Why are we persevering with this average bloke!

[morley pie eater]

cpw, you have been proved right, not just about Gelling, but Green too. You not only said "give him a chance" when some were writing him off, but said he is a righty - did you notice he played more on the right tonight? Maybe SW reads your posts

Why when it comes to the selection of the centres did Wane get it right? You do realise whenever Goulding is fit our esteemed coach is about as likely to pick Gelling on the left as Thornley? The only reason Gelling played on the right is because Goulding wasn't fit, not because Wane chose to play him there.

If he has realised Gelling must play on the right then it's all about who is better on the right, Goulding or Gelling.

Sorry DaveO, my sentence was a bit unclear - I meant cpw was right about both Gelling and Green, but that Green played more on the right than I remember previously.

[cpwigan]

I do not think Wane needs my advice Morley, I would hope not and many who know him say a strength / weakness is that he does things his way come what may.

I know many fans think what side of the pitch you play on should not matter but it does for 99% of players. Yes players can play either side but they will nearly always have a dominant / better side.

Green may not be Brett Kenny / Steve Ella / Trent Barrett etc. but he is no mug, far from it. It made perfect sense to sign two 24-26 year old half backs to give Taylor / Williams / Hampshire / Sharrock lest we forget Sam Powell time to develop.

The only mistake IMO was signing two rightys as Smith seems to prefer the right side too. Anybody who saw Green play for Hull KR could see his asset was running the ball and playing right side.

[Owd Codger]

I do not think Wane needs my advice Morley, I would hope not and many who know him say a strength / weakness is that he does things his way come what may.

I know many fans think what side of the pitch you play on should not matter but it does for 99% of players. Yes players can play either side but they will nearly always have a dominant / better side.

Green may not be Brett Kenny / Steve Ella / Trent Barrett etc. but he is no mug, far from it. It made perfect sense to sign two 24-26 year old half backs to give Taylor / Williams / Hampshire / Sharrock lest we forget Sam Powell time to develop.



The only mistake IMO was signing two rightys as Smith seems to prefer the right side too. Anybody who saw Green play for Hull KR could see his asset was running the ball and playing right side.

Great to see cpwigan, that you are with me on the club signing older players from elsewhere on short term contracts while our own young players develop and gain more experience. Matty Bowen and Any Powell being others for the full back and prop positions while players like Tierney, Hampshire, Burke, Crosby and Greenwood develop and gain more experience.

Not everything is about the present, but also keeping ahead for the future.

[cpwigan]

Not really WW. At 25 / 26 years old, Smith and Green are at / approaching their peak as halfbacks. The 3 year deal suits the club and them. I believe Green has already indicated he will return to Aus when his contract concludes.

At 25 / 26 you potentially have the option of squeezing a new shorter contract out of Smith etc, Green may even change his mind IN CASE something happens to the likes of Powell / Taylor / Williams / Hampshire / Sharrock.

Youngsters do need time BUT they need a SPINE of experienced, high quality players in the key positions. Youngsters come through more often in successful teams with several experienced high quality players.

Bowen for a year is not ideal but it is better than heaping too much pressure on Tierney or Hampshire too soon. Powell is a folly. The signing makes no sense whatsoever.