First half I thought both defences were very good. Especially Wigan’s try line defence. Yes they dropped the ball a couple of times but that was due to pressure from us and not unforced errors.

Second half was very disappointing. Lane makes a poor attempt at a tackle and they score.

Litten, who was all over the place at centre, then drops the ball and gifted them another try.

Defence fell apart and there were some poor attempts at tackling which if repeated will soon have the crowd on the players backs again.

Fash was limping when he went off, didn't see with Houghton.

Or maybe Smith and Hoy together and play the NZ hooker at hooker? I wasn't impressed with Cator at hooker, although he wasn't the only one that was poor.

Certainly 2 weeks won't sort everything out. Agree about the loose forward though. Maybe Move Brown there. Smith Hoy in the halfs?. Don't think all the fans optimism will have evaporated. It is only a friendly. Mind you this score against Rovers and you may well be right

I dont want to be mr negative but thats ok if you just lose, not an excuse for being blown off the park for me. I doubt Smith is far from impressed behind closed doors.

Fash and Scott both rolled ankles. Will be assessed tomorrow.

Can't really claim we've been working on defence all off season as we let 40 in, can't claim we've been focusing on attack as we scored....0

Some on here have said several times that they are impressed with the forwards and not with the backs and, by and large on the first half at least, so it was. Friendlies mean little except match practise and no one's getting too stressed yet, but after this one, only one thing is guaranteed, and that that there's another long season ahead.

One looked like a team a few weeks out from a World Club Challenge, the other looked like a set of new players and youngsters who are not SL ready

Wigan finished last season as worthy champions and since then they have recruited superbly and have acquired a billionaire new owner.

Probably the last team you'd want to play in a trial game.

Spoke to Carlos and Ligi tonight. Both just been struggling with a bit of flu as have some of the boys who played today. Not overly concerned with the score.

One thing to note was they were both a bit shocked how little time Denive got and are shocked Cator getting nod before him

Whilst it was only a friendly, I don't think it was meaningless. Whilst I never expected to win, I never expected that scoreline either.

Same old failings. Poor discipline, too many unforced errors, missed 1 on 1 tackles and players on the edge shooting out of the defensive line.
We also remained toothless in attack, far too flat and static.
I thought our forwards were very good however.

Smith certainly has a lot to work on still.
I'd much rather see the changes on the field now instead of hearing the same repeated tripe from Smith on what needs fixing.

It always amazes me how worked up people get about friendlies. I accept it wasn't a performance to inspire confidence, but ateotd it's a glorified training session. An opportunity to gets some minutes into some players and to try out a few things.

Play like that against Rovers and then we can start to worry, but lets just wait and see.

Funny enough in the NFL the
Baltimore Ravens are a serious team with massive Super Bowl ambitions under coach Harbough.

They compete at the highest level every season and have for 15-20 years.

They didn’t lose a pre season friendly for 17 years approx and that’s 3-4 games every year.

It’s a philosophy they have !!!

We are 1 million fricking miles from that mentality

After ending the season so badly, it would've been good for Smith & co to show the fans what they'd been working on in the off season in both attack and defence. Not scoring one try in a game where the purpose is to try things out and conceding 40 points isn't great at all.

Can only echo what most have already expressed.

First-half was at least encouraging, although that may have been due to Wigan not really getting out of first gear.

As soon as they upped the tempo early in the second-half it started to look all too familiar, missed tackles, careless penalties, errors leading to scores, all the usual traits we've come to know and dread over recent years. Scoring, in particular, looks like it may be a major problem.

I'd agree that it was only a pre-season run-out and we will have a clearer picture of where we really stand after the opening three games (think we need to win at least two of them), but it's difficult already to dismiss thoughts of another fraught year ahead.

Let's hope it was a bad-rehearsal, good-gig type scenario!!

Ah well, onwards and upwards, eh! with everything crossed for something better to hopefully come soon.

Tuimavave according to Pinocchio Smith is out with a knock not flu but i have to say this Balmforth situation is becoming obvious that Smith either doesnt like him or doesnt rate him.
He was supposed to be injured and playing in an arranged reserve game in the near future then suddenly called into the team for no real reason but played for so little time.
Just wonder if someone like Pearson has had a word and this is Smiths response.

How did Martin get on? At least he played the full game I guess. Would have asked how Charles and Balmforth did but either didn't get many minutes or it was just one way traffic at that point

WTF has that got to do with a North of England provincial sport that’s almost on it’s knees. Someone should belt you on the head with your effin barometer. We’re you there applauding Tag and his son. Getafuk NUMPTY

I think we need to calm down. It was a friendly against the best team in SL. When Smith arrived we where in a terrible place. He can't change that in one season. Our biggest problem was the pack. He definitely looks on the right track improving that aspect. Yes we need lots of other changes but it can't be done in one season. If it where that easy every team would do it.He said from day one it's a long term project. Let's cut the guy and the players some slack

“Belt me on the head ?”
Barometer thuggery

I have to laugh - I am on a thread about pre season and I’m discussing professionalism in other sports and developing a winning attitude

Maybe I got on the wrong thread ? Anyways you were going fine until you brought the barometer into it and overstepped the mark

I have no doubt that at round 9 you will see our finishing position gone or take a variance of 1 position , barring exceptional circumstances , such as Uncle Tony being replaced at 9 games.

Martin was okay. He didn't see much of the ball as we never really shifted it out wide to him. One time we did from a Scrum play on Wigans line and he got bundled into touch but that was also down to excellent Wigna sliding defence.
Came in looking for the ball a lot though. Not afraid to so some hard carries.

I know it was only a pre season game and Wigan are along way ahead of us, but it's hard to take too many positives from that and certainly knocked some optimism out of me.

A couple of things I thought might happen, but was hoping wouldn't happen.

We have a good starting pack, which needs to be broken up to improve bench impact

I'm not sure we have the pivots to exploit the platform laid by the pack.

A few injuries and we are in trouble, the likes of Lane, Mcintosh and Cator aren't good enough, but they are either in Smith's strongest 17 or right on the edge.

Probably just feeling negative after that 2nd half (and ill pick up in a day or two), but really not looking forward to the season.

It felt like we had 2 headless chicken at 6 and 7 once we got in Wigans 20. Brown was the better of the 2 but it was all individual stuff. Going off yesterday I'd be bringing Morgan Smith in gor Hoy.

Second row will still be a problem point for us too. I thought Ashworth put a shift in but Okunbor was pretty quiet, still got big question marks over him.

I thought Okunbor was good with what he did. Looked strong with his carries and took some putting down and tackled well. Can only recall him missing one.
He didn't see much of the ball though due to us favouring the left hand side.Think he could be a real weapon close to the line but i agree on 6 and 7. It's very concerning. Hopefully Trueman isn't far away and we can get Brown to hooker and have Morgan Smith alongside Trueman.