I agree that Thornley did well up against Monaghan. At the moment Monaghan is the best in the league when it comes to catching cross field kicks and yet Thornley did exactly what he had to do and prevented him from catching them.

One of them he was unlucky that he landed on his arm and lost control, but he prevented a try in a situation where the attacking player has an advantage which is what a defending winger needs to do.

Yesterday was one of the worst performances I've seen from Wigan in a very long time - that includes the Leeds SF CC game.



:2hfjyourForwards:2hfjyour

Bottled it. Pure and simple. Mossop, Hansen, Micky Mac, Prescott, Lima and Farrell need to take a long hard look at themselves after yesterday. Did Prescott even play? He was non-existant. The only way I knew Mossop was playing was because of that attempted hug on Chris Hill.



It's a worry for me that in 2 big games this season, CCSF and yesterday, our forwards haven't been there. Does Wane need to keep his mouth shut about our forwards bullying the other pack? Jury's out on that for me, because in every game whether its a big game or a normal league game - the pack should go out there with the sole intention of bullying and dominating the other pack. Do we need another prop or two? Definately. Another hooker to compete with Micky Mac? Worth considering.



:2hfjyourBacks:2hfjyour

Carmont - the only player I can hand on heart say had a decent game. Thornley did OK, his inexperience showed but I didn't think he did too much wrong against Joel Monaghan. Finch should of been nowhere near that team today, it was clear from the warm-up that he wasn't fully fit, and in a massive game such as this going into it at less than 100% is asking for trouble. He was at fault for a few mistakes but he wasn't alone - Matty Smith was woeful.



Our backs needed to play behind a dominant forward pack. Our pack weren't dominant, they were getting bullied. The backs therefore had little to play with - that doesn't excuse the amateur mistakes though - but Finch and Smith looked beaten by the 3rd tackle of our attacks. I'll be interested to see who Wane see's fit to replace Finch at the end of the season.



:2hfjyourShaun Wane it is worrying.



I had faith that we'd make OT and win the GF. I am starting to doubt that faith after yesterday.

Good post and agree with vast majority of it. One does wonder about whether the players are being flogged too hard in training. I'm also concerned about the number of injuries incurred in training too - Lima was out for a few weeks because of an injury that happened in training and is one of the players who has not been as impressive since June.



SW has said that Sam Powell was unavailable owing to injury yesterday - I didn't notice him pick up any knock against Hull, so was this another injury that happened in training?



I do think all the players should be given a break at some stage in the next 3 weeks and hopefully they'll come back mentally as well as physically refreshed. Only 1 game in the next 20 days.

I'd like to see something along those line's too. We look fatigued to me at present. But have the chance and time to get the players fit and ready for the play-off should Wane choose to do so.

Don;t know why people are saying we have lost our 2 biggest games of the season so far. Our biggest game was Leeds in the SF and we lost, after that it was Saints in the QF which we won, then Saints at Standish-with-Langtree Park which we won, then Saints in Manchester. Then i would say it was yesterdays game. Thats 3 out of 5 victories, plus beat Leeds home and away and Catalans home and away. OK we lost at home to Wire but that was only on kicks and Pat was injured. Also beat Hudds away when they were top or 2nd and certainly in form.



The worry yesterday is that our players looked like the team going to Wembley and worried about injury. Our ball retention was awful aswell, and that's a basic. Should we play them in the playoffs we'll be a lot better, i'm sure.

The semi final and Saturdays match were our biggest games this season.



We lost them both !



We won't win trophies playing like that.

They'll get a natural break with the cup final but other then that I think we need to get as settled a side as possible out there and try to build some momentum. We seem to have a minimum of 2 or 3 changes a week at the moment and it's doing nothing to help build players match fitness, form or an ability to play as a cohesive unit.

I cant help feeling there is a bit of an over-reaction to this defeat. Defensively we were pretty good but when you continually turn the ball over in your own half points will be conceded. Our attack was lame but look at the swapping and changing over the last few weeks just in the halves. We had Finch/Tommy then Finch/Lockers then Finch/Smith the Smith/Powell then Finch/Smith again. Add to that several of the team clearly werent fit and we played who I think are the best team in the comp fighting for cup final jerseys, the writing was on the wall before a ball was kicked. I still think we'll get to Old Trafford but we need some consistency in that team. Maybe knocking the full contact training on the head might be start so we arent injuring each other.

I don't understand why this game is being regarded as one of the two biggest all year, it was no more vital than any other league game. I would have said the first game in the season should have been a critical one to set the way that Wigan wanted to go on.



Given the turn over in the halves the last few weeks it's understandable that the disruption will have had an impact. Finch was well off the mark and I don't think should have played, he seemed to avoid taking on anyone all day.

If we had beaten Widnes away, as we should have (no disrespect to Widnes) then the Wire game would not have had the significance as it did. The pressure to win would not have been as important, and maybe we would have played much better?

wonder if the Challenge Cup would have so much value to the Wires if it wasn't the only trophy they were capable of winning??

IF, we had beaten Hudds at home, IF,we had beaten Wire at home, IF, we had beaten Bradford at home...............................................big word IF.