Wigan squad for Warrington (R19)

[moto748]

Somebody was saying yesterday (might not have been here) that MP will out-coach Sam Burgess. Much as I hate to say it, it didn't look like that tonight. Farrimond barely touched the ball in the first half. which doesn't seem smart. If we're going to play him, he has to see his fair share of the ball. And Walters, well. I thought he was supposed to be one of these powerful, hard-running, try-scoring second rowers. On tonight's form (and last week's too) he sure ain't that. Thompson put in a shift, as he always does.

[Ipinwigan]

Somebody was saying yesterday (might not have been here) that MP will out-coach Sam Burgess. Much as I hate to say it, it didn't look like that tonight. Farrimond barely touched the ball in the first half. which doesn't seem smart. If we're going to play him, he has to see his fair share of the ball. And Walters, well. I thought he was supposed to be one of these powerful, hard-running, try-scoring second rowers. On tonight's form (and last week's too) he sure ain't that. Thompson put in a shift, as he always does.

Yeah Walters has been extremely disappointing, I thought he was going to be our best signing this year. He's had enough game time now and needs to prove himself.
The next 3 games in just over a week, is possibly make or break for the end of season, especially with injuries mounting

[fozzie58]

Smith seemed to be going down the Jackson Hastings route of doing everything himself and the side not going anywhere because if it not blaming him for tonight they where inept but he wasn’t making life easy for Farrimond to grab the ball,as for Walter’s he’s been very poor

[Wintergreen]

There were a few observations from my perspective tonight.

1. Peet's attempt at loading the bench with power failed. Wire stood up to it and overpowered it in the end.

2. Farrimond is too young atm to be put at half. I appreciate our injury situation, but it's not working. Our youth showed their inexperience tonight. Eckersley and Nsemba included.

3. We really do seem to have no plan B. Fortunately plan A has been good enough to get us to where we are at.

4. The result tonight is not important. The performance, however, was worrying.


That said, if we win our game in hand we are back at the top. The CC and WCC are in the bag already.
Too soon for complete doom and gloom, but Peet will have to earn his corn over the coming week.

[EagleEyePie]

I said before the game they were going to target the weakness in our right edge. They did that for pretty much every try bar the intercepts and one close range finish late in the game. It was like Catalans at Magic last year when they targeted Field defensively and led to French being moved to the halves. This time it was Farrimond who was exposed again and again. I said there was a real risk of it happening but I guess we're down on options right now until French comes back.

Wire were more enthusiastic and obviously came into this game with a point to prove. I think they were always going to be more motivated but it's disappointing that we didn't put up enough of a fight. Too many errors from the start seemed to get the players in a negative frame of mind.

The biggest blow isn't the result but the loss of O'Neill. It's going to be hard to replace what he brings. Leeming has plenty of experience but isn't a patch on Brad, and the way he plays hooker suits us in short bursts, but the longer he's on the field the less effective he tends to be. Though having to play 80 minutes will probably require him to adapt.

We're not at a stage where we need to panic. As I mentioned, we had a similar performance last year against Catalans (with a stronger side out) and we recovered from that, but we're definitely heading for our rough patch and it's going to be a case of finding the best way through it until we get some players back.

I do have some frustrations with the way we set up though. Having Smith do all the in-field kicking is just ridiculous. It makes it so easy for teams to prepare for it, and send players his way to put him under pressure. Farrimond kicks fine in the academy. We did this before when French first started in the halves and then realised it actually made sense for him to kick occasionally.

I'm also a bit frustrated at how we're sticking so rigidly to split halves. It's limiting our effectiveness on the right edge with French missing and his ability to pick out the right pass and judge the timing. Smith can do that too, and has done on many occasions, but he spends all his time on the left leaving Farrimond to try to do that role on the right and he's just not at that level yet. His biggest strength is his running game but sticking so rigidly to split halves means we only benefit from Farrimond taking the ball on down the right and Smith's passing on the left. It just means teams know what to look out for with every attacking play.

[Firestarter]

Ive always said we are too reliant on french and field in attack and its showing. At the start of the season i said we would go well unless we got injuries in the backs.We should have gave some kids more experience individually as now they are forced to play week in week out. The same can be said about oneill as hes now no cover.Its not all doom and gloom but the half hearted hull game could now hurt us and i agree that its now down to our coaching staff to get our back up players ticking

[DaveO]

I think the comments about Farrimond being too young and inexperienced are ignoring the fact he’s not being given the bloody ball!

As Eagle said all the in field kicking is being done by Smith as an example.

Peet needs to get the team playing with the personnel he’s got while others are injured. Does that mean not playing with spilt halves for a bit? I don’t think it necessarily does. Just give Farrimond equal responsibility and stop making it look like he’s not trusted with the ball.

[mickali1]

Not sure MP is the Messiah. As has been alluded to already I think certain players (mentioning no names, but we all know who they are) have carried us . I know MP is a lovely chap but I’m not sure he is suited to the cut and thrust of coaching at the highest level. As EEP has said, why the heck does Smith kick on every last ptb , so predictable. Even an idiot like me can see we need to mix it up a bit.
Why we would play with 4 props on the bench when we have a young lad in the halves and the possibility of an injury to a back is beyond me. In a close game it may pay off but if you are up against it attack wise as we were tonight it gives us no options to try something different.
Also, if anyone is in doubt about Byrne’s suitability as a Wigan player I hope tonight’s effort has convinced you he just hasn’t got the temperament to make it as a starting prop (although not many convinced tonight but they at least have credit in the bank).
I think we should also be looking at a new right sided winger as I think Miski for all of his endeavours lacks the pace to worry the opposition ( not just because he had a stinker tonight ). We

[fozzie58]

The wife made a few sage comments tonight I too mentioned Miski and his lack of well everything the last couple of weeks aha get used to him didn’t they hand him a 4 year deal? So yes he’s here to stay at 29 that deal was ludicrous 25/26 yes all day long you look at Liam Marshall for me a consummate winger decent defence and works hard.

How many props did the club sign over the winter too many it seems to me Cust while no world beater was a lad who could fill in here and there and mainly do a decent job,for me Hampshire has never been that good.

And lastly I think the injury to everyone’s favourite squad player (never got that why people thought that as it seems to me he was always picked),Willie isa whatever he brings he’s been missed and missed badly for me but given he’s probably done they need to sort out that issue.

It’s not doom and gloom but if we are honest Wigan kept winning while not playing all that well that takes some doing but once you start to lose and the curtains fall from fans eyes and you see performances such as the last 2 games,so not the end of the world but a response is deserved for next week

[josie andrews]

Anyone know the story with Keighran’s absence?

He got a head knock last week & failed HIA