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Far too early to write off the season, far too early to write off Wane (though until he "proves" himself many will have their doubts - me included).

About the only thing I can write off is Bret Finch . Hopefully he will prove those right who said he needed time to settle in...get over his injuries...etc. I just don't see it. (Not a bad player, by any means, but not great IN MY OPINION).

One thing I didn't like yesterday is the lack of a hooker on the bench. It's alright Tommy filling in or Sam going behind the play the ball but when McIllorum goes off we find ourselves totally changing the shape of our team to little effect. I don't know what the answer is (other than picking Logan) but then I guess this is the sort of quandry that will show us what Wane is made of at this level.

I'm not too disheartened at all (to my shame I took Hudds +12 on the coupon so I was expecting a tight game) but it puts a lot of pressure on Saturday's game. Lose that and Saints beat Salford and we're four points down on two big rivals already. Although admittedly that doesn't matter with the ridiculous play-offs system.

My team for the Leeds game would be:

Tomkins, Charnley, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Finch, Powell/Mellor, Mossop, Leuluai, Lima, Hock, Hansen, O'Loughlin

McIllorum, Lauaki, Flower, Farrell

Remember we have Prescott, Fielden and Roberts back soon to boost the squad, having Stu back will be like a new signing. But we really need to give Powell or Mellor gametime to see if they're good enough to replace Tommy at the end of the season.

Also IMO Tommy offers more at 9 than Mick Mac.

Dobby wrote:

pedro wrote:

Dobby wrote: Hold on a second. I cant believe the number of people that seem to be calling for Wane's head after one game. Our half backs consisted of a New Zealand international and a State of Origin Rep player. It is their jobs to organise and to kick, not Wanes. Our kicking game was poor and our pack weak but that is hardly any different than last year. We have not signed a new half back that can kick or organise and I am guessing that is not Wanes fault so I cant see how people expected something dramatically different. I would have liked to have seen our pack strengthened more but it is far too early to judge the players that have come in. It is a long season and I am sure we will get far better.

it is wanes job, we had no second phrase like we did last year and our tackles look poor compared to last year. Our fitness looked poor too.

Whos fault is it if not wanes as he trains and picks them? I am being serious when Im say that is the worst Wigan performance in well over 2 years.

Talk about exageration, it is the first game for Gods sake. No team should be aiming to peak in week 1 and rustiness is to be expected. Dont you think the players should take some of the blame rather than a simplistic sack Wane, after just one game, rant? Is it really Wane's fault if a State of Origin rep player and a Kiwi international have a shocking kicking game? For all you know Wane could have worked on the kicking game all off season but, just as in the last few seasons, our kicking game is awful on match day. Short of getting rid of Finch or Leuluai and signing a player with a better kicking game, which seeing as they are both under contract Wane couldnt do, what can Wane realistically do? If we dont have a first team standard player with an organising and kicking game then Wanes hands are tied.

Rustiness shouldnt be expected, thats why we have pre season games. The players are responsible but Wane is accountable. Not once did I say sack Wane but the fact is that is the worst I have seen us play in over 2 years, Finch and Tommy didnt do bad last year when Deacon was injured did they....?

Having watched the highlights again it seems that we were totally out coached. Brown got it spot on. His back three were hardly getting a finger on them and they were going to ground to enable them a quick play the ball. We are notorious for having the ability to control the tackle and slow the opposition down. Whether Madge or Wane we're coach yesterday Brown has simply given Huddersfield a game plan that has effectively beaten us. They might as well have been playing rah rah.

BriH wrote:I just hope it is opening match rustiness.

Wigan sounded pretty dire listening to it on the radio.

Fingers crossed for next week, which will be a huge challenge.

You lucky sod Bri!You would have been very upset at what you saw had you been at the game.That said.Things can either get a damned sight better or a damned sight worse.I confess to being one of those people who said Wane deserved his shot at head coach believing him to be more than capable of doing the job at hand.I'm also convinced that when he has had the chance to review the game he will see some of what we witnessed and address them.(Hopefully).On the evidence of yesterdays game we cannot hope to win many games if that is the standard we are expected to swallow.As of this moment I'm inclined to believe that this is merely a blip and things will be turned around for the better.One must remember that supporters will remain loyal to both club and coach up to a point.And that point for me is more of this dross and for me a disregard for the fans when you see players walking back into position rather than running etc etc. But as others have said this is very early doors for Shaun Wanes tenure as head coach and we must judge him on future results not just yesterdays game though disappointing to say the least.

Hanley the God! wrote:Did nobody else notice that Hudds played 70 mins with 13 men in the line. No fullback. Why no kick chip over the top. Why did nobody see this, especially the coaching staff?

Was muttering the same under my breath all game.
Many teams now do the same, Dire are prime targets to this.
We have the best chip and chase player in SL with Sam yet it is seldom seen.

Roberts to full back? The words straws and clutching at spring to mind here.
Hampo looks quite fit compared to the rest, if my memory serves me right he was a dab hand at No:1, Boston on the wing - job done.

Seen this before with Nobby, the players seemed clueless, didn't want to play for Wane?
Frightened to pass? Loads of times we had an overlap but did not pass to the centre/wing. Just after Hudds scored their step around try in the second half, after kick off, a pass to Sam (centre field) would have taken him well into their half, maybe score? But again no pass. Richards didn't seem up for it, a couple of times he was out of position not able to keep up with play to take an attacking pass.
I agree, the forwards were out played by a good team effort from Huddersfield (they have got a good squad if 9 players were out),good coach as well.
Kicking game + more action from the half backs needed because if Leeds can afford to get rid of Burrows, they have got someone better! And that will not be good for next weeks result.
The first time players have played together after poor decisions were made pre-season, the questions are already out for Wane.
I took a couple of new people to the game, their impression of what was set before them from Wigan was not good.
Mick

mickh wrote:Seen this before with Nobby, the players seemed clueless, didn't want to play for Wane?
Frightened to pass? Loads of times we had an overlap but did not pass to the centre/wing. Just after Hudds scored their step around try in the second half, after kick off, a pass to Sam (centre field) would have taken him well into their half, maybe score? But again no pass. Richards didn't seem up for it, a couple of times he was out of position not able to keep up with play to take an attacking pass.
I agree, the forwards were out played by a good team effort from Huddersfield (they have got a good squad if 9 players were out),good coach as well.
Kicking game + more action from the half backs needed because if Leeds can afford to get rid of Burrows, they have got someone better! And that will not be good for next weeks result.
The first time players have played together after poor decisions were made pre-season, the questions are already out for Wane.
I took a couple of new people to the game, their impression of what was set before them from Wigan was not good.
Mick

:conf:

Maybe move richards to FB, josh and DG on the wings and bring in Gelling at centre to get Sam at 6 and give us more spark?