As plenty have said it was only a friendly.
But some very worrying signs, can’t see any improvement in 2024 I’m afraid, 8th at best and that’s a big ask. Wigan will be the bench mark again.

The big difference yesterday, especially in the second half, was the speed of the play the ball.

We allowed Wigan to play too quick and they made sure we couldn’t get quick ptb’s.

It makes a massive difference.

It’s a lot harder to defend when you’re still retreating and players make rash decisions under greater pressure.

We matched them first half for this and it was a tight contest.

It was nice to hear Tag express his gratitude , pre match and I think most fans would agree he deserved the recognition. As for the game, Wigan looked like they were cruising in the first half, although I thought our forwards handled Luke Thompson well, who looked like he was keen to impress the Pies fans. I thought Okunbor played well first half and he surprised me with his strength and desire in the tackle. We did look rusty, in the spine, which was to be expected , Hoy looks to a decent six , although the combinations were a bit clunky, so it is hard to gauge what we'll be like until Truman is fit, as Brown played well, but it looks to me like he's a definite hooker with some great ruck speed, too. Second half was disappointing, Wigan went through the gears and we had no answer, but the young winger Martin showed up well. It is what it is, we are definitely going to have to sharpen things up, but Carlos and Sao will add something and Ashworth looked a good signing, albeit more as a middle for me, though. Cator tried , but he isn't a hooker, as we know and I'd hope when fully fit Balmforth get's more than just a few minutes, as replacement for Houghton when he tires, but that is Smith's call. We'll toil against the elite teams and need some more attacking threat, but they'll all be better for the run out and with Tindall and Smith to come in I'm not too disheartened; it wasn't worth any points so we'll see how we fare against Rovers, when it matters, as they have pace in their back division that may trouble us but our pack looks good enough to hold them in the middle..

The friendly left me feeling deflated, although tempered by a magnificent crowd to boost the coffers of Tag,

I suppose if you invite the best to compete with you, then you get what you deserve, Wigan, after a 50/50 first half upped the ante and we had no answers, Herman and Pele looked good prospects and up against a very good set of forwards, Thompson, Byrne, & Ellis, held there own, but when Leeming started to inject himself on the game, Wigan used the class of Field, Wardle and Smith to demolish us, with not a whimper of fight back, in truth we didn’t look like scoring, and with the introduction of Dupree and Keighran finding his feet, the game was up.

Wigan looked fitter, faster, and structured without the need for Bev French to get involved, the soaked up our pressure, and in second gear dismantled us.

Difficult to find any plus points from this fixture, although I usually look for positives, I suppose the home appearance of Jack Charles was good to see, he really did well, although when he ran on, he looked like the slight youngster he is, I hoped he didn’t get flattened, Lewis Martin made a couple of mistakes, but on the whole was very good in a difficult game, was beginning to wonder if Nu Brown could actually run, then he made his break down the left.

Plenty of work needed, hoping it was a bad day at the office, fingers crossed.

He may have only got 15 mins but I thought Balmforth was really poor in contact, he was getting bounced off a fair bit and was clearly targeted by Wigan along with Pele.

repeat what ive said before,we have not replaced cliifford.havent a recognised 7 on the books.brown is a 9.dont think trueman is answer either.we should have paid carlos off,waste of a quota spot.we need a recognised 7,also forewards look a bit better,but we still need another big second rower.

Ackers and Croft would have been perfect for us, shame we didn't put a bid in when they became available, we could have tried to offer Salford Hoy as part of the deal

Brown made at least a couple of breaks and generally looked a class above his teammates with ball in hand - I noticed he looked very frustrated on a couple of occasions at the lack of running off the ball.

Where not going to go from a bottom 3 team to top 6 overnight. It's ok saying sign him etc. But that's never gonna happen unless your a Wire team . I think we all know it's gonna be a slow process even though we would all like an instant fix to our problems. As I say let's at least give this newish team a chance.

Sadly we don't have cash and why would anyone want Hoy who at this point has a lot to prove in SL?