Wigan squad for Warrington (R19)

[@KingdonMorris]

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

I stopped reading after

“ I’m not sure he is suited to the cut and thrust of coaching at the highest level”

This forum is full of divs

I concur, they did the Wigan Walk early so they could get home and post their guff on t'internet. The atmosphere improved considerably once the fair weather fans walked; they're loyal fans, until we lose.
As far as the game went, Wire were superior all night everywhere; well played to them. They exploited our lack of a centre very well. But, they've now peaked, we have plenty in the tank and you don't win anything in July. Bad day at the office. Let's see how things look in October.

[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

I stopped reading after

“ I’m not sure he is suited to the cut and thrust of coaching at the highest level”

This forum is full of divs

I concur, they did the Wigan Walk early so they could get home and post their guff on t'internet. The atmosphere improved considerably once the fair weather fans walked; they're loyal fans, until we lose.
As far as the game went, Wire were superior all night everywhere; well played to them. They exploited our lack of a centre very well. But, they've now peaked, we have plenty in the tank and you don't win anything in July. Bad day at the office. Let's see how things look in October.

Once again people resort to insulting others for having an opinion. As I have stated before you are welcome to your opinion of the game, players, coaches etc. Counter my points by all means and I will take them on board and may even concur. As far as I’m aware it is not a prerequisite to share the same views as everyone else on this forum.

[Big Steve]

Big overreaction after a loss as always.

Yes there are some obvious things to work on but we haven't lost the title yet.

I remember a wane coached team who absolutely monstered Leeds during the regular season, yet come the play offs we won nothing.

There's a long way to go, Wire played very well, hardly any errors, we gifted them two tries, the first when A pass to Faz would have been a certain score was effectively a 12 point turnaround. Nothing won yet, 2 weeks ago the Sky team were giving us the LLS.

There are a few things to work on though.

I do think we are playing too conservatively at times and it makes us easy to target our standard moves - Smith had no time on almost every kick he made and our attack is too easy to close down. Make use of Farrimonds pace rather than 1st receiver....

How many times have we seen Bryne go into the 1st tackle and lose the ball. How many minutes did we get from him before he went off - under 19 I think, and probably only made 2 -3 carries. He's been consistently underused which makes you question why he's picked.

We aren't using our forwards effectively and need to review how we get the best from them.

And obviously when we get F&F back we will present a much more potent threat.

Our biggest challenge is how we handle the hooker position.

[M6 Warrior]

Currently out of the country so unfortunately didn’t see the shellacking last night. For what it’s worth my thoughts on the current situation:

RL is such a physically demanding game that injuries and suspensions will always impact team cohesion and potentially derail performances somewhat. Any team would miss the likes of French & Field but we do need to find a way of causing teams a constant threat when they are not in the side. At the moment that’s not the case and it needs to be sorted by the coaching team soon. We should beat Huddersfield but Leigh will be another tough nut to crack. We’ve gone from being completely in the box seat for the LLS to being in a real dog fight for it.

We seem to start games slowly and can look lethargic. Our normally tough defence has looked anything but in several games this season and we’ve now lost to all of the others in the top 4. Am sure this is on Matty’s radar to address… but it needs to be done this week and remain that way until after the grand final.

Not really sure what has happened to several of our forwards but we’re not dominating the middle. Thompson, Havard, O’Neil and Ellis have all been strong but we’re not getting the same power in attack or defence from the others. That needs to change immediately if we’re going to get to Old Trafford and win. Am scratching my head over Byrne and Mago ( who just doesn’t seem to get any fitter)

Even when we are winning, we appear to rely heavily on individual brilliance to create openings. This reliance has really been exposed without French & Field. Hopefully there is some serious work on attacking shape happening on the training ground as we’ve become far too predictable and easy to read.

Fully agree with other posters that all teams have blips during the season. This is ours but it needs to be put right quickly. No trophies given out in July but, as we saw last year, the momentum of playing well and winning games from August through to Old Trafford cannot be underestimated. Players don’t become bad overnight, we just seem to have a lost a little confidence and organisation out there. I’m still backing us all to be walking down Sir Matt Busby Way in October…it’s just not as clear a road at the moment. Have faith and stick with the boys!

Come on Wigan!

[Firestarter]

Heres one for the stats.When was the last time wigan, saints and brisbane broncos all conceded 40 or more on the same weekend? Im gonna predict never

[DaveO]

Whoa calm down peeps .Wire didnt take chances at Wembley but tonight took every one. Worst still we gave them their first 18 points . That said MP has already delivered more for us than most coaches ever will. We have most our attacking spine missing plus as a bonus tonight no kicker . Tonight we played a side with all their key play makers fully intact . How can we criticise Miski with Faz as his centre or at all really, good grief ? Farrimond is no Tompkins but more like Smith 3 years ago needs time. Smith/ MP needs to alternate the early kicking regardless of field position its predictable and works only when we are in front.final point its great to have a power pack but 10 yards from your line whos going to make a break ? Thats our problem who exploits the forwards dominance currently aĺl our X factor pace injured

The right side has not been good all season with teams targeting that side and Miski is seen as a weak link by the opposition. They are not wrong, he’s not good enough and is the player that needs replacing for next season.

As to MP he needs to sort out what is going on. There are several posts saying he’s delivered previously but then go on to list a catalogue of issues with the team and suggest how it should be done differently. Those making such posts, some slagging others off for criticising MP don’t seem to realise they are doing just that themselves by suggesting changes that need to be made.

This is when coaches show how good they are. He’s got to work out what to do without French. In the last two games he has not.

[Southern Softy]

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.

Gulp - it was me - guilty as charged.
The only comment I'd make about MP is that one of the basics is to change as few players in positions if there are injuries and get them as close as possible to their proper position. Even when we played most of the season with Isa and Farrell as centres, Faz stayed on the left. I would have put Walters in Keighran's place and left Faz where he normally plays but I'm not about to try and second-guess MP. He will have had his reasons.
Against Hull, it was obvious that Farrimond and Eckersley were struggling in defence and so it proved last night. Time to get Farrimond out of the firing-line, even it if means putting Hampshire back in the team, which I doubt anyone really wants to see.
I don't know what's happening with the forwards. Ellis, Havard and Thompson are as good as any around but Walters and Dupree are shadows of the players that we bought and Mago looks like the player of his first season. Hill should be a first-choice and Byrne should be on his way to join the ranks of Partington, Bullock etc as honest triers who weren't quite good enough for Wigan.
Normally, we'd rest Nsemba who's still young and learning his trade but I don't see how we can.
The really worrying thing about last night was not that just had a bad night against an improving team , as against Hull but that Warrington were pretty poor. Their tactical kicking game was rubbish and a half-decent team would have stuffed them. Unfortunately we weren't half-decent.
Back to basics, I guess and batter down the middle with some inspired stuff on the left flank. It might not be pretty but I'd happily settle for that and some narrow wins.

[mickali1]

Whoa calm down peeps .Wire didnt take chances at Wembley but tonight took every one. Worst still we gave them their first 18 points . That said MP has already delivered more for us than most coaches ever will. We have most our attacking spine missing plus as a bonus tonight no kicker . Tonight we played a side with all their key play makers fully intact . How can we criticise Miski with Faz as his centre or at all really, good grief ? Farrimond is no Tompkins but more like Smith 3 years ago needs time. Smith/ MP needs to alternate the early kicking regardless of field position its predictable and works only when we are in front.final point its great to have a power pack but 10 yards from your line whos going to make a break ? Thats our problem who exploits the forwards dominance currently aĺl our X factor pace injured

The right side has not been good all season with teams targeting that side and Miski is seen as a weak link by the opposition. They are not wrong, he’s not good enough and is the player that needs replacing for next season.

As to MP he needs to sort out what is going on. There are several posts saying he’s delivered previously but then go on to list a catalogue of issues with the team and suggest how it should be done differently. Those making such posts, some slagging others off for criticising MP don’t seem to realise they are doing just that themselves by suggesting changes that need to be made.

This is when coaches show how good they are. He’s got to work out what to do without French. In the last two games he has not.

Spot on DaveO. (IMO!!)

[josie andrews]

Heres one for the stats.When was the last time wigan, saints and brisbane broncos all conceded 40 or more on the same weekend? Im gonna predict never

Found this on Twitter

Since the First Division was formed at the start of the 1973/74 season, its never happened that both Wigan and St Helens have lost by at least 30 points on the same night!


Bilko’s reply:
Incredible. But not as incredible as is having us about 100 honours between us in all those 50 years.

https://x.com/wiganrlfans/status/181696 ... 87199?s=61

[Firestarter]

Heres one for the stats.When was the last time wigan, saints and brisbane broncos all conceded 40 or more on the same weekend? Im gonna predict never

Found this on Twitter

Since the First Division was formed at the start of the 1973/74 season, its never happened that both Wigan and St Helens have lost by at least 30 points on the same night!


Bilko’s reply:
Incredible. But not as incredible as is having us about 100 honours between us in all those 50 years.

https://x.com/wiganrlfans/status/181696 ... 87199?s=61

Fair enough, nice one josie