Father Ted

I Never rated the concept. Thought the weekend should have been used to improve the Intl Squad. We went to the Ashes Test and were very impressed with the stadium and their set up. Also we only live across the river so it's so easy to get to.

They may well have brought ticket sales forward but I've bought tickets for the five of us and this will be the first Magic any of us have attended. We all did go to the Hicky Dicky for the Ashes Test.

Harvey Makin going from Wigan to Oldham on a season long loan. Maybe to replace George Hirst who's now at Wigan following a season long loan at Oldham!

Saints new coach will make a massive difference IMO. Seeing as what he did at Salford over the years with far less capable squads than Saints, he could be a tremendous asset to the club.

Perhaps it will come down to the new contract offered by SKY and the amount they put on the table. The NRL suggested an amount of £2.1m so if SKY reduce their offer from the current figure then it will be interesting to see how the clubs will react to that especially if the NRL and their partners come up with a larger offer that the SL clubs can't turn down.

So who would replace him? Sam Burgess yes when he's won the C Cup, LLS & GF with Wire. Until then no thanks. In a system where we are to play 28 SL games, plus C Cup, plus play offs where are the breaks in the season to play Internationals and against who? France aren't interested. Other than that it would be the Pacific Nations which is a non starter. As mentioned we haven't a system to bring through sufficient quality players at elite level and that is unlikely to change. As a Wigan fan, of our five spine positions three are filled by overseas players and two by club trained lads. So how do we change that long term? Field and French both signed four year deals in 2025 so not much will change there. Ellis at 13 might go to prop with O'Neil going to 13 with Forber being bench to Leeming. Not happened yet though if it ever will. At HKR they have three English lads in their spine. Their fb is French and 6 is Aussie. Wigan and HKR were the best two teams in SL last year IMO. It needs a full overhaul of the SL & RL set up in the UK. Our only hope for fundamental change and improvement is with the NRL who would bring their management expertise to look after the sport as a whole rather than the vested interests of various factions in todays Rugby League.

Looks like Oliver Wilson the Huddersfield prop has signed for Wigan with a fee involved. With Byrne, Hill and Dupree leaving Wigan seems that the Warriors have another incoming prop together with Sam Eseh.

Said this decades ago but have England U23 play France in Perpignan or Toulouse on Bastille Day 14th July. The French seem distracted when they play full England squad but playing our U23s on their National Day and holiday could well work. If they can't raise their game on Bastille Day then those who suggest they are not interested will be fully vindicated in saying that. I do though think it's a worth a punt. A keen England U23 squad who want to impress and a French team who surely have to make an effort on their national Holiday!

As a Wigan fan I'd say Michael Maguire. Ended Wigan's long wait for a Grand Final win. Same with Brisbane Broncos. Coached New Zealand. Might have to wait a while but could well be worth waiting for.

There's an article on the Liverpool Echo site about the shuttle buses. One service is from the bus station by Liverpool 1. Another is from Bootle town centre. The one near Lime St Station as I understand it is by St Georges Hall which is directly opposite Lime St Station. Worth looking into.

There's an Everton season ticket holder who lives across the road and he reckons train to Sandhills which is a 15 min walk (mostly downhill) to the ground. After the match walk back to Moorfields station (30 mins) as Sandhills is useless for getting away after the match. Can't offer any personal knowledge as I've not been yet, Saturday will be my first time too at BM Dock.

Liam Marshall's dad played for Wigan but not SL.

Wigan dropped too much ball and made mistake after mistake for 80 mins. If Wigan score those HKR would have been gone and Wigan won. They dropped both and were still with a 0 score. No team can miss two tries like that and hope to win. They didn't score then and ended up well beaten with only one try to their name. Well done HKR, better team by far and deserved their win. That they are now the fifth new name on the SL trophy makes their own history for them. Well done HKR.

If HKR win the GF where will they fit the WCC into the season's fixture list? They are committed to Vagas with Leeds and the WCC would be another extra game. Best thing for all is a Wigan GF win then!

A 3 match ban overturned on appeal. Never heard of that before, probably because it's never happened before. No doubt because Wigan appealed the original decision as well as HKR.