stand off for 09

[thomo]

Before we start worryinhg and planning who will play six - we should focus on getting a pack that goes forward and will lay a platform for the halves to play from.

[MrDave]

I don't think Phelps knows were he wants to play really, he said in an interview for the match day program that he will play anywhere but prefers to be in the middle right in the action.

Phelps is a good all round player, he has some pace to play on the wing and handling skills to play at centre. He can play at full back, his last match in the NRL was at full back and he didn't well in attack but was woeful in defence (tackling technique is not the best).

Phelps could fill in at Stand off but Wigan wouldn't do very well if he had to play there for a full season. He doesn't have the vision or the kicking game. If Phelps did played Stand-off then Wigan would have poor in-field kicking game because no one in the squad other than Smith has any accuracy with kicks.

[lucky 13]

I don't think Phelps knows were he wants to play really, he said in an interview for the match day program that he will play anywhere but prefers to be in the middle right in the action.

Phelps is a good all round player, he has some pace to play on the wing and handling skills to play at centre. He can play at full back, his last match in the NRL was at full back and he didn't well in attack but was woeful in defence (tackling technique is not the best).

Phelps could fill in at Stand off but Wigan wouldn't do very well if he had to play there for a full season. He doesn't have the vision or the kicking game. If Phelps did played Stand-off then Wigan would have poor in-field kicking game because no one in the squad other than Smith has any accuracy with kicks.

How do you know he has no kicking game or vision he has played on the wing and at center spending 20 mins at hooker and similar at fullback he had no chance to show any field kicking or for that matter vision , he played most of his youth and lower grade at 6 and from all acounts as just never had the chance at his prefared position .

[shaunedwardsfanclub]

If Smith doesn't come back then we are in deep trouble! Tommy isn't good enough and Phelps is merely a squad player. Our only hope is young Tompkins, but he really needs another 12 months in the reserves punctuated with several starts in the first team.

[Paleaaesina_Da_Beast]

smith to play standoff next year :conf:

[wall_of_voodoo]

If Smith doesn't come back then we are in deep trouble! Tommy isn't good enough and Phelps is merely a squad player. Our only hope is young Tompkins, but he really needs another 12 months in the reserves punctuated with several starts in the first team.

It is noticeable how scathing of thomas leuluai the kiwi press and former players have been, particularly his "creativity" and kicking. This has been a problem during his stay at the club and will in my opinion, unless he performs miracles next season, see him move onto another team when his contract runs out.

[Mike]

The problem with smith at 6 is he has no pace and therefore provides no running threat.

The problem with Lockyer at 6 is that the SL style will make him look rubbish. He would have no dummy runners and no set moves to work from. We would complain all he did was shift the ball from side to side.

SL needs a big, fast, running 6, maybe one that can bash through a line with sheer size. Skill is not particularly useful. Leon price fits the bill - looks great in SL and has no effect at all in internationals.

[shaunedwardsfanclub]

I totally agree Dave, I've been saying the same thing for moths! I sais then that Campese would be a good replacement for TB.

[shaunedwardsfanclub]

Soory I meant Mike.

[exile in Tiger country]

The problem with smith at 6 is he has no pace and therefore provides no running threat.

The problem with Lockyer at 6 is that the SL style will make him look rubbish. He would have no dummy runners and no set moves to work from. We would complain all he did was shift the ball from side to side.

SL needs a big, fast, running 6, maybe one that can bash through a line with sheer size. Skill is not particularly useful. Leon price fits the bill - looks great in SL and has no effect at all in internationals.

Like Trent Barrett you mean? great upper body strength, but not huge by any measure.
Pryce Has moments. that is all. Tim Smith will be good next season just give him a chance. He was one of the few Wigan players I saw beat a man just on pace and step last year, he was organising the plays whenever he got on the pitch, right from his first game. He's here. let's give him a chane and support him.