Reading Peet's comments on how they set up with Ellis And Luke playing major roles in filling in for the missing 9 then it makes sense that the others were used sparingly

Walters needs to get far more aggression into his game, his yardage for a big man is poor. I am not sure that he is a second row forward more like a prop/13.

https://www.superleague.co.uk/match-centre/report/4480 Stats from yesterday evening. Some good numbers by the middles of both teams.

https://www.superleague.co.uk/match-centre/report/4480 Stats from yesterday evening. Some good numbers by the middles of both teams.

Nsemba was lifting people off the ground with the ferocity of his defence at times.

It was a bad miss by him for one of the Saints tries however generally he was an absolute menace in defence last night.

Walters needs time. He’s not had a great start to his Wigan career but there is still time. I do worry that the new rules go somewhat against him and his size. Nsemba is a big boy too but looks more athletic I think Walters is a bit less agile and is struggling to adapt to the lower tackle height and the knock on implications of it, ie quicker ptb’s.

I think that is a fair point Steve. One thing I thought Peet got wrong was the use of Farrimond and Farrell at hooker, I would have preferred Faz in at dummy half when attacking Saints and vice versa when we were coming out of our own half. Tying Farrimond up cut down our attacking options.

Yes that really didn’t work did it.

Smith was an easy target when JF was at the play the ball compounded by the lack of French or Field as he was often our only play making option.

Smith did very well a couple of times on the left edge when he could have got smashed particularly on the last tackle but used great feet and eyes up play to create space and put his strike edge players into open ground.

Last night felt a bit like the end for Hampshire at Wigan. If you’re not getting a game with 2 FB/HB options out, along with 3 hookers, you’re probably not going to see much more action.

Good.

I still think the French injury is the big story from last night. If it is 8 weeks Wigan will be hoping to get him back a couple of games before the playoffs. Not ideal as I think a big reason for our success last year was the continuity in the spine in the last 8 weeks or so.

Just a reminder that no matter how well you go throughout the year - if you get a big injury to a key player at the wrong time then you're at risk in the couple of games that really matter.

IF everything goes to plan re. French's recovery it's still going to be touch and go to get him fit for the play-offs, he'll have max two games before the play-offs, not ideal and a massive couple of months for Farrimond coming up

We are in a good place so far, four points clear with a game in hand. We 'should' be too strong for Hull FC away next week.

No doubt we will have challenges in the coming weeks: Wire at home. Two matches in one week (of which one is Leigh).

Hopefully Field is back soon (what is the timescale for him)?

The push on Farrell, you've got to be having a laugh. He comes across into Welsby's path and tries to block him from getting near the ball and it's a collision. He's lucky he didn't get pinged for obstruction though I thought the ref came to the best decision which was, nob all in it. Play on. Can't believe people are acting like Welsby has done anything wrong there. What is he supposed to do? Give up on the ball cos someones got in his way?

I thought Moore was pretty crap and missed a lot, the one where he said the high shot on Lees was accidental head clash (which it wasn't) and play on (since when btw?) was a shocker that led to the charge down and led to your try. However, I don't want to focus on him in general, as I thought it was largely a great game and rather than him costing us the game, it was some really dumb rugby from us at key times. As well as Eckersley taking the game by the scruff of the neck and coming up with some brilliant stuff. I'd also much rather he let more go like he did last night than not. The problem is that it's pretty ridiculous when you only decide to start letting stuff go half way through the game, after dishing out a sinbin in the 1st minute! Can't fathom Wigan fans thinking we got the rub of the green though. I know we're all a bit biased, but that's ridiculous to me

We might have had the first choice spine available but it's a bit dim to be acting like that tells the story. The best halfbacks in the world (which they're obviously not) can't do anything behind a beaten pack and the vast majority of our first choice pack was out. I said when we were lining up at the start that your team looked miles bigger than we did, and it showed with how much possession and territory you had. I thought we did well to stay in the game considering that. Fact is you probably SHOULD have scored 5 or 6 with the amount of field position you have but you didn't which shows the effect that missing your two main attackers had on you, as well as some fantastic defence by us. I think our defence in the face of that shows that we will be able to stay in the fight in any big, intense game which gives us a shot, terrible attack or not. Obviously won't be on the end of such a hiding in the forwards if we can get some bodies back either

Just to add, I don't really see us challenging for the silverware this year so you may be right about Wire being the biggest threat, but I don't think we are a million miles away and I think we'll be tough to beat in the big games. Wouldn't surprise me at all to see us turn Wire over in the play offs.

To be honest I'm thinking it will be a Wigan v Hull KR Grand Final this year.