It’s just not a good look for the RFL, first they bend the rules for Smith so he can avoid the ban he clearly deserved to ensure Wigan are at full strength.

Then they appoint a Wigan born ref, who ends up having a shocker and hands the game to Wigan.

Really poor all round, I always want the SL team to win these games but I can’t celebrate that one, good job it’s just a glorified pre-season friendly for the Aussies.

It’s the same Wigan born ref that sent a Wigan player off against HKR in the cup semi last year that ultimately lost us the game. Had French try been given then this ref nonsense would never be mentioned, oh but wait a minute the video ref disallowed it. It goes both ways.

Some going for Matt Peet winning the challenge cup, league leaders, grand final and WCC in 66 games

He disallowed it because French was very obviously offside. Let’s not pretend it was a questionable decision.

Having been at the game Wigan must have made a fortune, Robin park was packed with people eating and drinking, the club shop had a queue a mile long from 5pm right up until kick off. What a fantastic set up and club they have got there, everything done right on and off the field. Highly envious.

But there was clear evidence that French was offside so not really the point.

The system needs to be changed whereby either the referee is confident and backs himself with a try or no try decision, or if he isn’t confident he sends the decision to the video ref, completely. We can’t have a system for a professional sport whereby a referee takes a guess, albeit an educated guess. It’s the bit after that whereby the video ref then has to have clear evidence in order to overturn the refs guess. You could argue that decisions balance out over a season so it’s alright, but look at how the game was influenced last night. Both teams were brilliant, and they were a fantastic advert for the game in general, but winning and losing in those games is a very fine margin and the officiating needs to be better. The players and supporters deserve better.

Also, how long do we have to suffer the love fest commentary of John Wilkins when he’s covering Saints games on Sky as per last night against Huddersfield?

Agreed. Yeah, Wilkin was the cause for me to switch over and watch football.

Just watched the game this morning.
A great game of RL broke out for the first time this year! That is the game I fell in love with.
I thought Wardles was short but I also thought the Penrith player was held up at the end.
For all the talk of Wigan getting all the decisions Penrith butchered a couple of good chances to score so had opportunities.
Well done Wigan.

Challenge Cup draw at 5.10pm this afternoon. Tucked away on BBC Sounds or BBC local radio.

Hope we get a Championship side or York Acorn away, this season while our injury situation improves. However, I presume the Wigan and St Helens’ balls are already in the freezer waiting for us.

It's the fifth round draw today, Super League clubs enter at round six.

The sixth round draw is scheduled for Monday 11th March.