I'd use the word depressing, Dave!

I hope it's alright in two weeks Clare or we'll get a right royal stuffing in Sydney! Very poor last night although with Lockers out, last year's two wingers missing, new full back, rookie hooker and depleted/off form pack (Taylor apart) it was always on the cards that it was going to be a tough game. Trust me to take my union playing soon-to-be son in law to his first League game! See we are expecting a support of around 1500-2000 in Australia. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Wish I was going, Enjoy!

Spent a great New Years Eve in Kirkby Lonsdale where there is a plethora of pubs, restaurants and eateries for such a relatively small place. We ate in the Orange Tree, nice little pub with restaurant area behind the bar. Paid normal pub prices (mains £7-10) and very good too. Had a decent pub crawl afterwards. We've eaten before in Plato's which has good reviews and there's a gem of a place called Avanti (Mediterranean cuisine) where the pizzas are supposed to be 'the best ever.' Will give that one a try sooner rather than later. Cracking little town that I would recommend to anyone. Oh and scrote free as well.

Just been on a Christmas do at Preston Grasshoppers where we got to watch the game against Caldy afterwards. Impressive set up over in Preston but Union.....? A complete and utter borefest. Roll on February 2014.

Sam will be a huge loss, that goes without saying. It's a while though since he's played consistently well over several games, partly due to carrying a bit of an injury niggle and partly holding back once the rumour mill started to whirl. Wigan do have a 'partnership' with NZW which will have made any transfer to them a bit easier than to any of the other NRL clubs. There was a post on the RL fans site a few months back from a NZW fan saying how good their youth set up is and, like Wigan, they have a production line of talent coming through. The feeling is that they'll start to improve their league position year on year. As koi says, Matty Bowen is a great replacement and I'm really looking forward to seeing him play this coming season. We also have a young lad called Ryan Hampshire who can play in either the halves or at full back and he really does appear to be a star in the making. He'll surely get more game time this year now we've cracked Leeds' formula of rotation/resting key players in order to keep them fresh at the business end of the season!

Yeah, was a great game yesterday despite the defeat. I thought England edged it but you sometimes need a bit of luck in games like that. Had Ryan Hall managed to keep hold of the ball at his interception near the end, it would have been game over. Season tickets x 2, car park pass and Wigan TV subscription all purchased, can't wait for the new season.

Been on a tour of the Bernabeu today. Incredible stadium!

Great right hook by Billy Slater can be seen on you tube. Just key in Billy Slater Nightclub punch. Happened over the last couple of days outside a Manchester club. Some plonker, who presumably didn't know who he is, decides to punch him. Catches him / glances off the back of his head and quick as a flash Billy counters with a superb 'right' which floors the guy.

Yes, I believe there was a great reaction from the crowd. Unfortunately we missed the first ten minutes due to it being further from the city centre than thought. The buggers in Pizza Express said a 15 minute walk and not the 30 that it took!

Not a bad performance by England this afternoon. A bit flat first half but picked up in the second. Atmosphere picked up too as England pressed forward. 25k + crowd, my first England game and first visit to the KC.

Well yeah Dave, I saw in that documentary that she played rugby league as well! Not seeing too much NRL, I didn't realise just how good the lads were, especially Sam. Super League's loss should be England's gain with the increasing migration of talent over here to the NRL and the benefit of playing at a higher level week in, week out.

Just watched the Burgess documentary on You Tube - brillliant. Also a three minute clip of Sam Burgess' hits - wow! Any whinging, playacting, feigning injury (association) footballer should be made to get in the way of just one of them. Would then know the meaning of being hurt!

Can't argue with any of that pal. I thought Roby had a good game and was constantly in the mix. Mossop (who I like and don't wish to knock) only has to look at the Burgess boys to see how effective a front/second row forward should be. The game passed Chase by. Anyway, roll on the 9th November and England v Fiji at the KC where we have three tickets. May try and get to one or two more midweek games as well.

Cracking game though and those Burgess brothers, they're immense. Disappointing to lose because there wasn't too much between the teams.

Can't make the GF unfortunately - been invited to a wedding we can't wriggle our way out of. Absolutely gutted. Koi - yep, great win by the youngsters today. I thought about going seeing I couldn't make the game next Saturday but her indoors has given me a long list of DIY things to do! Superb win last night and a great game of Rugby League. The lads have done us proud. The number of top players that have left over the last three years or so is unbelievable but others come in and do the job, especially the young 'uns. Enjoy the GF and let's hope we can do the double. Tyrone - you going to Leigh tomorrow? Should be a great derby final for you.

Four of us went to The Rock at Tockholes last night on the three courses for £9.99 menu. Ate in the restaurant type section at the back. Could just be a mid week menu, can't remember. But fantastic value. No scrimping on the portions. Four or five choices for each course and I could have picked any. A couple of pints of Guinness and I left absolutely stuffed. They do also have a main menu crammed with all sorts. Give it a go.

I sit right opposite that clock and pointed out to the guy next to me that it had stopped. Yes, probably a good minute. A great display though from the youngsters, Hampshire in particular. Inexperience showed, as you say, Burgess got sucked inside for two of the easiest tries they'll ever score and then the drop goal attempt on the first set! Still, if that's the future, bring it on.

Not a classic but a well deserved ground out win by the lads. Reliable kicking from Pat and great kicking by Smithy. With so narrow a score going in to the latter stages, it could have been so different had Hull gone over. Was only able to relax with about seven or eight minutes left when it was clear Wigan's sensible play meant Hull had run out of time. Then Sam sealed it. Out for a curry and a few more beers now!

Yep, a Warriors/Rovers meet up on the cards. Enjoy Dublin Clare!

Had a great afternoon with FC fans in Harrow on the Hill. Guinness going down well. Looking forward to the game tomorrow. A few pints in nearby Harrow then tube to Wembley and soak up the atmosphere with a walk up Wembley Way. Come on Wigan!!

Went to Kirkby Lonsdale yesterday to try the bar/restaurant 'Avanti' (Mediterranean Cuisine) which had been recommended to us. Unfortunately we missed the afternoon food cut off time by ten minutes! Apparently the pizzas are 'to die for' and bearing in mind I have yet to find anywhere on a par with those at The Godfather in Darwen, I was up for the challenge. Went to nearby Plato's instead which had also been recommended. Opted for the bar menu and we two had the minced steak burgers topped with cheese, chips, onion rings and dips. Nice. There was also a tapas menu and the a la carte. Great place and well worthy of a visit in the evening for the full a la carte.

Oooh eck! I'll give 'em a shout or two for you Clare.

Was in the Waddington Arms for food last night towards the end of an all day sesh in the Ribble Valley. We usually choose the Lower Buck when in Waddington but bucked (sorry) the trend yesterday. Very good food, similar price and standard to that of the Clog & Billy, or at least to what the Clog & Billy used to be like, reading some of the reviews on here. Had a meal in the Strawberry Duck at Entwistle last Sunday. Again, very nice. Years since I've been in there. The place has been revamped, has upped the ante and is in a beautiful setting.Sells that superb Swedish cider, Rekorderlig, which is delightful in the weather we've been having.

Couldn't make the semi final at Leigh unfortunately. All day sesh in the Ribble Valley that me and the mrs organised for 40 odd and that we couldn't get out of. Got two tickets today for Wembley. Already had a hotel in Harrow on the Hill booked for the Friday and Saturday nights. Great game this afternoon, Warrington losing out ( ) to a determined Hull FC. Should be a superb final.

The future's bright, the future's cherry and white! Nine first team regulars out - the young lads did us proud. Average age only 22...and Huddersfield beaten as well.