Dropping Thaler won't get us back in the cup.

Early on I knew not only would we have to beat Leeds but would have to beat the ref and give him no opportunity to award against us. SAMs face said it all at one point after yet another shocking decision.



That said, Leeds retained ball and field position, the correct tactic, and that was our downfall.

Credit were due though, we knew there was a lot on the watch and did not panic, scoring a lot of points that Thaler could not chalk off, and almost pulling off the win.

We lost the game because we were totally out enthused. Leeds wanted it more and this was apparent in every aspect of the game.



We had players who were clearly not 100%. Charnley looked to be running on one and half legs whilst McIllorum just wasnt himself and should not of played.



Sinfield kicked us to death but we didnt apply any pressure to him whatsoever likewise Burrow who was just allowed to run wherever he liked. Our defence was non exsistant and lethargic.



Our forwards looked half baked from the start. There was a complete lack of determination from them going forward and they were easily handled by Leeds.



In attack we were stood far too flat and bunched up. The wave of runners weve seen all year just wasnt there making it very easy for Leeds to defend against. Finch had no running options and was forced to try some crazy impossible passes that were never on.



Basically there was nothing in us from the start. Im not bothered in the slightest that we lost as i dont get any excitement from the CC these days. The Grand Final is the one to win these days. Last year i was so gutted when we failed to reach Old Trafford and in a way im glad we are not going to Wembley so the players can focus 100% on getting to the Grand Final. I got the feeling the players also had the same thought.

Very harsh to blame Sam for the first try IMO. I doubt you'll want to replay it but if you do, keep an eye on Charnley. He's the player that should have got under the bomb. When it went up, he was in the perfect position to go for it but for reasons unknown went walkabout infield.

The first try was all about Sinfield - brilliant kick.

As a rhinos fan thanks for the majority of contributors who whilst acknowledging

Refereeing clangers agreed the rhinos were the better team.

One thing has puzzled me for some time is your playing of Tompkins at full back, without doubt he is the best attacking player in the super league so all his line breaks usually come from deep.thus giving defenses more time to haul him down.yes I know he murdered us at headingley from full back,but he is not a full back. He is not comfortable under a high ball,and his tackling is sometime suspect. I think yesterday's defeat will galvanize your team, and will result in a massive attempt in lifting the grand final trophy.

He's at fullback because it's his best position. Errors do happen but perhaps not as often as some non-Wigan fans seem to think. 90% of the time if he does make an error he does more than enough in attack to make up for it.



As many have said, it's harsh to criticise him for not catching Sinfield's kick for the opening try. He had to move across the field trying to keep his eyes on the ball, ignore the players coming towards him while trying to catch a ball that was always moving away from him. The credit should go to a fantastic kick that plenty of fullbacks would struggle with, even those world beaters down under.



So yes, he is a fullback, and most of the time he is comfortable under the high ball. In fact he's taken some excellent catches at times. He's certainly no more error prone than those who went before him in recent times, except perhaps Roberts at his very best.

Never the less I would still play him at stand off,just imagine a scrum twenty five yards from the opposition line with Sam running at you with ball in hand I would back him most times to beat the first tackler. As a rhinos fan I am more than happy for you to play him at full back.

He can do exactly what you just described when playing at fullback. In fact he has done and to much greater effect because there's more space to work with out wide and it's easier to step a player who is sliding across when you cut back inside on an angled run, which is something Tomkins does well. In terms of his running game Tomkins is so much better at fullback than stand off.



That's not to say he wouldn't be good at stand off because he's already proven that he can be the best stand off in Super League as well as the best fullback. Stand off just requires him to take a different approach and use different skills. Also, more importantly, Wigan's structure is built around creative halfbacks on both sides who pass the ball and only run very occasionally. Playing in that manner would waste most of Tomkins' best attributes whilst also require a change in the way the team plays.

To be honest, Wigan was a bit hard done by, we were gifted 2 tries that should not of been tries, that forward pass was a mile forward and Mguire knocked the ball on so none should of been given. I have always say you need the rub of the green in big games and a need a bit of luck and we had it on the day.



I think we was the better side and deserved it but no Wigan fans are saying we dont, the ones I have spoken to are just a bit miffed at the ref and I can see their point.



I have no doubt that you guys wont bounce back, your such a good team, the best in super league this year by a long way.

Much as at Wembley last year, there were some duff decisions, but the better side won on the day.

I'm surprised that nobody has brought this up.



The 40:20 that Tomkins let go into touch, he looked quizzical when it was given. The reason, the referee is supposed to shout "FORTY" if the ball is kicked from inside the 40 metre area. I don't believe Thaler did as he went to the video ref.



Just watch and listen to the Wire v Huddersfield game yesterday and Silverwood can be heard shouting the "FORTY"

Referees would normally shout "40", but for whatever reason Thaler didn't - just as he initially very demonstratively waved "play on" when Hall lost the ball on the Wigan line before changing his mind seconds later to award Leeds a penalty (a word in his ear from VR Ganson?). And no one will ever know why he didn't go to VR for the Maguire knock-on - even Jonathan Davies and the other BBC pundits slated him for that. The forward pass he gave against Wigan with them attacking on the right flank with 5 minutes to go was less forward than the one to Peacock for their 3rd try. And how about the blatant knock-on when Ablett let go of the ball when dazed before the 2nd try? Silverwood penalised a less blatant Huddersfield fumble at the play the ball yesterday.



Wigan did have the rub of the green in last year's final with the forward pass for Lima's 2nd try, the scrum that was awarded to Wigan 4 minutes to go when the ball came off Charnley, as well as Tommy try being awarded (correct decision that one, but some VRs (eg Ian Smith!) might have disallowed it for losing control of the ball while grounding. Having said all that, though, Ablett should have been penalised for an incorrect play the ball in the build-up to Leeds 2nd try which would have given a penalty to Wigan on the Leeds 20.



Swings and roundabouts, or something in Thaler's sub-conscious......?!!