TOP Super League referee Steve Ganson may have been a bit nervous going into last weekend's derby between Warrington and Wigan.

It was his first game of the season and it has become the norm for all referees to be `whistle happy' at this stage of the campaign.

I thought Steve was trying to blow the pea out of his whistle in a stop-start game with a record penalty count.

Maybe Steve was nervous and he clearly wanted to make sure he stamped his authority on the game. And when he started handing out so many penalties, he had to stick to this policy.

Our win pleased me and we've made a decent start to the season but I still think Wigan be up there.

Gareth Hock went well for Wigan but the game's big talking point centred on the sending off of Richard Mathers for a high tackle on Matt King.

Referee Ganson made the right decision but Mathers is not a dirty player. He just happened to hit Matt on the button and was extremely apologetic for his actions.

Hopefully Matt will be fit to face Bradford this weekend. The Bulls have had a bit of an up and down start.

But they are fresh from a good win in France and we are now going into a tough part of the season with three games coming up in just eight days.

I sang the praises of my Warrington team-mate Ben Westwood last week and now it's time to give another one a big pat on the back - Aussie star Chris Hicks.

He's been going great guns for the Wolves and has scored in every game so far.

I played against Chris in Australia but being a forward, you take more notice of who is in the opposition pack than the backs.

Chris is proving to be a tremendous acquisition for Warrington. He is quick, strong and has greatly impressed me, not only with his performances but with his attitude in training.


THE new National League season is now just over a week away and I firmly believe every one of the region's clubs will do well.

Salford Reds are obviously strong but Leigh have also been going great guns in the Northern Rail Cup.

Swinton will be very competitive under coach Paul Kidd. Oldham have some good players within their squad and they have an experience coach in Steve Deakin.

They've already beaten Salford and Rochdale Hornets, who have Bobbie Goulding in charge, certainly won't like passion.


I ENJOYED being in the company of Ryan Giggs earlier this week and he tells me he and his United team-mates are big rugby league fans.

Ryan played the game as a schoolboy alongside my brother Chris. We chatted when we visited the house of Chris McGuirk, the lad who was left paralysed after injuring his neck playing for De La Salle.

Ryan says it's become a ritual among the United lads to eat at the hotel on a Friday night and then get round the TV to watch the big Super League match. He follows the game with interest and his dad Danny was, of course, a Swinton player.



SPEAKING of legends, I'm not at all surprised to see Shaun Edwards doing so well as a coach in rugby union.

He has done well at club level and is now making his mark with Wales.

I'm pleased for my old mate. He's the most decorated player in RL history but was always destined to go into coaching.



SWINTON Lions are today mourning the loss of one of their greatest-ever players, Alan Buckley. See tomorrow's M.E.N. for a full tribute

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