Re: Wigan 19 for Thursday against Wakefield. : Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:13 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Yes far exceeded my expectations tonight. I was hoping that we might squeak out a win but I never imagined we'd get there by that margin.

If we're to finish 3rd and have an outside chance of winning it we have to beat Hull in a fortnight. Biggest game of the SL season for us by far.

Same, as you may be able to tell from earlier posts! Wakefield just didn’t show up and we were ruthless in attack and defence. The proof in the pudding is only missing 1 tackle in the first half and only 8 overall and making over 600 more metres in attack. We fell off a bit in the 2nd half but realistically we were never in danger of losing after running up a 34-0 margin so that can be forgiven easily.

I agree re Hull also, it’s a huge game for us and for me, similar to the Saints game, a major statement-making game. To finish in the play offs after the start is an achievement, to finish 3rd with a very real shot at making Old Trafford and a Grand Final win would almost certainly trump the Leeds win from 5th in my own very biased opinion.

Re: Wigan 19 for Thursday against Wakefield. : Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:16 pm  

When I looked at the age of our pack I thought Farrell and Isa have to have big games tonight for us to have a chance and they both did.

We went full throttle from the off and they were unable to cope. They responded in the second and we switched off a bit but very pleased overall.

I’ve watched us a lot of times this year and felt the bounce of the ball was against us, it was quite nice to see the reverse of that for a change.

2 weeks rest & bring on Hull.

Re: Wigan 19 for Thursday against Wakefield. : Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:34 pm  

must be the worst wigan team ever,wont even win the sky second best egg cup in Manchester.

Re: Wigan 19 for Thursday against Wakefield. : Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:48 pm  

fosdyke99 wrote:

must be the worst wigan team ever,wont even win the sky second best egg cup in Manchester.

.... and still miles better than Hull FC.

Re: Wigan 19 for Thursday against Wakefield. : Thu Jul 18, 2019 10:25 pm  

We can’t be anything but happy with that. Good performances from Hardaker, Williams, Sammut, Navarette, Isa and Smithies (amongst others) for me and an absolute master class by the most underrated player in world rugby league in Liam Farrell.

Players back on board for Hull and things are looking up.

Re: Wigan 19 for Thursday against Wakefield. : Fri Jul 19, 2019 7:01 am  

We have two weeks' rest before we play Hull, whilst they have to face Leeds on Sunday and Warrington on the Sunday after.

Re: Wigan 19 for Thursday against Wakefield. : Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:08 am  

Great performance all be it against a team very low on confidence and clearly carrying players with injury, but take nothing away from our lads.

The youngsters were fantastic. Really ripped in.

Farrell was outstanding, the lines he runs are very intelligent and provides genuine threat every time he is close to the line.

Williams is showing his talent again now and it’s no coincidence the whole team has improved around him.

One player I’ve been particularly underwhelmed by is Hardaker, but he really is starting to show what all the fuss is about lately, great again last night.

I think talk of finals and outside chances of trophies is a little optimistic, however, we as a team are clearly moving in the right direction and developing an identity under Lam.

Going to enjoy the rest of this year with one eye on 2020 too where I think we will be back pushing hard on all fronts for titles.

Re: Wigan 19 for Thursday against Wakefield. : Fri Jul 19, 2019 9:41 am  

I was worried about the pack , but the intensity showed by the pack was the best Ive seen all year, a lot of second efforts at tackles no quit. Navarette has been good in the last two home games. Farrell is all class. Sammut took on the line and offered another threat. Points difference getting a boost.

Re: Wigan 19 for Thursday against Wakefield. : Fri Jul 19, 2019 9:43 am  

Bilko nailed it on Twitter “ Whatever will be will be this season but seeing Smithies, Partington, Byrne & Havard muscling up in the middle is looking money in the bank for later. Short term pain this year could be long term gain.“

We all admire saints pack but they went through some tough years blooding the young lads and look at them now

Re: Wigan 19 for Thursday against Wakefield. : Fri Jul 19, 2019 10:51 am  

Top quality performance, not only in getting the win, but in the attitude and application shown in achieving it. One of my highlights was Byrne getting bowled over by Pauli but responding by lining him up and absolutely smashing him at the next opportunity. That's the kind of attitude that forges careers!

Great from all the young lads yesterday but I think the senior players should also take a bow. Again, their attitude and application were first class and they really stepped up to the challenge of being down on numbers. Probably unnecessary to single players out as they were, to a man, excellent but Faz, Powell and Hardaker gave near perfect performances.

Couldn't ask for more and a pleasure to watch. There now seems to be a genuine style emerging under Lam. I'll say it again; more of the same please!