Cooper can't be that far off coming back after Harvard can he? They said 5 - 6 weeks and this will be week 4. Both will be great returns as it allows us to rest/rotate Dupree, Mago and Hill who've probably all seen more action than expected.

He mentioned him but just said what we found out a few weeks ago and that the news was far better than feared. If he's on track, he won't be far away as well. It'll be great to rotate for sure and it will lead to some debate when it comes to a big game and who should form the prop rotation! Ellis has nailed the 13 spot, so there are 4 or 5 places left. I would probably go with what MadDogg suggests above and rotate Walters and Nsemba in the 17 (or Walters and Isa) and if you do that, it's 4 prop spots that are left. Picking 4 from Thompson, Byrne, Mago, Dupree, Cooper, Havard and Hill is an incredible luxury but it's also incredibly tough. There is also Chan to consider and at some point, Sam Eseh will be in the mix as well. One thing is for sure, to get a place, you're going to need to be at your best.

What it certainly gives us is the ability to rotate players and not have to pick strategic games to rest them. It might sound like the same thing, but it really isn't. Other teams have a small window where they can rest players (X2 games Vs London etc). We've got the ability, most game weeks, to rotate like for like and not worry about it. Harvard for Mago or Dupree or Cooper for Byrne etc.

I would prefer it if we gave Faz the week off.

To be honest I thought that he was our best prop against Penrith and his first spell was the best I have seen him play in a Wigan shirt.

Yes he was very good in that first 20 I agree.

With Byrne it’s just him finding his best more often that we need. He was probably the form prop in the league for 4-6 weeks until his injury last year, absolutely belting people and smashing the ball up and he was excellent against Penrith. That Byrne can be an England prop.



His season so far though has been almost as disrupted as Mike Coopers, so it’s hard to criticise him. It’s time for him to step up now at Saints and then Leigh. Get in to them and go hunting like that Catalans away game last year. That’s his role in this team for me and it’s a role we need as a side.

I’m a Byrne fan and agree with you that at his best he could be an English prop. If he’s not careful he could lose his place in the 17 as Hill and particularly Mago have significantly stepped up their performances. Hopefully it’s a couple of niggly injuries that have stopped him becoming more consistent over longer periods.

I always think that he steps up againt Saints and Walmsley in particular. Hopefully he’s fit and raring to go on GF and he can literally get into Walmsley’s ribs.

No messing from Peet, Hampshire for Field and Nsemba for Isa, only changes for tonight

Jesus we sound shocking

Sheffield - Wigan's kyrptonite.

I think Wigans- Wigans kryptonite.

I'm away on holiday at moment and catching updates on twitter. Three words.



"What the frig"

We sound poor but this ref is the same one we had for London and he’s blowing everything Jesus needs let the game flow both ways

Would love to read people's thoughts on tonight. Our performance, Sheffield, referee...etc.

Would love to read people's thoughts on tonight. Our performance, Sheffield, referee...etc.

A tough nights viewing. We aren’t there at the minute but nobody is getting a good match to watch with that ref in charge. He definitely takes the rule book to bed, to the sh*tter and on his holidays.



Full credit to Sheffield though, it was a great effort. Tonight has to be the night the Wigan players move on from Penrith because things are about to get a whole heap tougher. One or two of them are absolutely way off.

According to BBC, Junior Nsemba kicked a goal??? Can anyone confirm this? I wouldn't put it past the beeb to say Billy Boston's try was converted by Neil Cowie so thought I'd check a (slightly) more reputable source...

Careful the RL robots will be out for you. Thou shall not speak ill of the ref. They've got a very hard job you know.

Dear Challenge Cup,



With the quarter finals looming, could you please pair Saints and Warrington together this year just for a change.



Thanks in advance

I try to back them when I can but nobody can defend that guy. He’s made the London game and tonight’s almost unwatchable.

The ref was pedantic, but Wigan were still caught inside the 10 too often. I'd be interested to know who NK thinks are 'way off'.

First half we were off it and Sheffield did attack with pace about their attack all evening so credit where it's due.



Second half I felt we had a lot more intent and that showed.



12-12 first half score.

32-6 second half score.

That makes the point.



I thought Wardle and Marshall were particularly strong second half.

Only one or two as I say and I cut them loads of slack. It’s been a whirlwind few weeks and months for all the players and it’s understandable that it’s taking some players longer than others to find that focus. I can’t be bothered naming players because I don’t want to call out lads who’ve killed it for us over recent months/years and when I say they’re ‘way off’ I mean they’re way off ‘their best’ and that is an extremely high level.



It’s just important now that all the players switch on. It feels a bit to me like the domestic season really starts for us on Friday. I hope and think the players feel the same and I do expect we’ll see a totally different focus and energy, both with and without the ball (we’ve not put together both those parts of the game yet).

It was a real stop/start game, party due to our ill discipline and partly due to the ref who certainly liked the sound of his whistle.



Sheffield are due a lot of credit, they were full of endeavour and energy but we were well off. It was obvious Peet have us a roasting at half time, for the first 10 mins of the second we stepped up a gear. The rest of the game we were lethargic and lacked concentration.



I thought Nesmba did well, Marshall was his usual self and leeming looked lively when he came on.