Forwards vs Saints

Discuss all things Wigan Warriors. Comments and opinions on all aspects of the club's performance are welcome.
Barney841
Posts: 2201
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2016 9:24 am

Re: Forwards vs Saints

Post by Barney841 »

Hopefully walmsley is injured and can’t play if we are light in the forwards.
Think we should go for forwards on the bench with saints having a big pack.
Smith to miss out, it’s a shame as he’s done a good job
Wiganer Ted
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Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:31 pm

Re: Forwards vs Saints

Post by Wiganer Ted »

Forwards v Saints - Bullock, Powell, Singleton, Isa, Farrell, O'Loughlin. Clubb, Partington, Greenwood, Smithies.
We have to go with at least four props and hopefully keep the energy levels at top notch.
Lockers to start as he's THE big game player. Partington unlucky not to start but he should understand why his captain starts.
A tough one but at their place we look fitter then they did the more the game went on. Hopefully that fitness can see us produce the skills to win the GF.
nathan_rugby
Posts: 4166
Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:12 pm

Re: Forwards vs Saints

Post by nathan_rugby »

Wiganer Ted wrote: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:14 pm Forwards v Saints - Bullock, Powell, Singleton, Isa, Farrell, O'Loughlin. Clubb, Partington, Greenwood, Smithies.
We have to go with at least four props and hopefully keep the energy levels at top notch.
Lockers to start as he's THE big game player. Partington unlucky not to start but he should understand why his captain starts.
A tough one but at their place we look fitter then they did the more the game went on. Hopefully that fitness can see us produce the skills to win the GF.
Agreed but swap Lockers and Partington. Much more important to get off to a good start, win possession, rough them up etc.

Lockers can be brought on and help with the link up play once we’ve won the arm wrestle.
Bomhead - "Lockers to prop."
Charriots Offiah
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Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 1:14 pm

Re: Forwards vs Saints

Post by Charriots Offiah »

nathan_rugby wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:21 am Looks like Flower has torn his Hamstring with the way he limped off and I for one am gutted. He was a real handful when he came on, a proper impact off the bench.

Who replaces him? Greenwood for me.

My worry of Lockers, Clubb and Burgess being in the same squad could actually happen which really impacts our firepower, workrate etc. Hopefully this is mitigated somewhat by Singleton playing the 80? He did didn’t he?

Does anyone have the stats for our forwards last night ? Minutes, carries, meters, tackles ?
I think Greenwood should be nailed on Nathan, he tore Saints apart a few weeks ago.
Charriots Offiah
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Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 1:14 pm

Re: Forwards vs Saints

Post by Charriots Offiah »

Forever Warrior wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 5:38 pm Shame if Benny misses out. He’s made an impact off the bench in the last few games. Greenwood deserves the place on the back of his performance against Saints.
He looked distraught when he left the field.
CheshireWarrior
Posts: 1126
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2019 7:58 pm

Re: Forwards vs Saints

Post by CheshireWarrior »

Greenwood certainly needs to come into the squad, regardless of Benny's injury. Its unfortunate as it looks like its over for Flower (who I think would have made an impact off the bench).

For me, Tony Clubb and George Burgess are the bridesmaids for this game. Clubb didn't look as poor as usual against Huddersfield or Hull FC though. Burgess is Burgess enough said!

I agree with Ted, we do need a huge pack for the game, does SOL start for his final game though? This is very questionable. From the bench in spells, I think SOL might have a better impact. Partington is very versatile and Smithies would complete 1000 tackles in 80 mins. SOL is a better ball playing lock but his fitness to last 20 mins + against the intensity of the Saints pack is worrying for me.

Is Powell actually fit? I remember Keith Senior V Hull FC in 2005 CC Final and it was a disaster trying to play him clearly injured. Do we take this risk? Hastings didn't look too shabby.
Charriots Offiah
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Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 1:14 pm

Re: Forwards vs Saints

Post by Charriots Offiah »

nathan_rugby wrote: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:28 pm
Wiganer Ted wrote: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:14 pm Forwards v Saints - Bullock, Powell, Singleton, Isa, Farrell, O'Loughlin. Clubb, Partington, Greenwood, Smithies.
We have to go with at least four props and hopefully keep the energy levels at top notch.
Lockers to start as he's THE big game player. Partington unlucky not to start but he should understand why his captain starts.
A tough one but at their place we look fitter then they did the more the game went on. Hopefully that fitness can see us produce the skills to win the GF.
Agreed but swap Lockers and Partington. Much more important to get off to a good start, win possession, rough them up etc.

Lockers can be brought on and help with the link up play once we’ve won the arm wrestle.
I disagree with you both for the following reasons: why change our starting pack when it has proved successful over the past few weeks and Partington’s tackling is essential in nullifying Walmsley’s impact. The one change has got to be Powell to deal with Roby. Sort those two out and we will win.
Charriots Offiah
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Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 1:14 pm

Re: Forwards vs Saints

Post by Charriots Offiah »

nathan_rugby wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 9:15 am Lockers link up play was great, solid in defence and no penalties or errors which is great.

Didn't take enough drives in for me, and he will need to increase that output vs saints.
First game in a while, played long minutes and did enough for me. He will step it up this week.
Charriots Offiah
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Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 1:14 pm

Re: Forwards vs Saints

Post by Charriots Offiah »

southportcdm wrote: Sat Nov 21, 2020 5:32 pm I'm assuning that Sam P is playing when I make these suggestions - Bench should be Smithies, Lockers, Greenwood and Smith. I'd go with Smith because he gives us some variation plus protects against game changing injuries to the halfbacks/hooker. He also gives us the option of spelling Sam or Tommy if required. I'd would have gone for another prop if we had a good one that was match fit. Sadly George doesn't fit the bill and I'm not sure that Clubb does either. If Byrne was fit I'd go with him before Clubb or Smith. At the moment Lockers offers more than Clubb. If Lockers was fully fit he could cover at 6 in an emergency and I wouldn't include a back on the bench but I don't think Lockers can play sufficient minutes next week. Glad it's not my decision, it's nice to play at being a coach but the stress of having to get it right must be immense.

P.S. If Singleton is banned were really are struggling. What an inspired signing he's been so far.
If he is banned then we might as well pack up.
Exiled Wiganer
Posts: 2677
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:18 pm

Re: Forwards vs Saints

Post by Exiled Wiganer »

The key to our victories against big sides is our line speed. With Powell back, then we should go with the pack that started against Saints. We just need to meet their pack before on or near the gain line, and repeat. We are mobile and fit enough to do that. By the time Lockers and Greenwood take the field, they will have blown themselves out and be ready for our more expansive game.
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