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Hang on, it's only a couple of weeks ago (if that) that we were all praising Ellis to the skies. But he did look tired tonight.

josie andrews wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 11:42 pm

moto748 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 11:34 pm He's still only 35 according to wikipedia! A mere kid!

He played in the same teams as Sam Tomkins, he’s 36 tomorrow it’s just popped up in my birthday reminders

WTF are you discussing a 35 year old ex player? This thread was started with a perfectly reasonable question and the posts about Ainscough have derailed it.

DaveO wrote: ↑Sun Mar 23, 2025 2:18 am

josie andrews wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 11:42 pm

moto748 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 11:34 pm He's still only 35 according to wikipedia! A mere kid!

He played in the same teams as Sam Tomkins, he’s 36 tomorrow it’s just popped up in my birthday reminders

WTF are you discussing a 35 year old ex player? This thread was started with a perfectly reasonable question and the posts about Ainscough have derailed it.

So sorry for that, it’s not the first or the last time a thread goes a bit awry!

Start a fresh thread Dave & lock this!

I haven’t read all the posts and this could have been mentioned. Is this the Ainscough who played on the wing under Brian Noble? I think that he wasn’t happy with his defence.

God2 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 7:25 pm Why have we been so poor this season?

Genuine question.

Almost Every game been a struggle and we’ve been beaten by easily the worst Leeds and Hull sides in living memory.

Possibly, a few reasons?

It's hard maintaining motivation and excellence (I'm told) after such outstanding success, like last season, at the start of a new campaign.

Other sides are improving. But that doesn't excuse losing to Leeds or throwing such a lead at home to Hull.

We possibly cannot replace the loss of a star player like Field, without impacting the team by switching another another key attacker in French. This after handling the long-term absence of another pivot, O'Neill, quite well.

Blips always happen. We lost to a rotten Hull last year and still won everything. OK, not happening this year but still not a crisis either.

Superb Chops wrote: ↑Sun Mar 23, 2025 1:49 pm

God2 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 7:25 pm Why have we been so poor this season?

Genuine question.

Almost Every game been a struggle and we’ve been beaten by easily the worst Leeds and Hull sides in living memory.

Possibly, a few reasons?

It's hard maintaining motivation and excellence (I'm told) after such outstanding success, like last season, at the start of a new campaign.

Other sides are improving. But that doesn't excuse losing to Leeds or throwing such a lead at home to Hull.

We possibly cannot replace the loss of a star player like Field, without impacting the team by switching another another key attacker in French. This after handling the long-term absence of another pivot, O'Neill, quite well.

Blips always happen. We lost to a rotten Hull last year and still won everything. OK, not happening this year but still not a crisis either.

You know I’m not of the view that other clubs are improving Leeds have been dreadful this season and Leigh have a paper thin squad (though have recruited really well) Hull well who knows they couldn’t be any worse than last season so to me it only leaves KR as the main threat to Wigan on paper at least.

I do agree with you in regards to motivation while it’s great to see the club tying down players I do like to see a couple of signings to refresh things and keep players in their toes.

As long as we avoid any more long-term in juries and don't blow it against Salford this week I think we'll be able to recover over the next few weeks. Going out of the cup will be a blessing in disguise given how tired/stale the players look. I think it's worth mentioning (as others have) that we didn't strengthen the squad even though we lost Cooper and, unexpectedly, Isa. It's one thing assuming that our youngsters will improve each season but we all know that that isn't a given. You could argue that it's foolhardy or even arrogant to assume we can win again despite starting the season with a squad that seems weaker at least on paper. It's also an interesting strategy to keep Chan and Eseh on the books when it now seems that neither will make a meaningful contribution to the first team for the second season in a row.

fozzie58 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 23, 2025 3:12 pm

Superb Chops wrote: ↑Sun Mar 23, 2025 1:49 pm

God2 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 7:25 pm Why have we been so poor this season?

Genuine question.

Almost Every game been a struggle and we’ve been beaten by easily the worst Leeds and Hull sides in living memory.

Possibly, a few reasons?

It's hard maintaining motivation and excellence (I'm told) after such outstanding success, like last season, at the start of a new campaign.

Other sides are improving. But that doesn't excuse losing to Leeds or throwing such a lead at home to Hull.

We possibly cannot replace the loss of a star player like Field, without impacting the team by switching another another key attacker in French. This after handling the long-term absence of another pivot, O'Neill, quite well.

Blips always happen. We lost to a rotten Hull last year and still won everything. OK, not happening this year but still not a crisis either.

You know I’m not of the view that other clubs are improving Leeds have been dreadful this season and Leigh have a paper thin squad (though have recruited really well) Hull well who knows they couldn’t be any worse than last season so to me it only leaves KR as the main threat to Wigan on paper at least.

I do agree with you in regards to motivation while it’s great to see the club tying down players I do like to see a couple of signings to refresh things and keep players in their toes.

Hello Fozzie, hard to argue with your point regards other sides having, erm, seen Leigh’s result at Hull KR today.

Personally, my approach to these situations is along and lines over "Don't panic, Captain Mainwaring!"

1. It's been said that Leeds are a poor team - well they weren't against us.
2. Other teams are improving: Hull KR, Hull, Leeds, Wakey, Saints, Leigh (apart from blip this weekend?)
3. The games against Leigh and Leeds were great games, compulsive, entertaining, edge of seat stuff. Better than 60-0 drubbings.
4. Judge Peet and the team over a season, not over 4 or 5 weeks. None of us know the full story of injuries, illness, or other factors behind the team's form.
5. The big black spot for me was the 2nd half against Hull. One of the commentators on Sky said we "fell in love with ourselves" after the Vegas performance - maybe Wilkin, who knows all about falling on love with yourself. But we will come good. The wheels haven't come off. Keep the faith.

morley pie eater wrote: ↑Sun Mar 23, 2025 8:47 pm Personally, my approach to these situations is along and lines over "Don't panic, Captain Mainwaring!"

1. It's been said that Leeds are a poor team - well they weren't against us.
2. Other teams are improving: Hull KR, Hull, Leeds, Wakey, Saints, Leigh (apart from blip this weekend?)
3. The games against Leigh and Leeds were great games, compulsive, entertaining, edge of seat stuff. Better than 60-0 drubbings.
4. Judge Peet and the team over a season, not over 4 or 5 weeks. None of us know the full story of injuries, illness, or other factors behind the team's form.
5. The big black spot for me was the 2nd half against Hull. One of the commentators on Sky said we "fell in love with ourselves" after the Vegas performance - maybe Wilkin, who knows all about falling on love with yourself. But we will come good. The wheels haven't come off. Keep the faith.

Thats brought a smile back to my face!

I take your point 4) - if we add it all up we were missing Havard/O'Neil/Keighran/Miski/Field and (we understand) having French/Mago recovering from an illness. I also think it will come out that Byrne took a heavy knock early on. That said, why not play Makin from the bench and even flog Hill on that gluepot instead of Mago - also agree that Peet will learn from this.