It is as far as I know. Should be interesting to see who they'll put at the back. Possibly since Amos has only had one game and we've always been comfortable with Pat at the back?

I would be amazed if it was Amos - given he has only just come back from injury and played 1 game for the team he is far better on the wing for now - give him chance to get match fit and used to the team.

Pat to FB is a must and a no-brainer.

In fairness, Roberts and Riddell had probably never played in such freezing conditions before in their lives. Give them a chance to settle.

Phelps and Tim Smith were also awfully poor, as was the skipper, and no one in the side played well.

Coley was at fault dropping a ball when charging out of his own 20 (immediately being replaced) and for his stupid decision to go for the try on a tap-penalty on their line, wasting six tackles. But he was having a go.

Mathers just lacks 'bottle' to me. It made me laugh when he started pushing Wakefield players after he'd been sin-binned...

He won't go for anything like a 50-50 ball (evidence when a chip-kicked bounced between him and an onrushing player and he 'ducked', Wigan being lucky that a try didn't result).

When you think back to the likes of Radlinski, Connolly, Hampson, Lydon, Edwards, Fairbairn, Tyrer, Ashby, Griffiths, Bolton, Martin Ryan ...and now this fellow is wearing the no 1 jersey !

He makes 'Doc' Murray look world-class !!!

I absolutely agree - possibly Amos could be an option in the future but certainly not now for me.

Stay at home and save your money, pal. You don't have a clue what you are watching.

I don't think Colin Tyrer was the bravest fullback I have ever seen either, but he was quick and could kick goals.

When Eric Ashton was challenged about Tyrers defensive displays, he said there are twelve of us in front of him who should be making those tackles.

Didn't he play at Wembley with a broken jaw Edwards-style?

you forgot about Briscoe who's nose is as bent as Bill Clintons knob

But it's not doing him any good being constantly placed in the firing line when he's clearly not up to it.

He needs significant time in the reserves to rebuild his game.

No, Keith Hepworth the Castleford scrum half cleaned him out with the most despicable off the ball tackle I have ever seen. Tyrer had to leave the field with a badly broken jaw and Wigan lost their most potent attacking force (he had broke the try scoring record for a fullback) and goalkicker.

Bill Francis took over the goalkicking and missed (2 or three) easy penalties. Why Bill Ashurst didn't take over the goalkicking remains a mystery.

Wigan lost 7 -2.

Hepworth conveniently avoided Wigan games for about three years, until Tyrer "caught up with him" at Leeds.

Ah, I know he got cleaned out...He obviously didn't make it back to the pitch!

That was terrible, he should have gone for that one, he was very lucky it didn't come off for Wakey.

I hope mathers dosent get banned - then noble has to make a decision rather than hide behind the ban and bring him back in 3 weeks time.

I'd agree with this, a ban makes it easy, if he is available for selection, Noble can prove he is as good as his word.

According to Richie we will come good. www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Math ... 4963480.jp Fire away guys

According to Richie we will come good. www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Math ... 4963480.jp Fire away guys

Quote ="Bolton_Warrior"According to Richie we will come good. www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Math ... 4963480.jp Fire away guys '" In fairness, he appears great around the club and for team spirit etc, its a real shame he is a disgrace to the jersey.

Quote ="Bolton_Warrior"According to Richie we will come good. www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Math ... 4963480.jp Fire away guys '" In fairness, he appears great around the club and for team spirit etc, its a real shame he is a disgrace to the jersey.

This is the thing about Mathers. Everyone who meets him seems to like him. But if you're not good enough you're not good enough.

The best thing (for both him and us) is a couple of months in the reserves to see if he can pull it together.

Jinkin Jimmy, if you thought O'Loughlin played well on Sunday then I suggest its you who doesn't know what he's watching.

Who made the most handling errors for Wigan ? O'Loughlin with 3.

Only two players - Mathers and kick-mad Smith - made less average metres per carry according to the official stats. His offensive game was poor.

All players can be assessed, you know. There are no exceptions, even Andy Farrell's brother-in-law, and I don't see why he should go under the radar.

Having said all that, I concede that it was his first starting appearance since May and that he'll take time to get back into it at this level.

Again, it comes down to team selection. Did Joel Tomkins really deserve to be on the bench after the way he finished last season ? I think not.

On loan please, was it not yourself that said the reserves would impede the progress of Josh Vievers?

I didn't say he played well. You, on the other hand, saide he was" awfully poor" which he plainly wasn't. You say his offensive game was poor. Tell me please, whose wasn't? Didn't he put Joel in for his try?

Finally, your "brother-in-law" comment have shown your true agenda. What the hell has Tomkins starting on the bench got to do with Lockers' level of performance?

The key to loaning someone out is having the demand for the player in question

I don't recall saying that, but it's a good point.

Trouble is, I'm not sure who we could loan him to. His form last season was mostly dire.

Not a good signing, I'm afraid to say. At least, not on the evidence of what we've seen so far.

True, I even advocated the Riversiders A side but they were having none of it!

Then again, if you look at the official stats, Mathers made 0 errors in Sunday's game.

Shows you how much faith you should put in statistics, doesn't it?

It does.