Sam Powell

[stevethegas]

It seems to me that our regular no 9 doesn't get his share of the credit and praise for the way Wigan are playing at the moment.
The opening game saw him KO'd on 22 min. We had looked a bit rusty for the opening few minutes but slowly began to assert ourselves until Sam was injured. Thereafter we looked a bit clunky, even though we managed a win against the remaining 12 of the Wire. Then a loss away to Cas, which sadly I couldn't make, but watched on Wigan TV. Again, rather clunky and a frustrating number of penalties.
Winning ways again against Toronto, though we still looked rather wooden.

Then Sam returns and we have a good win against Hull, and a magnificent one away to Huddersfield.
Yes of course in the last game we can rightly praise Liam Marshall for his hat-trick (especially no. 2), Hastings and then Smith in the halves.And the forwards for giving us a platform from which to attack, and to defend our line. But the combination from hooker to halves is vital for a good game, both attack and defence.

Sam made many good metres from dummy half, kicked a 40-20 which led us to the first try in the second half, and in defence effected many good tackles.

The plaudits regularly go to the wings, the halves, and the forwards.

But in my opinion Sam isn't mentioned so often as he should be. He is having a great season so far and boy did we miss him when he wasn't there. Give him plenty man of steel points, he's earned them.

[Gerrumonside]

Good call - A lot of work unnoticed and an unsung hero of the team!

[moto748]

Yes he was very good against the Giants, and has been all season in fact. He has a lot more in his game these days than he had in the past.

[medlocke]

He is still mediocre though

[stevethegas]

Oh medlocke
No no no, mediocre is exactly the opposite.
Too unkind!

[AndyNick]

Lets face it, We could win 86-2, Sam Powell could score 4 tries, create 3 more and break Smithies Tackle record. There would be a thread on here about how he is a liability for giving away the penalty that led to the 2 points conceded!!!

[Wigan_forever1985]

Ill admit under lam he has improved but he is still middle of the road. He is the ONLY recognised hooker in the squad, Tommy is shot and the young guns at the start of their career so he's hardly got massive amounts of competition.

Ill admit we play better with him at the moment but its the same as the Matty Smith arguments when he was here - he will give you 6 or 7 out of 10 every game with the odd game maybe 1 or 2 a season he will stand out.

[Wandering Warrior]

He is still mediocre though

The next in line for the gallows now Lockers career draws to a close?

[Wandering Warrior]

Powell has been a revelation since the rigidity of the previous coach has left the room.

[Wigan_forever1985]

Sit Rep

Wanes England initial 31 contains;

Daryl Clark
Paul McShane
James Roby

no Powell

No when Wane was here those of us who dared to suggest that Powell wasnt at the sharp end were often told "well the coach sees something in him" - funny when given more options that something has gone.

Roby is 34 and has been playing for a million years. The fact is Powell is an average player, he isnt a terrible player and no one is saying he is but if he is the glue some are suggesting wigan have real issues