Outstanding tonight. MOM by a country mile.

Thought Hampshire was brilliant also.

If he's a better Stand-Off than Fullback then wow.

Gelling is first choice with out a doubt and it doesn't matter if some people can't see past there poor judgment of him he is quality.

Jack Hughes is starting to really live up to that potential he has as well.

Charnley may have some problems dislodging Manfredi.

Matty Smith really stood up when he needed to, its frightening how we have so much depth in the spine positions. Williams, Powell, Hampshire and Smith eventually we are going to lose a gem in one of them.

That try Hampshire setup for burgess was great, if you watch it zoomed out you could have easily though it was last year with sam setting it up

But as a young forward bateman did great against an experienced/old pack

Only 20 and he literally looked like our leader on the pitch tonight. I hope he never leaves. He is a special player, he will turn out to be one of our best ever signings if he stats with us.

The back 3 were also very impressive, as was Gelling, Smith and.... Well the list could go on

Did anyone miss a tackle tonight?

Last night I think Phil Clarke mentioned Bateman for young player of the year, so far it's between him and burgess. Personally I think Bateman should be the front runner for MOS. Who's Been better this season?

I think Clarke said at one point we hade made over 250 tackles and missed 5. Incredible stats.

Cant believe how good he has been this year. surprising how often he's played though given Wane's comments when he was signed but i guess if hes playing so well you cant leave him out

The future looks good for Wigan, Hampshire and Bateman where fantastic last night amongst others.

It's shown since the salary cap came in that clubs who concentrate on bringing youngsters through generally profit from it, I would imagine there was a massive difference in wages between the 2 teams that started last night yet the result contradicted that.

I knew when I saw him at Leigh pre-season that he would be fantastic this year. He just loves playing the game, think he needs a shave though...

Top notch signing this lad he's as tough as they come and I don't think it will be long before he's on Steve Mcnamaras radar. You can see when the lads are on the field that there is a good feeling in the camp and this go's a lot deeper than preparation alone there seems to be a burning desire to pull on the famous shirt and they are treating the fans to something special this year. Ryan Hampshire is a competitor and he is going to terrorise defences for years to come. Joe Burgess or John Bateman for young player of the year watch this space!

What a try that would have been from Hampshire. He must have beat three or four players, chipped the fullback only for the ball to just go over the dead ball line.

The players made this old man a very proud Wiganer last night, each and every one of them, but the passion and commitment especially from the young players was something to behold.

A special mention for Ryan Sutton, 18 years of age and playing so well against such experienced opposition.

There was a couple behind me calling Hampshire rotten for that chip on 1st tackle, and a bloke next to me who said he'll never make it because he makes too many stupid mistakes after he failed to keep the Salford penalty in play (the one where he palmed it infield and over the dead ball line). I'm glad someone else thought he had an absolute pearl of a game! He is going to be one special player, I just hope we can keep him for as long as possible!

Yeh I heard a few grumbles round me as well, we were 18-0 up and coasting, and one favourable bounce of the ball then that's try of the season and the lad's a genius. Nothing he could do about the 40/20, you have to compliment the kick, and by palming the penalty dead he still gained us about 40m territory with a drop out reaching half way instead of a tap 10m from our line. Thought overall he was excellent, even handled the high balls thrown at him well.

I keep changing my mind on him, I wanted to see how Sarg at 1 and Rocky at 6 would go, but the more I see of him the more I think he should play fullback, plus Powell has got all the makings of being a top quality 6.

Rocky is a strike weapon with good handling skills, would be more effective out the back door using his pace and movement as a second receiver from full back. Thesedays halves predominantly bring others into the game.

Personally I think he's the closest to Sam Tomkins at our club, keep Rocky progressing as a 1.

I honestly think Sam Powell will be a star in the halves, seems to have great timing and control already, was the best player on the pitch when we played the NZW.
Williams and Powell to be our long term 6 and 7.

For now let the 6,7 and 9 position be interchanged between
-Green
-Smith
-McM
-Powell
-Williams

I honestly think all of the above are better than Logan. I'd like us to bring in another class 9 so McM is playing so much, and so we have another leader on the pitch. Clark from Cas would be ideal.

The way the current team is playing plus the players to return I see the Wigan team as:

Bowen/Hampshire; personally I think Rocky looks better but we have to think of the future with his development.
Charnley; better than Manfredi, even though many feel he's done enough not to be dropped.
Gelling
Sarge
Burgess
Green
Smith
Flower
McM
Taylor
Bateman
Faz
Lockers
--------------------
Crosby
Pettybourne
Hughes
Williams/Powell


Controversial talking point is leaving Daz out, I'm sorry but I think Gelling looks more threatening. If anything I was annoyed when Daz came on Wane moved Gelling from the centres when Gelling needs more time to learn and play the position in the first team.
Maybe he only moved Gelling as he's the bigger man.

Re. the palming the ball dead incident, watching the replay on the big screen it looked like he had more than enough time to pick the ball up and he seemed to deliberately step out of play before touching the ball. Was this a brain fart with him thinking he'd get a 20m restart ?
Anyway no harm done and apart from that I thought he had a cracking game.

I had a decent chat with Steve McNamara before the Dinner Cruise in Sydney back in February. He spoke glowingly about Bateman, saying he would be a future Wigan captain, and would definitely be international class as he improves. McNamara knows him well from Bradford and obviously he was saying this before Batemans many stand out performances since the WCC.

That's my thinking as well he could easily have gathered the ball whilst facing the dead ball line instead it looked like he deliberately got round the back to force it dead for a Wigan restart.

Bateman gets better every game.

This young lad can go all the way to the top; he’s as hard as granite, and shows no fear for any opposition. He’s deffo one you’d want to have in your side, and not one you’d relish playing against. Let’s just hope the good Doctor doesn’t start waving his cheque book in his direction any time soon, or the wizards of Oz come sniffing either. He must be destined for a place in The Hall Of Fame if he keeps it up. I hope we can keep him for a long time yet.

No overreactions here then



Terrific player, was gutted when he left Bradford for Wigan as he always looked a top, top player in the making.

Even though it was Wigan, I really enjoyed last night. Some fantastic young players on show.

I think he's terrific, a real hard man and a great fooballer. His lack of size and possibly ball handling ability (simply not seen enough to know) suggest to me that he will be a great club player rather than the answer to England's prayers. Like McIllorum, I would not swap him for anyone in the world.

He reminds me of Anthony Wotmough, not the biggest but tough as they come with a great engine. Very impressive but if business from Wigan getting this kid in.

I think it is inevitable he will head to the NRL at some stage, he is certainly good enough to.

He's 6'1" (185cm) according to the Wigan website so not that small. He's only 20 so will bulk up as he ages too. Frightening prospect.