Cup semi in a nutshell

[boggart]

Liked Minichello and Gaz Ellis class as usual. Wigan need the same. John Bateman works his wotsits off, but we need another, and JB's prob destined for loose forward anyway, if he stays. The classic back row combo used to be a runner and a tackler. Can you name some from days or yore? Potter and Goodway perhaps? Memory isn't as good these days...

[markill]

If you actually watch the games you will also note that whatever side we have out we always get enough field position in the oppositions 20m area such that we should come away with points far more than we are doing. Particularly against poor sides like Widnes, Salford, and HKR.

It's the same throughout the season if you care to look. Rarely have all those you list been missing at the same time, strong Wigan sides take the field and they can't score to save their lives despite getting in prime position to do so time after time. Only Wakefield away and possibly Wire away can you say injuries were the major factor in the result.

If we were spending the game's pinned in our own half getting pasted you might have a point but since we often dominate field position for long periods and come away empty handed the injury excuse is just very lame and misses the fundamental problem, poor tactics from a poor coach.

Likewise injuries don't mean that our wingers should be carting the ball up from our own 20m line, that Smith never takes the line on or every attack should end in a grubber kick!

I'd also throw Leeds away into the injuries being a major factor games.

That aside though, you're right and the numbers back this up. Second most carries and second most attacking kicks in the league, but second fewest tries and fewest clean breaks. We get the possession and territory, but not the results.

[ian.birchall]

Scoring less than 20 points a game averaged over 23 games sums up the position clearly.