Jon Wilkin explains his controversial comments about Super League side

Ruck speed and six agains have been a huge talking point in recent weeks.

Speaking on Sky Sports, former St Helens star Jon Wilkin said of the Warriors’ goal line defence against Champions St Helens on Good Friday: “Take note of how slow every single ruck was there.

“Wigan are happy just to push the letter of the law right to the end and slow rucks down.

“They would rather concede a penalty, like any team in Super League would, they would rather concede a penalty than give a quick ruck away.”

The Warriors were again brilliant last week as they defeated league leaders Warrington Wolves away with a dominant and controlled display.

Again, Wilkin said they were pushing rule to the limit:

“If I was a Warrington fan, I am trying to get into the head of a really serious Warrington fan, you know a season ticket holder, I think they go away aggrieved with the referee tonight for a couple of reasons.

“The first being Wigan slowed the ruck down to an almost painful pace. I am not trying to say that is a fair reflection of the game but I feel like that is what a Warrington fan might feel.

“We have to be balanced, I think Wigan got the better of it in terms of the ruck and have really dominated teams in that area and just pushing that rule to the limit.”

Some saw these comments as controversial and a criticism of the Warriors but Wilkin has come out and said they were a compliment:

“I thought they slowed the game down to a painful pace and what I mean by that is the game of rugby league is a physical battle where the team with the ball want to play the ball quickly and start play quickly whilst the defending team have to have effort, discipline and commitment to stop that and I thought Wigan dominated that situation and front loaded their energy into controlling the speed of this big Warrington team.

“So if anything what I said is a compliment.

“When I look at Matt Peet’s team I use the analogy that Wigan are like a dog that has taken a shining to your leg. You shake it off but you can’t get rid of it but it keeps coming back for more.”