Wigan squad for Magic Weekend

[Firestarter]

Could Keighran not be used at 13 as an extra playmaker/distributor, move Ellis to the second row and bring back Toby King, works in my mind

His defence is too weak to defend in the middle.

It would also be too many people trying to get involved. Ball handling 13 worked when fullbacks where runners but now they are runners and passers you don’t need the creative 13 as much.

Why though, is it some sort of rule?

Yes its a rule that we can only pick players who can defend and not players who can attack? Lol.Isnt the mixture what makes a great team?

[nathan_rugby]

His defence is too weak to defend in the middle.

It would also be too many people trying to get involved. Ball handling 13 worked when fullbacks where runners but now they are runners and passers you don’t need the creative 13 as much.

Why though, is it some sort of rule?

Yes its a rule that we can only pick players who can defend and not players who can attack? Lol.Isnt the mixture what makes a great team?

Defence wins games. You cannot have a crap defender in the middle of the pitch, we would get crucified.

[Firestarter]

Why though, is it some sort of rule?

Yes its a rule that we can only pick players who can defend and not players who can attack? Lol.Isnt the mixture what makes a great team?

Defence wins games. You cannot have a crap defender in the middle of the pitch, we would get crucified.

So if we won 34-30 would defence have won that game, or attack?

[nathan_rugby]

Yes its a rule that we can only pick players who can defend and not players who can attack? Lol.Isnt the mixture what makes a great team?

Defence wins games. You cannot have a crap defender in the middle of the pitch, we would get crucified.

So if we won 34-30 would defence have won that game, or attack?

Bit of a weird statement because you could say the same for any set of scores where you win.

But do you think we are going to win LLS, Challenge Cups and Grand Finals with games like 34-30?

The majority of teams who win things are built upon good defences, you cannot deny that, and almost every 13 is a forward.

I don't mean to be rude but suggestions to put Keighran 13 after 1 decent game at half is laughable.

Where do we move Kaide Ellis to?

[morley pie eater]

Interesting conversation - it's what this forum is for.

As to Keighran, my choice would be to keep him at centre but give him more responsibility for field kicking on the right, especially from our own half. Bevan can do the creative short kicks, and Adam the high/long kicks for territory.

[Firestarter]

Defence wins games. You cannot have a crap defender in the middle of the pitch, we would get crucified.

So if we won 34-30 would defence have won that game, or attack?

Bit of a weird statement because you could say the same for any set of scores where you win.

But do you think we are going to win LLS, Challenge Cups and Grand Finals with games like 34-30?

The majority of teams who win things are built upon good defences, you cannot deny that, and almost every 13 is a forward.

I don't mean to be rude but suggestions to put Keighran 13 after 1 decent game at half is laughable.

Where do we move Kaide Ellis to?

Big exampke was offiah.Might score 3-5 and let 2-3 in so his attack outweighs his defence.Definately the same with farrimond who is already improving his defence.Of course defence wins games but so does attack.Cant remember ever mentioning keighran to 13 though.Must have me mixed up

[Wintergreen]

[*]

So if we won 34-30 would defence have won that game, or attack?

Bit of a weird statement because you could say the same for any set of scores where you win.

But do you think we are going to win LLS, Challenge Cups and Grand Finals with games like 34-30?

The majority of teams who win things are built upon good defences, you cannot deny that, and almost every 13 is a forward.

I don't mean to be rude but suggestions to put Keighran 13 after 1 decent game at half is laughable.

Where do we move Kaide Ellis to?

Big exampke was offiah.Might score 3-5 and let 2-3 in so his attack outweighs his defence.Definately the same with farrimond who is already improving his defence.Of course defence wins games but so does attack.Cant remember ever mentioning keighran to 13 though.Must have me mixed up

No. RL is a very simple game. Defence trumps attack in terms of priority (or it should).

Offiah was on the wing where defence is relatively less important.

[Exiled Wiganer]

Each team will have around 40 sets a match. So, around 200 play the balls. Every team stops the vast majority of play the balls leading to tries. Even in walk overs. So, clearly defence is vital to winning games. But it is a team effort, which can be coached and improved. Farrimond is not quite there yet, but he has time and he can be bulked up and we can put him in positions where there is greater cover.

Because attacking talent matters far more. It is a rare thing to find players with the natural talent to play what’s in front of them, and a huge bonus when they are quick and evasive enough to make plays themselves as well as putting others through gaps. Hampshire never had it, I am not sure Williams has it, Smith does to an extent, but lacks the searing pace to do what Farrimond can do. French makes up his own rules, in a touch football type of way, being so strong and agile and elusive that he can create havoc through simply having the ball. It has been a long time since we have had a player with Farrimond’s all round potential - I would say Sam T mark 1 was the last time. He will need luck, determination and plenty of bulking up to fulfil his potential. But it is vast, and having no option but to trust him for these 3 games will do wonders for him.

My money is on him making it.

[No straw damn us]

Offiah was a far better defender than given credit for. How many times in his career did anyone score two or three tries in a game against him?
Rarely from my memory.

[Firestarter]

Offiah was a far better defender than given credit for. How many times in his career did anyone score two or three tries in a game against him?
Rarely from my memory.

Jesus your testing my memory now.I do remember him regular missing tackles on john bentley and kevin iro but their was more