Enthralling watch. Great defence by both sides and a good pipe opener. Another record set, think the ref got one too for the most obstructions missed in one match. Leigh will go well this season but all the talk about Armstrong beforehand was unjustified. He was a non entity and dealt with very comfortably. Smith had numerous opportunities to win the match but for whatever reason decided to keep playing as if it was the 20th minute. Great watch though and credit to the lobby gobblers on their first and hopefully last win here for over 40 years. Onwards.

[quote="NickyKiss":13qm1ymr]Yeah, I don't think a few shocks early in the season will do us much harm in the long run. Motivation to keep winning can be difficult when you've had so much success (not saying we lacked it last night) but a champion side doesn't like losing and the enjoyment that brings around the game and I think our players can then feed off that. I'm finding myself a bit 'meh' about games at the minute and that's from the run of winning trophies but last night just gets you going again. [/quote:13qm1ymr] I've felt exactly the same - adds a little more bite to the coming games.

[quote="1872_WiganRLFC":ko4gibqr]By no means was it the reason we lost last night but i thought the referee let the game flow a bit too much which probably sounds a bit ridiculous becuase we are all forever saying the refs are giving too many penalties. There were clear penalties on both sides, the ruck was too slow and i think if he blew a few times it would of broke the game up. Good game though, enjoyed it. We'll be fine and congrats to the Leigh.[/quote:ko4gibqr] This notion that less referee intervention leads to a more exciting game is so misguided. If the ref had clamped down on the slow ruck speed early then the rest of the game would likely have sped up. Liam Moore is the absolute worst for not intervening with the ruck. I think he's a good ref outside of that and talks to the players very well. But its almost a free for all on the floor when he's in charge.

I don’t get the hate on Moore, the PTB was equally slow on both sides so no advantage to be had for either team, difference is you normally get to slow the PTB down but enjoy a quick PTB, I’d say we just “out wiganed” you last night. What I will say it was amazing watching Wigan defensive structure and composure live is immense, proper old fashioned proper rugby! Quality stuff

I think the PTB was definitely slow for both teams and to be honest if it was sped up would we have got the game we did defensively. Both teams would have been blowing out their backsides 20mins in. Like people have said nothing to worry about both teams were matched for most of the game, credit to Leigh there as they never creaked, gave away a silly pen. Hull is always a bogey ground for us and if we put the effort in for the Leigh game into that game I think we can win. No excuse… excuse incoming, I think we need to get the vegas game then the following game out the way and hopefully we’ll fully settle then. Again no discredit to Leigh we threw everything into that game.

I'm not gutted at all to lose that one, great game. We did look super clunky, still had the chances to ice the game, but ultimately didn't. The two sin bins were correct calls so we can have no complaints on them however I am not seeing how the refereeing is earning widespread praise; the ruck was painfully slow. Add in the boggy pitch and no wonder the attack for both sides struggled. Two poor examples, one in each half; O'Neil didn't clear the ruck and the ball cannoned off his legs and went forward 2/3 yards and the shout was play on. Then in the second half, Wigan player clearly tackled and then O'Brien goes back on and it's a clear as day 6 Again, but nothing given. I'm sure Leigh fans would be able to find 1 or 2 similar calls that didn't go for them round the ruck also, by the way! Yes, he did let the game flow, but it can't be a free for all. We'll be ok, and long term it may turn out to be a good loss to take. Nonetheless, I was only thinking yesterday that we may see a lull at the start of the season after coming off the quadruple. Field looks in promising shape though but his decision making needs to improve. He was weirdly the biggest positive for me from last night.