I was delighted with our performance yesterday, it is great to see some pride back in the shirt.

Walshaw made a good impression and TT (as I call him) is looking like a good acquisition. The forwards worked really hard yesterday and helped to keep us in it.

I keep reflecting that the second half score was 26-6 in favour of them, although 14 of those were in the last 8 minutes or so. So close and yet..... The score clearly does not reflect the closeness of the tie and we could really do with an improved points difference.

In the first half I thought Alibert performed well and was pleased to see him penalise Tomkins for mouthing off. He seemed fairly consistent in what he would or would not let go for both sides. Such a shame so many offsides and moving off the marks were tolerated as it gives a clear advantage.

In the second half, without an overly controversial decision I feel as though he started leaning towards them with decisions. Maybe it was the constant chatter in the ear or play being close to the Wigan fans.

A lot of people around me were calling Wigan passes as forward, this was laughable on the most part because they clearly were not. I know that Wigan like Leeds tend to get the rub of the green with forward passes but there weren't really many controversial ones missed yesterday. I have more of a gripe with their offsides (no need for it, they are well drilled and very fit), holding down and moving off the mark which was persistent.

I felt that losing Lee Smith and Kirmond in the second half is when the game moved away from us. We seemed to not have any attacking success once they left.

Whilst both teams were not at full strength we really were close to bear bones so the effort from the lads was truly superb.

With Bradford having lost a few on the trot we really need to get the 4 points from Salford and London. I do however think that having lost to Cas and Hull KR has probably cost us a chance at the top 8.

Sir, well its about time, if its good enough for Wiggins, Botham & Ferguson, surely, Sam deserves it. Well said that man, lets start a campaign now !!!!

Feel free - can't see it catching on outside of Wigan like, but fill your boots all the same.

If Sir Sam wins us the world cup and stays in Rugby League he can have my vote

If Sir Sam played in a team of English players for England then he (and they) would have my support too, however whilst we continue to pick the likes of Chase for England I hope they get slaughtered in the World Cup.

Just my opinion, but to me it would seem a very hollow victory to win the World Cup by using non-English players.

You know I feel exactly the same when the Aussies win the cup with all those kiwi's and south sea islanders in the team.

Don't worry it will never happen

I'm quite looking forward to him getting a hammering from the Aussies under the watchfull eye of an unbiased Aussie ref. Then he can sod off to Union.

There does seem to have developed in SL an unspoken rule that you shouldn't really tackle Sam and that if you do, you must be careful; once you've executed a careful tackle, you must instantly teleport out of the ruck and back to your feet, without impeding his wildly flailing arms and legs in any way whatsoever - if you do, you will be penalised and if you aren't penalised straight away, a committee of his colleagues will wave their arms until you are.

Meanwhile, if you don't obey any of the above rules to Sam's satisfaction, he'll lash out and kick you (a la Mathers yesterday) and not a single official will see anything.

An outstanding and gifted player, with a decidedly grubby attitude towards his opponents.

Other than his attitude he has one massive fault in his game. Remember the test match at Elland Road and how he bottled the high ball. Well he did the same yesterday I am suprised we didn't feed him any more after his shocking effort and I suprised other teams don't do the same to him.

and to cap it all, Tautai has been issued with a formal warning by the RFL for making dangerous contact with Tomkins - he must have dared to touch him

You mean from the type of tackle Wigan execute every single week, and have been doing so for going on four years?!

Is that the tackle where he went for the legs but followed through with the tackle? I thought this was allowed as we see it day in day out.

The only time it's not ok is when a player doesn't follow through the tackle. Or have the rules changed again?

Who knows especially after what happened last night. Gardner runs the ball out at speed and trips just before impact his head hits chest and forearm of tackler and tackler gets done for head high shot. How the hell the tackler could have avoided that I don't know.

Spot on. I really don't advocate violence in the game but if ever Tomkins gets a good smack on the nose it would be pay back for all the times he's used his arms and legs illegally.
A brilliant player who really likes to wind up opposing players but cannot take it himself.