DaveO wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 11:07 pm
Charriots Offiah wrote: ↑Tue Sep 06, 2022 6:15 pm
The reason we won or lost isn’t down to whether Sam played or not, it is as a consequence of the team’s performance. I think that is what Morley is getting at and I agree with him.
Which isn’t correct. We have always had players who make the team perform better when they play. Otherwise it would not matter a jot if French was replaced Miski in the playoffs would it? The team is definitely the sum of its parts as it’s a team sport but its certainly true a bit of individual skill can turn a game.
In the Saints game in my opinion if Powell had played we would not have scored the first two tries. The plays and passes O’Neil put in for those are not in Sam P’s play book. So two bits of individual skill that confirm to me that given a run in the first team as he has been O’Neil is already the better player.
I think it would be a mistake for Powell to walk back into the side not least because he can’t be match fit.
In general I think the club still has a problem with sticking with players too long. I get the idea Peet & Co want to build a club culture but in recent seasons the club has kept playing players far past the time they should have been let go. Clubb, Lockers and Tommy played on too long and the club seems blind to the fact Powell is not of a standard a top club would expect as a hoooker. Wane on discussing Roby retiring from international RL memtioned three other hookers as replacements at least one of which hasn’t been brilliant this season yet Powell still didn’t get a mention and Wane isn’t an armchair coach is he?
Of course a team’s success, or otherwise, is down to the team’s performance as a whole. Great players can turn a game and a great player can play badly and the team will still win. We have also had bang average players who perform to the best of their ability and contribute vastly to the success of the team. One cannot consistently win without the other. Having said that, I am not in favour of any player walking back into the team, unless injuries necessitate it.
I would also agree with you, and it is something I have posted on several occasions, the club are not ruthless enough when it comes to moving players on.
In my view there are no top class hookers in SL, all the best are on the wane. SW may not be an armchair coach but he still selected Powell to play for Wigan, if he thought he was poor why did he not replace him? In fact, why have all subsequent coaches selected him?
I am more than happy for anyone to criticise any Wigan player if they don’t perform but to single one player out when he is not even playing, is poor form.