Ten Wigan Warriors players off-contract at the end of the season

[First Try Tickle]

Think this could be a big make or break year for Powell. He’s definitely number one hooker and Peet must rate him, but if our attack is struggling will Peet have the bottle to drop him, knowing just how much a fan Wane is.

I think we are stuck with him for years to come.

[DaveO]

Think this could be a big make or break year for Powell. He’s definitely number one hooker and Peet must rate him, but if our attack is struggling will Peet have the bottle to drop him, knowing just how much a fan Wane is.

I think we are stuck with him for years to come.

It's a key year for the new regime at the club as well to convince us they have the ambition to continually improve the squad. They either manage to get Powell to improve or don't give him a new contract if he doesn't. If he improves, great but if he doesn't and they give him a new deal it will show they aren't prepared to make tough decisions to improve the squad enough in the same way the club was at the height of its success.

[nathan_rugby]

My opinion on Powell is this.
- great in defence
- terrible in attack

- scored & assisted a lot in 2020 - can we get this back into his arsenal?
- sometimes kicks well from hooker - can we do this more often
- can we make subtle changes to his attack that will allow him to step out slightly and draw in the markers & A defender?

Generally you can get away with a defensive hooker if you have a good attacking setup and that is capable with a 7, 6 & 1 all linking up.

Now I fully agree an attacking hooker / field martial is very very beneficial but it isn’t a pre requisite to attacking success.

We’ve won the league and grand final with Powell as hooker remember…

[jobo]

My opinion on Powell is this.
- great in defence
- terrible in attack

- scored & assisted a lot in 2020 - can we get this back into his arsenal?
- sometimes kicks well from hooker - can we do this more often
- can we make subtle changes to his attack that will allow him to step out slightly and draw in the markers & A defender?

Generally you can get away with a defensive hooker if you have a good attacking setup and that is capable with a 7, 6 & 1 all linking up.

Now I fully agree an attacking hooker / field martial is very very beneficial but it isn’t a pre requisite to attacking success.

We’ve won the league and grand final with Powell as hooker remember…

Good summation this.

[Charriots Offiah]

It'll be reet. Let's just see what unfolds under the new management, ten players off contract can be a good thing if new contracts are awarded based on performance.

As for Sam, I am confident that we will see an improvement on last season.

[Wigan_forever1985]

My opinion on Powell is this.
- great in defence
- terrible in attack

- scored & assisted a lot in 2020 - can we get this back into his arsenal?
- sometimes kicks well from hooker - can we do this more often
- can we make subtle changes to his attack that will allow him to step out slightly and draw in the markers & A defender?

Generally you can get away with a defensive hooker if you have a good attacking setup and that is capable with a 7, 6 & 1 all linking up.

Now I fully agree an attacking hooker / field martial is very very beneficial but it isn’t a pre requisite to attacking success.

We’ve won the league and grand final with Powell as hooker remember…

I think the issue is the main thing that would improve powell is pace and you can’t teach pace

I’ve never seen a slower player off the mark it’s actually borderline comical it’s like he is wearing lead boots

You’ll notice that the best hookers don’t scoot all the time they pick and chose their moments but with Powell even if he sees the gap he is unable to get through it

I really don’t see what you more you can get out of him.

For me as I’ve said I think he’s obviously a very good professional - you never hear any mumbling about his behaviour and he appears to be a good egg all round. I’d keep him but only as a squad player and his play time and wage would need to reflect that. he could cover a few positions to a standard where he wouldn’t lose you a game but he won’t win you a game and that can be useful and he seems like he’s be a positive role model in the dressing room

[DaveO]

We’ve won the league and grand final with Powell as hooker remember…

That’s never a good argument. There are obvious weaknesses in his game so regardless of how many trophies the club has won with him as hooker it’s no reason not to seek out a better replacement.

The question should be could we have won more trophies with a better hooker? We have lost some close finals and some close games that may have got us to finals, the most recent the GF loss to Saints. Maybe a better hooker would have meant it wasn’t still all square at the death in that one.

[nathan_rugby]

We’ve won the league and grand final with Powell as hooker remember…

That’s never a good argument. There are obvious weaknesses in his game so regardless of how many trophies the club has won with him as hooker it’s no reason not to seek out a better replacement.

The question should be could we have won more trophies with a better hooker? We have lost some close finals and some close games that may have got us to finals, the most recent the GF loss to Saints. Maybe a better hooker would have meant it wasn’t still all square at the death in that one.

I know but there’s too much doom and gloom about Powell.

Of course I would like an attacking hooker / better organising etc. I’d honestly love it.

But my point is you CAN be successful with a defensive hooker / Powell.

And I also think some small / subtle changes to our attack, style of player out of hooker would make a huge difference and could be achieved by Powell despite his limitations.

It’s a salary capped sport, money is tight and I’m unaware who is available so we cannot get everyone. Although I’m underwhelmed with Thornley as I love watching quality attacking centres, Cust, Ellis and Mago have me excited

[jaws1]

Maybe we can do a switcheroo Cust can play hooker played there many times then we have Smith, Tommy, Field in the halves. The highlights that I have seen of Cust he was playing hooker .

[Barney841]

We should of signed lussick when we had a chance.