Very frustrating game. Niggles, penalties, very poor reffing, Tomkins trapping so annoying to watch, needs to drop that out of his game come England games. First half hasn't got going, Cas haven't been able to show there class in attack from last week due to boring Wigan tactics. Hope 2nd half gets better.

So both teams arent niggling and slowing each other down

Definitely a niggly first half. Cas supporters are doing their bit to raise the heat too. I too thought Cas might be out of sight with their forwards dominating but that hasn't been the case, Wigan are hanging in there, if they can keep matching Cas then they'll sneak this one.

Cas playing at home and the way they played game before would not come into this game with niggling and slowing down in mind... Wigan on the other hand...

Did I hear Brian Carney correctly then?
He claims that Thaler said Gildart wasn't offside because the ball went backwards? What? That's not how that rule works. At all.

Edit: Unless he means that it ended up behind Manfredi before Gildart touched it, which would make more sense...

Thaler messed up for the offside at the end. Think he was on autopilot with the hooter going and just blew for HT without thinking about the offside.

Not too bad first 20 mins, next 20 mins very niggly stop start game, Thaler having a lot to do. Thought Bateman should have been penalised first for punching a player on the floor before Luke Dorn came in with the handbags.

I'd like to think Powell will sort them out at half time. We'll see! Btw, top work starting this thread, good to have some discussion on the game.

Has Sam Tomkins banged Solomonas missus

!!!!

There definitely was no punch. Slap, maybe.

Has Sam Tomkins banged Solomonas missus

!!!!

Well's face at the end there after being told that Thaler said the ball went backwards just about sums up that call.

It's such a basic rule that the only options are:
1. Thaler completely forgot the rule.
2. Thaler decided not to apply the rule.
Either way, it's an issue.

I don't think there's been any more 'niggle' in this game than the average SL game; less than many. There haven't been that many pens, and Thaler, as usual, has had a good game. Do think Solomona was unlucky with the disallowed try, clearly one of those where the on-field decision effectively decided it.

Stuart Cummings clears it up

Thanks! I'm really glad people are contributing to it. These threads usually only have 4 posts in them if we're lucky so I tried to talk a bit more at length about each teams chances. Hopefulyl it's done the trick and we can carry something like this on!

He's a Wakey fan, every time he refs Cas he comes up with some 'odd' decisions, shall we say.

That final ball to Manfredi was forward too...but it was Wigan so it's fine.

Guess that works by the letter of the law but seems to require an awful lot of guess work unless a ball is dropped clearly on a line.

Flat at best for sure.

Tough second half for Cas now. 8 behind will be hard to come back from. if it goes to 14 behind its a Wigan win.

For the last couple of years I would have Thaler over any of the other refs.
However, he's having a shocker tonight.

Solomona clearly has some issue with Sammy boy.

Great run from Manfredi! And finishes it too. Poor effort from Gale there though.

Think he is just giving him a hard time as a potential game-winner.

Don't understand that penalty?

"3rd man in who came running in"

What?!

If he's given the penalty for 3rd man in shoulder charge, why hasn't he applied the rules of the game and sin binned Sarginson?

Oh wait, he plays for Wigan.