fair does i'll give you that.

there was also crossing in the lead up to the Richards try when Sam broke through. Wigan got their pockets picked by Wire.

If you look at the stats i am sure you will see Wigan dominance in all areas more or less, but wire would not go away and were more clinical. Credit to them, sign of a good side.

Personally i enjoyed the shall we say close to the limit defence from both sides, but would agree Lauaki should have walked. I think a couple of wire players were also lucky not to get yellow for professional fouls. No complaints from me though. I love the intensity of these games and at this stage of the year can accept a loss like that where we were the architects of our own downfall.

Cracking advert for rugby league.

On reflection it didn't harm the game at all, although potentially the socks could have been an issue as Eddie suggested.
I would question the logic of Warrington playing in red when they played in blue there last year, and I'm sure many fans would have been surprised to see their players taking to the pitch in the change strip.
That said, it was a terrific game!!

Who picked the MOM?? Of all the players on show last night Atkins would have been way down the list!?

How long before Tony Smith looks comfortable during the interviews. He looked in agony talking to Eddie after the game.

Right on cue, about the same level of myopic one sidedness displayed by Clarke.

You were not the better side, you did not cause your own downfall Warrington did and you didn't have your pockets picked. You were beaten by a better team on the day, who topped the only stat chart that matters - THE SCORE BOARD.

Same thing happened to us last week, dodgy call on the 6th tackle but sadly Warrington were good enough to stay in the game long enough to profit from some good fortune - we all need that.

I wondered if the 'special' Sports Relief ball had less grip than the normal one but in the second half they said it was exactly the same.

Great game although I think the ref should have used his cards a few times!

I love it when players stick up for their team mates, and so I loved it when Westwood went in swinging. It's just a pity he got his own man.

What a fantastic player, he just gets better and better. We should move heaven and earth to get him back here and lead us out at Newmarket.

You are Phil Clarke and the margin meter predicts that you owe me £5.

I can't agree that it was a good advert for RL; it was scrappy, error-strewn and punctuated by some unsavoury violent incidents.

Looks like Shaun Wane is unable to continue Michael Maguire's legendary defensive focus - Wigan are leaking points this season and seem to have lost the ability to close out games. From a neutral perspective, it looked like a deserved win for Wire.

The highlight of the game was when Briers packed down in the Wigan second row, closely followed by Benny Westwood landing a sucker punch on his own player, the big divot.

"Unsavoury violent incidents"

That's why I watch the game!!!

I don't - I'm all for big hits and such, but done legally; I'm not excited by elbows to the face, pile-driver tackles or swinging arms.

i've grown to like him more and more over the years. never takes a backward step and has actually started to develop a bit of intelligence.

I have to disagree, I think it was a cracking game that sums up, albeit some of the negative aspects, but the competitiveness of our game and showed that desire can be a huge factor.
Wigan in my view were the (slightly) better side but Warrington were hugely tenacious and like last week were in the driving seat at the end after not playing to their best throughout.
The other aspect of the modern game this highlighted was the poor standard of refereeing we suffer and the blatant disregard they have for the players.
If the players showed the same disregard for the refs there would be no players left on the pitch.

Right on cue a vastman response.I will get the stats and come back to you.Not sure how I am myopic or one sided when I said Wire deserved to win because Wigan could not close out the game.

Wire deserved the win. No doubt.

the only stat that counts is the score board and Wire took there chances.

You really are an embarrassment with your silly posts trying to criticise me.

Great game and well deserved win for Wire.

You are a very odd little man. I actually am stating to pity you, and the way you perceive things.

Passionate; aggressive; skillful; pressurised; fast; exuberant - that was the best game so far this year by a long, long way.

Exactly how I would order my RL - raw, with extra meat on the side!

You like a bit of blood then Phil ? I actually agree, non of this namby pamby puffball, a mans game

I like to see that the game means something to the players - on the limit of legality.

You never see a soft State of Origin game!

Dear oh dear, hit a nerve there didn't I.