Obviously, we will probably need to win our last two fixtures to win the LLS and I think we will if we can turn over Catalans and HKR. I accept there are no guarantees about French hitting the same heights that he was prior to injury. However, what I can be certain of is that he will make those around him perform better. It is not just French though, the return of Smith, Ellis and Farrell is equally important. Take the equivalent players out of any other team and they will struggle. Interestingly, Wigan had nine players missing today and there was not one mention of that by the commentators. I do however, agree that our form has been bang average over the last six weeks and we will need to step it up.

Our form is bang average, no doubt about it Zig. Interesting, though, that we've still won 4 from 5 in August whilst missing many of our best players for much of it. Take the equivalent of French, Field, Smith, O'Neil, Cooper, Ellis, Faz etc. out of any team, many at the same time, and I seriously doubt they'd return 4 from 5. Hopefully that bodes well for the end of the season.

Has Cooper played his last game for us?

One player you missed off there is Isa. Now attacking wise Junior has come in and improved our right edge attack (and now recently left) with solid runs, but has been caught out a few times in defence which has exposed that right edge with our new centre-wing partnership in Keighran and Miski. I do think we've missed Isa's defence on the right.

This isn't being given anywhere near enough attention for me. Some teams have it even worse - which probably explains why our issues are underplayed - but we were always going to lack fluency with having to make all of the changes in the backs, especially in the halves. We still easily won our last two games and conceded one try in the process, but it was never realistic to expect an absolute blowout, even against a team like Hull who are really struggling.

The right edge defence has obviously been badly affected too by having to replace French and blood youngsters in the place of injured/moved senior players. Once that isn't such an obvious target for opposition teams then that should help our attack too.

We have Matty and, despite most oppo fans thinking he's not a true loss because of Walters and Nsemba, I think he would have played plenty times this season. Same with Cooper. Yes, we have a truckload of props but Cooper would have been around the 17 most weeks if fit. Moreso given Byrne and Dupree haven't been at their best.

As someone has mentioned already, we were minus 9 players yesterday, most of whom would be in, or at least in contention for, our starting 17. That's the same number Saints were missing the day before but it barely warranted a mention. In fact I can't remember any comments regarding how well Wigan have done to return 4 from 5 during this spell. The narrative yesterday seemed to have been all about our dip in form and how we didn't give Hull a "drubbing"

Not heard either way for ages - shame if that is the case.

Mago £250 fine, no ban

Possibly more importantly for Wigan, John Asiata banned for Leigh for the game against Warrington.