Sinfield and Burrow were your hookers both have played internationally in that position.

The concerning thing is Wigan 3 years ago would walk this league and a shadow of that team is going to finish second and have a shot at the title.

Is it purely size though? Bateman is much smaller than all of our props, yet tends to make much more of each impact, and nearly always generates a quick play of the ball. Our props seemed to nearly always get flipped onto their back.

Having said that, Leeds have often been the one team where the forwards have turned up for in recent seasons, but not last night when they were a distant second best.

I have honestly never seen why mossop has been so hyped up previously, i just dont think hes very good. Same with crosby

We havent had a 'grafter' in the front row since coley although clubb has surprised me with how good he has been (generally) but flower seems to have lost his edge since the gf

Clubb is ok but only seems to do (too) short spells - not long enough. Flower has gone backwards - we are really in need of a hard working prop who can do long minutes - think then the likes of Flower might show up more as his game is not just a workhorse.

Sutton should have knocked Hardaker into the stands on that 2nd chance for a try.

I agree couldn't believe he didn't run over the top of him to score

Yes he should, but Hardaker showed that without doubt he is the best full-back in the comp.

I can't disagree with Charlie's assessment upthread: Bateman, Williams, Bowen and Faz very good, the rest (with a pass for Manfredi and Gelling)...

Sign of a player lacking confidence, probably because he's been dropped for the past 7 weeks for Larne Patrick.

Any other fullback and he would have, I thought it was a brilliant tackle.

If only we could combine Bateman's heart and Mossop's physique.

A few years back we used to say the same about Karl Pryce.

I call it "Audley Harrison Syndrome".

Anyone else see that late try from JWH for the Roosters against the Eels?

That's prop play from another planet right there. Not much argument that he's the WBP, is there? The man is a beast.

(and that's not to mention the terrific long pass he threw for Aubisson's try)

Woods, Graham and Burgess must be in the argument and given Woods' age I don't think there'll be much to argue about in a few years. IMO of course.

Yeah, they're all good. I think Woods has some way to go before counted with the others, though. Unfortunately, none of them (or anything like) are playing for Wigan.

Sutton was really good in his limited outings last year and started this season really well against Widnes and Huddersfield (definitely man of the match v Widnes, winning try the week after against Hudds). Since then he's not really done anything as far as I can remember, maybe the concussions and Salford interview issue knocked his confidence?

Agree with regards to Mossop and Patrick. Mossop should be leading that pack like Hill at Warrington and Peacock at Leeds, instead he just looks like he's going through the motions till his stint is over. Patrick is worse than that. I've no idea why we are still persisting with him. Surely Sutton or C.Farrell are more worthy of the game time given that they will at least be here next season

It's hard to believe that even a lad from the U-19s wouldn't offer more than Patrick.

I can't remember ever being so disappointed by a signing as I am with Patrick. I thought he would have been a decent replacement for Taylor but he has been woeful. All he really does is acts as a dummy runner. Even the try that he scored against Hudds only came about because he had just gone through as a dummy runner and happened to be there. He offers nothing and shouldn't be in the 17, regardless of how poor Mossop, Crosby and Tautai have been, they're all above Patrick in the pecking order IMO.

Somebody on another site has stated we are in heavy negotiations for LMS and Eastmond, i personally hope this is true as they are fantastic RL footballers and would bring much needed fire to the team

Eastmond would be great, but I wouldn't be bothered about LMS.

They never come back from Union the same player.

LMS would be a good signing, but I can't see him leaving Saints.

"Good signing" You aren't being serious, are you?

LMS would probably be the best forward in the Wigan team if he signed.

He would be the fifth best second rower. But possibly the best prop

Ha! We need to some serious beef in the front row. I don't think LMS is that; I've never really rated him. And saying he would be improvement on our current squad is, unfortunately, damning with faint praise.

On Eastmond, I don't buy this idea that a spell in union 'spoils' players. Sure, there's been one or two cases where players have returned to league and not succeeded, but Eastmond, unlike some, is still young enough and fit enough to play SL. If anything, I'd say his time in Bath has been good for him. He arrived there with a bit of a bad rep as a 'wild child'. He adapted his game and earned himself a regular spot in the back-line of probably the second best side in the country, and got to the edge of the England squad too. Now that it looks like his RUWC hopes have been extinguished, I don't see why he couldn't be tempted back. I would love to see him at the DW.

I agree completely with you. Eastmond can play 1-7, has pace and just as importantly is a great place kicker. The answer to our problems in the backs I'd say.