I think it'll be a tight game in poor conditions with the side who makes the least errors winning. I'd probably just about back Leeds given their home advantage (we have struggled away at Leeds for years) and the fact they appear to be picking up a bit of form (won their last two). I do, however, think we will regroup and be nowhere near the relegation battle, possibly making the play offs. Lam should be on thin ice though, he should go if we don't manage 3 from our next four (Leeds, Hudds, Salford, Hull KR).

You don’t want to go as far as junction 28 anyway so this will not affect anyone travelling from Wigan.

Lam should have already gone, I don’t know why people think things might improve, it’s misplaced hope if you ask me. The club should already have a coach lined up for next year and should ask him to come early and pay a fee if needs be because if Lam is being kept on as a cheap option to see the season out then the club are taking us fans for mugs.

I just don't see where our improvement is going to come from.
I'd be very surprised if HKR don't improve under Smith so a home defeat here is for me a stark reality.
I just see us staggering into relegation thinking that we are better than we really are.
Our biggest issue is front row with Clubb now our senior pro in that position followed by Navarette which must be the weakest in the competition by a country mile.
I really do hope that IL has got a t least one new prop lined up to start playing within the next week or so.

Really?

Trouble is we probably don't have enough spare salary cap space to bring in 2 props. It might be tight for one. We have three props now not playing in Flower, Hamlin and Tautai for reasons we know of. Hamlin's salary may become available sometime but the others are here to the season's end. Flower out for around 89 weeks is a blow. Tautai should be back after he's been disciplined and fined.
We do have to win these next few games and we need as strong a pack as we can put out.

Sorry, meant 8 weeks

No props, no attack, no kicking game, no coach, no structure and questionable team spirit.

Yes I think we are pretty shoite.

We just don't score enough points for me to give me any semblance of confidence in avoiding a major battle.

HKR have Tony Smith who in all likelyhood will improve their game and London are streets ahead of us terms of structure and team spirit.

I actually can see us not scoring a try tomorrow night if Leeds tackle like they did last week.

I'm probably at the extreme for quite a number of fans but it is a genuine view and not one that I particularly like

Just how long is it going to take these anti-doping guys to sort Hamlin out?

Well our kicking game is back for Leeds, Itchy, so we'll see what he can do for us. Not easy for any half, though, with our poor forward pack. I'm not optimistic, Leeds is a tough place to do to at the best of times, and that's sure not where we are now.

said this to my dad this week

We'll win, on form we've the best full back in the world; Dan Sarginson. If you don't believe me check out Lam's latest interview.

Nevermind your lightweights like Tedesco and Ponga, Sarge is your man.

I saw that earlier and nearly fell of my seat on the bus home from work! He did play very well and it’s a position he needs to play on a regular basis somewhere though. I think he’d be held in far higher esteem if he was. Doubt I’d have him in the top one though



We’ll get beat without any question tomorrow. I’m still stumped how we came away with a win on Sunday given how poorly we played. The body language was horrendous and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

A win tomorrow and we're 2 points off a play off place! Quite staggering really. If that’s not motivation enough, I don’t know what is....

I'd be amazed if Sammut got more than 20 minutes so for 3/4 of the game we won't have a kicking game and is one of the reasons why I think we will get thumped.

Has Sammut actually played a full 80 minutes this season?

I am assuming that Lam will start with Powell at 9 and TL at 7.

Catalans at home, best performance of the season, by a mile.

Didn't he play 80 v Wire away?

This just shows how stupid the decision was to change the play offs from top 4 to top 5.

Neither Leeds or Wigan should be anywhere near the play offs this year, we haven’t earned the right to become champions. But the winner tonight will have 5th place within sights.

What happens if the top 3 run away with it and 4th place are 6/8 points adrift?

Last season Castleford finished 5th and were only 2 points off 3rd.

Do you suggest we see how the season is going and then just decide in September what the playoff system will be?

I trust that you are correct.

I know that he has had a ban and injuries but why hasn't he played more 80 minute matches?
I suspect it is because Lam prefers to start with TL and Powell because of their better defensive qualities.

Now that ZH is out it may force Lam's hand but I will be surprised if he does change his preferred starting line up.

For me a good pack and a good kicking game is a minimum unfortunately, because of a poor squad mix we fail miserably on both counts for the vast majority of games.

What about when 1st place runs away with it like the last 2 seasons? Do we just give them the title and scrap the playoffs completely?

It was a good decision IMO. If you finish 5th, you need to beat everyone above you either away or at Old Trafford. Under last season's system, there was little difference between finishing 1st and 4th. Hull beating Cas last night was a great result for us. Win this and we're well in the mix to make the play offs.

Stop being positive Grimmy, it’s strictly forbidden on here!!

I hadn't even considered that, but thinking about it, you're probably right. Which is depressing in itself.

Hankinson absolutely superb tonight. Managed to tame Hurrell and kicked perfectly.

One for the haters.