We had a bbq on Saturday night and watched a replay of game with a mixture of Wigan and Saints fans.

A few interesting observations/ contentious points.

1) The Charnley try was forward, but not a mile forward as the dynamic duo suggested. (we all agreed)

2) LMS when he ran at McIlorum. First point of contact was LMS forearm on McIlorums chest but he then lifted the forearm into McIlorums face (we all agreed, and worth looking at by the review panel)

3) Graham on Lima. This is the type of tackle that Millward talked about in the League weekly a couple of weeks ago, because the shoulder has a tendency to lift into the opponents face and that he wants banning. It is banned in Rugby Union. (split vote from us, mainly in favour of keeping the rule as is)

4) Hoffman on Wheeler. (Consensus was that he was committed to the tackle but maybe could have been more careful, worth looking at by the review panel)

5) Magennis on Finch. For those of you who still have the recording it's just after the Wheeler incident. A Lima type tackle onto the knee area when Finch was already held by two Saints players. This one was cause for a good discussion. Yes he did attack the knee, but Finch managed to offload the ball. This has always been my argument as to why the tackle should be allowed (it may get looked at)

6) McIlorum on Lomax late in the game. McIlorums tackle was late and shook Lomax. It wasn't high but was unnecessary (it may get looked at)

Another couple of poor decisions, Gardners knock on on his own line early in the game which should have been head and feed to Wigan, and Wigans push at the scrum (saints knocked on) should have resulted in head and feed to Wigan.

Consensus was that generally a draw would have been a fair result of a fantastic game which the referee let flow.

did you not see scot moores chicken wing on sam on about 20 mins when sam was returning a kick
he did pull out but there was an initial push of the arm right behind the back

The magennis tackle on finch was nothing wrong. That's how you should tackle the leg in a gang tackle.

He didn't attack the standing leg, he grabbed around the legs of finch. If you think that is not legal then we might as well play tick n pass!

Nothing wrong with the tackle that out Lima on his booty either. It was a good fair hit.

The forward pass was forward. It don't matter if it's a inch or a mile forward, it's still forward no matter how you look at it.

IMO Hoffman was committed to the tackle. Defenders can't just stand there and let the kicker kick it where he wants. Players IMO have the right to contest the kicker.

Jesus Brian, your starting to sound like saintsfan with that list of incidents.



At the end of the day it was a great derby game played in great spirit in front of two sets of great fans. The was some big hits, good rugby, game swayed to both teams, yet all we are talking about is forward passes, late tackle, obstructions, attacking the knee in the tackle etc.

I was gutted saints lost because we deserved more from the game for our effort but I left the game very very proud of saints.

The LMS one was 4:27 into the game.

I thought the ref had a awesome game. He let the game flow which made it such a great game.

If he blew for all the things you've listed in the OP then maybe the game would not have been as good.

That's what I said in the last line of my post, but it was great to sit and watch it again with mixed fans.

"Just rewind that, slow it down"


And those were the points that were raised. Nothing drama.
Sometimes with segregated stadia you miss that good discussion actually at the game.

Fair play, I just think people sometimes forget what a great game it was as all we talking about is the incidents.

It was really a top game and really enjoyed it.

I don't think there's much to look at, ref had a great game. The forward pass and Carmonts 'voluntery' tackle if anything.

Forward passes have a habit of evening themselves out over the season, meli in Cardiff? I noticed the 'chopper' tackle on Finch when I watched it over the weekend. It's around the 30min mark and I didn't see a lot wrong with it but I didn't think there was a lot wrong with Lima's either.

Blimey! It must have taken you hours to watch the game with all that pausing and rewinding.

Plus the beer breaks

One thing that stuck out to me on the day and I've become more and more aware of as I've re-watched the game, is how terrible Lomax's defense is. He started the game opposite Joel but was quickly moved to the other side after Tomkins had mowed over him a couple of times. But once opposite Hoffman, Carmont and Richards he was in big trouble in the second half. He must have missed 10+ with three or four of those significantly contributing to Wigan try's.

Lomax's defense is certainly something I'll keep an eye on from now on, as to whether it improves and how much opposition teams try and exploit it.

Ive said same thing on the saints board. Lomax was terrible in defence. He was all grab and no shoulders!

Lomax's defence is usually absolutely fine. Comparing him with Danny Brough for instance brings up these stats. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 Relatively similar missed tackle percentages with regards to tackles made. It also has to be considered that Jonny played a few games at centre at the start of the season. The only thing that worries me about Jonny is his error count, however I'm sure that will improve with experience.

Lomax's defence is usually absolutely fine. Comparing him with Danny Brough for instance brings up these stats. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 Relatively similar missed tackle percentages with regards to tackles made. It also has to be considered that Jonny played a few games at centre at the start of the season. The only thing that worries me about Jonny is his error count, however I'm sure that will improve with experience.

The forward pass to Charnley was forward and did change the game IMO.


However the "knock on" off deacons head was another mistake and changed the game again.

All in all the ref allowed the game to flow, creating a great game of rugby league. As all good Fridays should be. Hats off to Mr Silverwood.

We exploited it to the full in the grand Final last year. Lomax seems to have a tendency to get square on and get beaten around his outside shoulder when he's defending out wide or in the centres. Teams will have noticed and will definitely pick on him so he'll have to work on it. It's more of a technical issue than any deficiency in his tackling so he can improve it given his young age

Lomax made 10 tackles and missed 6 on Friday.

Awww you were doing really well there and then you went and said that stuff about a draw.

Are you serious?

What a game though, loved it.

However, my fiancee now has a watched 2, lost 2 record for derbies and won't be accompanying me ever again, regardless of how much she enjoyed the game.

You have missed one of Brian,
7) Who was that good looking lad that sky filmed walking down the steps holding his son grinning like a Cheshire cat??

I think he is, as am i. I noticed the tackle and just thought, well if we are penalised for it, why not others...