For as long as the Wigan fans continue to revel in their team trying to prove how tough (stupid?) they are and wane trying to prove how passionate (stupid?) he is, they will find ways of reinforcing an already well established grub club reputation.

Eventually the penny should drop that the reputation of a proud club is being damaged, but I'm not holding my breath as they'll just fall back on their "everyone is just jealous" routine rather than seriously thinking about how embarrassing some of their antics are.

Christ, if you're blind to the criticism Wigan fans have dished out to the likes of Ben Flower and Matty Smith when they've let us down then you're a lost cause. I suppose next you'll claim Gaz Hock was the most popular player at the club.

Hate the use of the word 'Scum' to describe professional sportsmen playing a tough game. You only have to look in the newspapers and what's going on in the world to know that there's a lot worse people out there.
As a fan of a team that has featured the players like Sonny Nickle, Vila Matautia and many others who 'played the game hard' you shouldn't be so quick to get on your soapbox. ( also check out Alan Hunte trying to take Offiah out of the game on Utube, many would be demanding police action on here if Joel did that these days)
It gets on my nerves when players are called Scum. Far too harsh a word

Worse when it's aimed at a whole set of fans.

Exactly. Most Wigan fans here have made their unhappiness with Wane's apparent tactics (?) clear. Like most fans, I guess, I expect to see Wigan play with a bit of style and quality. That was sadly lacking against a determined Widnes side who fully deserved (at least) a point. The worst thing is, we are in danger of making a rod for our own backs for the rest of the season.

I've got my ticket for the Hudd game, and have been looking forward to it for a couple of weeks now. Bur some of the shine has gone off that expectation now. Ire member the same fixture last year all too well, and if we play like we did against Widnes, Brough and co will take us to the cleaners.

Like most neutrals, too, I reckon.
Wigan have got some good players, with enough skill to challenge any opposition on their day, which makes it all the more disappointing to see that they appear to be more interested in winning by constant niggling, laying on, moaning at the ref for penalties, etc.

I'm with you there. There's plenty of pies who hate to see the clubs reputation tarnished.

Are the current Wigan squad a victim of their own success? For a few year now, they've lost players and everyone's said they'd be weaker for it, but they've managed to stay on top. Other teams' supportors (including myself) have claimed that the Wigan players on the whole are not so special, but it the effective way in which Wane had them playing as a unit that was the ultimate key to their success.
Have they slipped a bit and are struggling to get back on the right line - exposing the weakness in various players? They know they need to play the game as hard as possible, as they were doing a couple of years ago, but are struggling to do that while keeping their cool? Is the fact that older heads like Hoffman and Lima have left and the younger firebrands of Tomkins, Farrell and Batemen can't quite get the orders right without things going skew-iff? All these young men, trying desperately to recreate the success of the last 5 years when, as a squad of 25-30, they might not be quite as good as they think?

Add in the more recent losses of Green, Taylor and Harrison from the 2013 winners and you can see the experience has been depleted and they guys above all tackled above their weight. They are missed and you can't expect the younger guys to fill their shoes straight up but they are trying to play that style and don't have the physique or skill set to be hard as nails and it is showing

Yes, our structured style has been key in filling the gaps left by seemingly irreplaceable players, and perhaps there is only so much that structure can help before inexperienced lads start to feel the cracks appearing, but I wouldn't go so far as to say we have reached a point where they are frustrated and losing their cool.

Besides the Flower incident our players have done nothing really out of the ordinary where discipline is concerned. Other teams still have their own hot heads, I've seen players from other teams twist joints, attack the head, and kick players in the face as they struggle free from the tackle, but it's fashionable to focus on Wigan right now and ignore the usual suspects as they carry on as normal.

Probably correct.

How confident are Wigan supporters about this season?

Not read the whole thread so apologies, but have either of Smith or Tomkins been called before the RFL yet?

Just had a butchers and there's no updated disciplinary on the RFL website yet

ven ifhe'd have got red, Smith would've been sending off sufficient.

I can't see them deeming what Tomkins did as bad enough for a potential ban, unless they take umbrage at the fact he chased one player, then went for another.

Wigan v Salford should be an interesting game this season... cant see there being much niggle though.

Smith has been charged with 15.1 Strikes, Kicks Grade B 1-2 matches therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/disciplinary/item?5898

Smith has been charged with 15.1 Strikes, Kicks Grade B 1-2 matches therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/disciplinary/item?5898

Quote ="TheElectricGlidingWarrior"Smith has been charged with 15.1 Strikes, Kicks Grade B 1-2 matches therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/disciplinary/item?5898'" Does smith not have the egp? Ah Van has taken his and has a 1 match ban (from reading the notes) so why not smith?

Quote ="TheElectricGlidingWarrior"Smith has been charged with 15.1 Strikes, Kicks Grade B 1-2 matches therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/disciplinary/item?5898'" Does smith not have the egp? Ah Van has taken his and has a 1 match ban (from reading the notes) so why not smith?

Quote ="TheElectricGlidingWarrior"Smith has been charged with 15.1 Strikes, Kicks Grade B 1-2 matches therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/disciplinary/item?5898'" How much do you think you rely on Smith? Will Hampshire come in or will the one of Williams/Powell who's not currently playing get the nod?

Quote ="TheElectricGlidingWarrior"Smith has been charged with 15.1 Strikes, Kicks Grade B 1-2 matches therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/disciplinary/item?5898'" How much do you think you rely on Smith? Will Hampshire come in or will the one of Williams/Powell who's not currently playing get the nod?

he does have an early plea available - his last caution was 08-02-13 dangerous lift v Warrington

Yes Smith has an EGP, and seeing as the WCC game against the Broncos is our game after next I think we can assume he will use it.

Hampshire at 6 - Williams at 7 would be ideal as they know each others game inside out, but our forwards would have to be outstanding to give them room to play

Surprised at the Ah Van ban. Would have thought SOS as he missed the majority of the game, but not read the report.

Wigan haven't been playing badly.
Last season's Final Eliminator v Warrington was one of the best games seen all season.
Wigan edged it but Wire were superb too.
As for the GF, once down to 12 I thought the team played well, not well enough but certainly didn't play poorly.
They were going ok when 10-0 up, An Van goes and Wigan go 16-0 up. Then they stop playing and start the daft stuff. Should have re-gathered themselves after half time but maybe seeing Charnley in a bad state got them riled.

As for how do we see this season, in truth not sure. Wire look very strong with a large and quality squad, Saints likewise but not much cover in props after Amor, Walmsley & Masoe.
Wigan need to get McIlorum back along with Mossop, Charnley should be back soon if not this week. Sarginson a few weeks away, Flower and Thornley not due back until Aprl/May time. A full Wigan squad from then on will compete for all three trophies I'm sure.
I'd be surprised if those three trophies went elsewhere but Wigan, Wire & Saints.

I think Grand Final-winning props Greg Richards and Luke Thompson should prove to be ample cover. As well as young Savelio who impresses every time he plays and LMS who can fill in there when required, despite being better out wide at 2nd row.

Wane has showed what class he has as of late. Accusing Widnes of cheating in the Daily Mirror. Considering how poor some of the refereeing was against us during the game you'd think he'd put the criticism in the direction it was actually warranted. His players.

We were down to 12 unfairly, we still didn't get the rub of the green (being punished for mild holding down and watching Wigan get nothing for the exact same thing. Seeing a yellow card given to a player who kicked out at someone off the ball etc etc) and he is accusing the 12 men of cheating to get what we did just because in his eyes Mellor "milked" some off the ball shots. No. Show some ing class Wane. Betts could have complained after the match about the way the game went, but he didn't. Whose fault is it if champions elect cannot beat 12 men who have been fancied for a relegation battle?

Very poor from Wane. Especially given the amount of penalties that Sam Tomkins "milked" from referees under Wane's stewardship. Unfortunately its just more evidence that he can't control himself and that feeds through into his team.