Thought they probably deserved it.

We are not playing well in attack at all and discipline is poor.

Thought Farrell, Thompson and O’Neil were very good in regards work ethic and application.

We need to do something to get more out of Keighran he’s a centre that needs space and the ball in his hands and he isn’t suited to our current style which was perfect for King last year.

I must have been watching a different game to everyone else.

Firstly, what a game, credit to every player from both sides. Oh I wish there were more teams capable of playing to that standard.

I thought the ref was excellent, some 50-50’s went their way, some our way. There is the odd one he got wrong but no one, player or official goes through 80 mins without making a mistake. The only real gripe was the tackle before the Dupree sin bin which was head on head contact and should have been a penalty at the very least. VR should have spotted it.

I don’t get the comments about the Byrne sending off being nonsense. Under the current rules it was the only outcome. It wasn’t malicious in any way shape or form but it was direct contact shoulder to head. Rules say red card.

I’m sure most St Helens fans won’t agree but the Dupree one was the right call to. It wasn’t direct contact.

Our discipline was poor again, particularly in the first 30 though we did fix it up after that. Too many penalties and six agains, couldn’t argue with any of them. For us, i thought Thompson was excellent, both wingers were very good but I can’t knock any of them.

It’s just a shame Byrne got that wrong, I felt at that point we were going on to win but down to 12 gave them the belief to go on and win it.

Well played both teams, onwards and upwards.

I watched this at home on the television and I have looked at the Byrne sending off several times. I am a Wigan fan to my core but I have to be honest about this. First point of contact is Percival’s head with his upper right arm. All day long a sending off with the new rules. And the Dupree sin bin was right too - he led with his elbow but hit the other player’s chest before it went to his head. But Saints got away with a few things - especially the Dodd trip on Field. Red card in my opinion. And what about all those 6 agains and several dubious penalties against us.

Nonesense

Looks like the ref is always right n0nces are firing up their engines.

Agree. In the context of the WCC and the cards it wasn't the worst result.


We need to improve obvs but if we do we will be better than them when it matters

First thought was a trip by Dodd and a yellow but on replay I thought he caught field with an arm so shouldn’t even have been a penalty.

Grow up and take some blinkers off. No one said he’s always right but the polar opposite of what some are suggesting.

but if its a penalty it has to be a card, also the hit on thompson before dupree was worse than Byrnes on percy but wasnt even looked at as he got up

Kendall stated that Dodd's leg was planted, which is why there was no card.

I’m weirdly happy after this. We’ve went against the best in the league and with 12 men down at time the team has done great. Looked like old Wigan. Fields has looked a little shy with running and the bal. No worries on fields though. A test we needed and let face it saints didn’t look like scoring up until the sending off. We knew our discipline was bad and it showed in that game (at times) some shocking calls. Proud of the lads never gave up and only went down to two try’s

No issue with either of the cards within the current framework - anyone blaming the refs are simply misguided. They aren't to blame for applying rules they have had no say in changing. If anything I thought Dupree was a little fortunate.

The one decision Kendall definitely got wrong was the Clark strip on Leeming which would have been an easy two points in front of the sticks. Clark by his face knew very well he'd got away with one there.

Lots of effort but too many errors and penalties. Attack isn't clicking atm but it will with better weather and a more consistent line up. Regardless, pretty sure we win the game without the red and it also meant that Junior Nsemba couldnt get on the field. Defeat isn't the end of the world and may even help Wigan moving forwards - there can be no complacency now.

I thought we competed well and there's nothing between the two sides. Hopefully we get it right if we meet in knockout games.

That’s a mature response

Evidently you were watching a different game.

Please could you explain to me what Byrne could have done differently in that tackle to prevent a red card?

He can’t do a lot differently. It’s just one of those things. No intent, no malice but direct forceful contact with the head. Under today’s rules that’s a red card. Feel free to disagree with the rules but the decision is, with reluctance correct.

Nothing between the teams. Yes Saints probably had the rub of the green but they deserved their win. Byrne’s dismissal changed the momentum undoubtedly, up to that point Wigan looked the team most likely to take home the points.

I was disappointed with our rotation today. We have played nearly 30 minutes with 12 men and we have not used Nsembe, and Mago has played sparingly.

I am confident we will turn it around.

Honestly, I could not give a t0ss.

I'm done with robot, RL ref sympathisers. It's GF FFS. I've been looking forward to it all week and some 8 stone, gangly pr1ck has ruined it.

Before the game they showed the infamous GF fight. This year, they've given a red for nothing.

Imagine the worst thing you can think of to happen to a person, x1000 and you're still way off the absolutely hatred I have for. Every single pro SL ref.

I have no problem with the Byrne sending off under the current rules but the Dupree decision I thought was poor. Prop forwards run with their bumpers up all the time and the point of contact was clearly into the chest. If we don’t want to see such incidents then we need to see a rule change.

Nsembe should have got on, that was a coaching error.

So just to be clear - no swinging arm, no leading with the shoulder, no attacking the head... but a straight red card?

The game is screwed then, isn't it. It wasn't even a penalty.

As I said, feel free to disagree with the rules but ask yourself 3 questions:

1: Was there direct contact with the head
2: Was there force in the tackle
3: Are there any significant mitigating factors (eg defender slips causing a rapid change of height)

If the answer is yes, yes and no, whatever the context or intend under today’s rules it is a red card. Any perceived intent will determine the length of the ban.

So we can expect a lengthy ban for whoever had the direct head contact with Thompson.

Don't feed the ref trolls

That was Lees and yes, I’d expect a ban. Had it been picked up by the VR Lees would have been carded IMO. I think all 3 of Byrne, Dupree and Lees will get 1-2 matches.