Rovers were unfortunate to have two yellow cards, but only by the standards of the game in its previous, much fairer incarnation, when minor collisions were rightly ignored. But by current pathetic standards, they were lucky they didn't have two yellows and a red. Only the fact they already had a man off prevented the latter, which in itself is corruption by the official - but that's nothing new, so why bother complaining?
The two yellows made up for all the offsides that Smith ignored in the first half. Very important to let the underdogs get their vital head-start, I suppose. The ball off the boot into touch was another one he could safely ignore. No one saw it after all... apart from everyone else in the stadium aside from him and the touch-judge, though both of them saw it too really, which in itself should be a sackable offence in both cases. But some chance of that.
I don't like to think that underdogs are massively favoured by the powers-that-be in this so-called sport we follow, but what else can you think after a game like that?
Yes, it was very exciting and great tries were scored, but no way in the memory of man were Hull KR only 4 points inferior to Wigan. They scrambled well but never looked like scoring apart from when dodgy penalties gifted them masses of territory they hadn't earned, and a rusty Harry Smith handed them a soft interception on a plate.
But even then, we are our own worst enemies. We strengthened massively in the final quarter, when Rovers seemed to be inexplicably gassed, but before then we were error-strewn again. It made the ref's job all too easy.
Itchy Arsenal wrote:Good win that. We aren’t the 2023 vintage but that took a lot of hard work and inventiveness to turn it around. Wardle was imperious when it really mattered. HKR put an awful lot into that and it will be interesting to see how they perform next week. Our defence first half was too slow and not aggressive enough. kR ruled the ruck for the first 30 minutes. Some truly spectacular tries. At least 3 worthy of try of the season. Some of the kids there tonight have a memory that will last them a lifetime. I’m pretty sure that in 20 years time some of them will regale about the game tonight. Hopefully we still have enough in the tank to get our revenge on Leeds next week. A game for Forber to forget but one for Nsemba to really state his case as the best second rower in the competition. He is in prime form and it’s a bit of of privilege to watch him the moment.
Think you are being harsh on Forber there, his distribution was as good as ever and he took the ball of Luckley like candy off a baby , agreed Nsemba was next level.
Great win and great atmosphere, the stadium has its critics but when it's like that, it's rocking!
There's so much more in us, I thought we were scratchy, but some great signs going forward. The amount of ball we threw on the ground, added in to our first half discipline made it a difficult night. We broke them at will throughout though, with some scintillating rugby. Ellis' and Peet's post match interviews on Wigan TV are measured about the performance, which is good to see.
The narrative on social media is the yellows decided the outcome and whilst a factor, we've seen this year that sometimes it's difficult to play v 12 men.
We look primed for the push to the GF, we just need to complete high and sort our discipline out. If we do that, I'll tip my hat to anyone who beats us.
Joined: Oct 22 2003 Posts: 1840 Location: A long way from Wigan
NickyKiss wrote:Looking around on social media, it's a shame the main feeling coming out seems to be that Wigan were somehow totally reliant on the refs calls to win the game. We bust them open all game and they scrambled unbelievably well to hold out. It finished 9 clean breaks to 2 and 5 tries to 3. We lost the penalty count again and HKR get 2 yellow cards that are hardly controversial by today's standards.
Now that's out the way, it was a pleasure to be at the game. The atmosphere electric and the game absolutely superb. Some performances on both sides were outstanding. Fair play to Paddy Mago, I wondered if he may lose his place before the end of the season and he produces that! Superb.
100% this. We broke them on the left edge so many times, with and without a man sent off. It's a shame the pre-defined narrative is Hull KR 'unlucky' and the story is all about the two sin bins. The first was a flop and professional foul to slow down a break - in any other game this would be reported as KR ill discipline.
We've seen the head contact sin bins all season long and been the victim of them many times - the stats show that KR have hardly suffered this up to now. I do agree though there needs to be a review of how the video ref intervenes in these as players across all teams are staying down to give them time to review.
KR look good the real deal this season and great to see such a loud following, exactly what the sport needs. But I thought we gifted them field position in the first half for their tries then an interception in the 2nd - overall I thought our forwards dominated, Luke, Nsemba (amazing performance even better than last week) and Paddy head and shoulders above anyone else. So nice to see Nsemba hitting the line at pace and at last we started to offload something we rarely do. I hope this is something we take into the play offs.
our backs were far more dangerous - Wardle, Marshall, Field, Bevan all standouts, with Field looking to be coming back to something like 100% fitness just at the right time.
Phuzzy wrote:I'm not usually one for "I told you so" but I really couldn't get the negativity around Mago or people suggesting he may miss out when everyone is fit. He's literally the best impact prop in the league and, as I've said previously, he rarely fails to make an impact. His minutes are, and always have been for mine, a complete irrelevance. We have plenty props who can do big minutes. Tonight he turned the match. Simple as that.
He's the best when he plays like that for sure. I think the feeling he may miss out comes from looking at two of our biggest domestic games of the season in Good Friday and the cup final. He got hardly any minutes in either and that makes you wonder if there is a trust issue in the biggest/quickest games. Last night showed that he can be a huge weapon, not only in games we're on top in but also when we chase games. No Mago last night and we lose and you can't give him a bigger compliment than that.
On a different note, if Byrne isn't going to get any minutes then we really should be running with the more versatile Walters on the bench. Byrne can play in one position, whereas Walters can cover a few, including prop, so it seems a no brainer to make that change.
One of the best games I have seen for drama and atmosphere,big shout out to HKR fans for coming in numbers and creating the night and to our fans who were on form with the noise levels.
Fully deserved to win forget about the sin bins they were fouls end off. Looks like Marshy could have a shout at a England shirt (about time to) Knows how to finish that ad. Mago did what he should do soft hands backed up with power. French brilliant no one could score that try and have the confidence to go for it. Luke has impressed me this season he is so relentless a joy to watch. Havard,Liam ,Ellis all the forwards did a great job out there. Nsemba just a monster,just wait till he fills out,just so much desire backed up with raw power a pleasure to watch.Miski took the ball up well and was safe under the high ball,we have 2 classy centres one just needs a bit of kicking practice.Field show that he s near his best just in time for the play offs. All in All a very enyoyable night and may it continue untill the GF night of which I am sure it will. Some team this Wigan team is at the in.
Not enough credit is being given to our pack, they dominated that contest last evening. Also, for some reason, Luke Thompson seems to have been overlooked when the accolades were handed out. The lad made 45 tackles and ran for 122 metres - he topped the statistics on both sides of the ball. Bearing in mind that the game was like a GF to HKR that is remarkable.
Zig wrote:Not enough credit is being given to our pack, they dominated that contest last evening. Also, for some reason, Luke Thompson seems to have been overlooked when the accolades were handed out. The lad made 45 tackles and ran for 122 metres - he topped the statistics on both sides of the ball. Bearing in mind that the game was like a GF to HKR that is remarkable.
Not by me mate, he’d be my player of the season so far
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, agreed Nsemba was next level.
