost at home since September (ironically enough I was at that game too). We released a dvd of the 28-22 defeat from you guys at Wheldon Road. I was pretty happy last night, as a loyal and dedicated fan I've seen Hull Kr put 70 on us, Hull nil us, London out play us twice, Widnes thrash us etc etc so I think the fans deserved to celebrate last nights win and so did the players that made it happen. To concede just 4 points at Wigan is something to be proud of. Back to back wins, now bring on Saints next sunday.

Don't see why I need to defend my club to a bunch of untrained scabs

Go eat ya humble pie

Any chance you can go pop along to Warrington next week?

eh?

I seem to remember you being over the moon about losing to Warrington as well...you do realise the actual point of the game is to win don't you?

Grow up and grow some.

Should players be on such a pedestal, such model professionals that they are above celebrating a bloody good win with the fans and having a photograph taken for them to remember it by?

Fans pay players wages and quite rightly yesterday the Cas team would have been celebrating a bloody good win against the team who sit atop of the table having looked by far the best team in the comp. It speaks volumes of the Castleford players that they would go to their supporters after the game. It is one of the reasons that the atmosphere in the Wheldon Road end is one of the best in the world and why so many players and coaches have such fond memories of their time at a club in a small town in Wakefield. It will be a sad day at Cas when the players troop straight down the tunnel after a good win.

It was a tired performance and one that I was expecting to be honest so I wasn't surprised when it did happen. I understand Cas not agreeing to switch the game but we knew we were playing Warrington on a Monday when the fixtures were compiled (or so I recall as I booked the day off) - so why didn't we make sure we had this fixture set for a sunday I don't know. I understand you can't switch it but it shouldn't have needed to be switched, it should have been on the sunday to start with.

Aside from the players being switched off I'm wondering if the coacing team were already planning what they were doing this weekend as it could be seen to all that McIlorum was struggling but it took until the last 10 minutes to bring Powell on? Was Powell injured?

That said they haven't become bad players and coaches overnight, it was just one of those days. Fair play to Cas, Chase ran the show and we made Tansey look like a decent player! I used to hate it when Wigan fans applaued other teams scoring so maybe I'm showing signs of growing old and less petulant but I couldn't help but applaud Cas's second try. That was superb rugby.

Thought Powell played alright considering it was his first game in this code. Other than that I can't take any positives out of it. Just need to chalk it off and move on.

Just to clarify, We also did the picture at Millenium Magic after beating Wakefield, It may be a regular thing now if we win away from home, Give the fans who have made the trip a photo with them and the team in. I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

Dvd's are provided the next day of all other games (Especially the wins)

You played as well as the conditions and the opposition allowed you to. We did the same, Just our 1 Half Back controlled the game a lot better than your 2. As simple as that.

I don't really understand where all the stick for this team photo is coming from, the players walk over to clap the travelling fans, as most teams do, and a photographer says why not get a picture in front of them? even if intentional it shows to me cas are trying to unite the team and fans, which is a good thing.





Nah mate if i had to pick a highlight against Wigan it would be the playoffs in '99, i don't think any fan has said last night was the highlight of their life, steady on

Billy whizz's lad had a couple of howlers last night but i think he will come alright, see you next season.

We sell dvds of all of our games

That's Wigan all over Thanks oh great Wigan for letting a lowly club like Castleford beat you - be us ever so humble. Had it not for being for a couple of dodgy decisions at home we would have done double!!!