Team v Saints

[Dan2266]

We’re currently the third best team in the league, today shows that. Not a bad scorline considering.

[Wigan_forever1985]

I’d say that’s right we are about 3rd - I reckon we are 2-3 players away from the sharp end we need a few more specialist backs

[Blackpool_Pie]

With Marshall KPP Zak and possibly Thornley, we are much more in that game

[Welski]

Throw Tommy’s MCL injury into the mix (possibly 4-6 weeks) this is shaping up to be a “Bad Friday”

Powell (surely) banned as well…

[Mike]

Saints go forward is way better than ours, we have none at all after the first 20. Couldn't believe how lethargic we looked coming out of our 20 in the first 10 mins of the second half.

Our go forward is affected by saints very good defensive line speed, which we simply don't do after the first 20. When Bateman ran the ball out on first tackle down their end, our D was actually retreating rather than going forward as saints walked down the field. We've got to get fitter/more agressive or whatever it takes to improve our line speed.

Miski has no pace, he's not going to develop that, lets put someone with potential in there. Bibby and Field can't defend together obviously.

I'd have put Field at 6 rather than French, but would it have made a difference - no idea.

We'll see Cust or Shorrocks at hooker for a while now, so people will get their wish to see what that looks like.

I thought we took enough out of saints for them to fade in the last 20, so if we can hang in until 60 mins we *might* have a chance with the right people out there on the field.

BTW Not sure why people are mentioning Thornley as being a missing player that would have made a difference. We've not seen that is the case yet.

[Blackpool_Pie]

I also don’t agree with players getting special privileges. In fact I don’t agree with the Marquee player either. Especially a forward!!

I get to a degree not liking the marquee player exemptions, but why does it matter if its a forward or a back?

Perhaps it’s because the marquee at the moment doesn’t really deserve it IMO

I understand that your gripe is with the current marquee player but that doesn't explain why a forward can't be a marquee player

[Caboosegg]

One positive is we handled Walmsley well.

I still 100% believe that saints are beatable without the 50/50s going their way.

Our afternoon was summed up by Harvard offloading to a saints player

[Wigan_ITK]

Powell (surely) banned as well…

Agreed. Surely looking at 4-6 weeks.

Can’t even suggest put Cust at 9 as he’ll be needed in the halves with Smith.

So who goes to 9…

O’Neill to get a shot?
French as a wildcard?
Shorrocks?

[DaveO]

I’d say that’s right we are about 3rd - I reckon we are 2-3 players away from the sharp end we need a few more specialist backs

That’s been true for a few seasons but IL and Rads do not address the issue and keep signing players we should be going anywhere near.

The back line even when at full strength has only one specialist centre in it and that is Thornley for God’s sake. Meanwhile look at Saints centres. They didn’t end up with their two centres by accident.

The Miski signing is turn out as good as said it would when he was recruited, i.e. poorly.

We will only get the players we need when IL and Rads stop signing mid to item of table standard players. For that to happen they need to stop believing their own propaganda convincing themselves the players they sign are good enough and they need to be far more ruthless in letting players go and not seemingly automatically renew contracts out of loyalty.

[Wintergreen]

As soon as that line up was announced it was game over.

A back line of Miski, Bateman and Bibby is just not good enough at this level, whichever way you look at it.


We are desperate for a class centre. KPP is not a centre and should be nowhere near the position. I'm still not convinced about him anyway, but he is a back rower or nothing imo.

How long does Bateman have on his contract? Another terrible decision to bring him back by KR/IL.

The positives are that French got another game inside of him, Cust had a decent game and just maybe is growing into the position.

As has been said, we are probably the 3rd best team in the competition and today's result was about what I expected.

Anyway looks like Powell will be sitting out April and possibly May. Some on here will be happy no doubt.