Now is not the time for weakness

[Cruncher]

Attention all Wigan fans

Now is not the time for us to show weakness in the face of the enemy.

Today was disappointing. Much more so than I, for one, anticipated. I didn’t expect us to win but I thought we’d maintain last week’s momentum by at least keeping it to a respectable score. Alas, that didn’t happen, and it’s now a certainty that we must spend the entire rest of the season scrapping to avoid relegation. However, I’d just like to draw your attention to a couple of things: Firstly, we’ve been there before; we survived it and we returned the greatest force the British game has ever seen. Secondly, when we were at the top, we were the only thing anyone wanted to talk about; now we’re at the bottom, and we’re still the only thing anyone wants to talk about. On the way back today, it was interesting to hear one texter to GMR after another – from St Helens, Warrington, Leigh, you name it – and all they wanted to comment on was Wigan, not their own clubs. That says more than plaudits ever could. We’re currently at our lowest ebb, yet clearly we’re still THE rugby league club in Britain … as proved not by us, but by the vast numbers who despise us. If that doesn’t give you a stirring of pride, then nothing will. Remember, those who rejoice in your downfall do it for one of two reasons: either they fear you terribly, or they’re green with jealousy. It’s difficult to imagine that anyone would be frightened or jealous of Wigan at present, but they know us of old, and deep down they’re petrified that all they’re really seeing here is a sleeping giant.

In any case, it’s not necessarily the end yet. Ian Millward came last season, won an unexpected victory at Salford and then took two tremendous beatings before galvanising us into winning the majority of our remaining matches. Personally, I rate Noble higher than Millward – if only because he’s come to us without baggage and, as far as I’m aware, has so far not fallen out with any of the players. In short, if anyone can secure survival for Wigan this season, it’s Brian Noble. Let’s give him our full, unconditional support. On the same subject, whatever the rest of you folks’ beef is with Maurice Lindsay and/or David Whelan, I urge you to keep it to yourselves for the moment. It’s imperative the club pulls together at this time and doesn’t continue to seek scapegoats for its failures. Constantly sacking people is not the answer mid-season. It’s a panic measure, and all it would succeed in doing is creating even worse factions than already exist. In any case, how can we sack the CEO? Who would come in at this stage? The answer should be obvious. No-one, and then we’d be in freefall.

It’s unbearably frustrating. We know that while we’ve got several players who are total dross, we’ve a number of others who are internationals; either seasoned veterans or exciting up-and-comers. Why are they not performing? It’s so illogical that some fans I know genuinely believe we’re under a curse. Our fixture list, our injuries – everything seems to have gone against us. However, all wheels turn. Remember that. If this team is reorganised by Noble and allowed to play together regularly, and maybe gets a couple of decent wins under its belt, it still has sufficient time to ensure its survival in SL.

But if it doesn’t, it’s crucial that we remember who we are and why we’re here. We follow the most successful rugby league flag in British history. We follow a team whose name is synonymous with the 13-a-side code in every part of the world where that game is played. We follow a team whose history is as proud as any other club in any other field of sporting endeavour. Yes, they’re laughing at us at the moment. But much of that laughter is forced. Saints fans are secretly wondering why, when they’re winning all the time, their support isn’t as big as ours when we’re losing. Leigh embarrassed themselves the last time they were in Super League, and it’s questionable whether they’ll be allowed to do so again any time soon. Bradford are so successful, but in such trouble financially that they had to release their multiple trophy-winning coach because they couldn’t match the deal that we, the bottom club, offered him. Leeds look safer than most, but one title in God knows how many years is nothing to boast about. The rest – Hull, Warrington, Salford, Wakefield – all doing well, yet destined to be the bridesmaids again, and again, and again, and they don’t need us to tell them that.

So take the jeering on the chin, recognise it for what it is, and let’s face up to our dilemma with the courage and loyalty that go hand in hand with the name ‘Wigan RLFC’. We’re not relegated yet, but even if that eventually happens, our club has the strength, experience and capability to bounce back. And in the meantime, we flock to the JJB Stadium – our home ground now, whether we like it or not – in the same awesome numbers we’ve shown for the last two years. Our support, both home and away, is the envy of the British game. Only Leeds do better and that’s purely because they’re the top side. So we keep on turning up, and we sing and we cheer our hearts out, and even if the team infuriates us, even if we feel betrayed by our owners, we show that we love and support our club to the bitter end, and we forcibly remind the RFL that they can’t afford to have Super League without us. Who knows, maybe a show of strength like that will cause some radical thinking come September/October. If it does, I certainly won’t be embarrassed, because in a couple of years time the whole thing will be up in the air anyway: the franchises will be in, promotion and relegation may well be things of the past.

So heads up. No more wrist-cutting, no more arguing, no more calling for departures. Mobilise yourselves in force and get down to the JJB on Friday night, and let’s show the rest of the rugby league world that, wounded though it is, the Wigan club - as embodied by its fans - will not just roll over and die.

[Likely_Lad]

Longest post ever?

[Likely_Lad]

But still, some very good points in there and well put. It feels slightly less worrying when we talk about what happened last season, and anything could happen in the same aort of way.

[Dorsey]

:eusa2: Well said Cruncher. Like everyone else I was disappointed today but these things happen in sport. After all Hull beat Saints 34 - 8 last year in the semi of the challenge cup when Saints were on the crest of a wave and thinking they were unbeatable. I think maybe the scale of our win last week gave us a bit of false hope for today and maybe if we had only won by a point or two last week we might not have been quite so gutted today however I totally agree with you that we are all in this thing together and we will survive and maybe the next time we play Hull we will return the compliment. Brian Noble will sort it eventually and for our part we have to keep supporting and believing. We got close to the corner last week, lets hope we turn it this coming Friday.

[westclox]

what a load of crap, this lot could not get a game for the pat's, i stil say noble as lost his marbles send lindsy to an old folkes home and drop this lot of at calderbank'es.

[Champions]

westclox posted:
what a load of crap, this lot could not get a game for the pat's, i stil say noble as lost his marbles send lindsy to an old folkes home and drop this lot of at calderbank'es.

Nobby said we should expect to go further back before we go forwards. Last week was bound to happen as we always seem to win as the hype of a new coach makes the players try and improve. This week, things had calmed down in camp, all of the Hull players would have been trying to impress Sharp and we didn't play as a unit. Therefore the outcome was as it was. Nobby has a lot to do before next week, but I still think we'll be ok...Nobby can obviously see potential in the team, even if some of the fans can't

[walshiered]

Cruncher posted:
Attention all Wigan fans

Now is not the time for us to show weakness in the face of the enemy.

Today was disappointing. Much more so than I, for one, anticipated. I didn’t expect us to win but I thought we’d maintain last week’s momentum by at least keeping it to a respectable score. Alas, that didn’t happen, and it’s now a certainty that we must spend the entire rest of the season scrapping to avoid relegation. However, I’d just like to draw your attention to a couple of things: Firstly, we’ve been there before; we survived it and we returned the greatest force the British game has ever seen. Secondly, when we were at the top, we were the only thing anyone wanted to talk about; now we’re at the bottom, and we’re still the only thing anyone wants to talk about. On the way back today, it was interesting to hear one texter to GMR after another – from St Helens, Warrington, Leigh, you name it – and all they wanted to comment on was Wigan, not their own clubs. That says more than plaudits ever could. We’re currently at our lowest ebb, yet clearly we’re still THE rugby league club in Britain … as proved not by us, but by the vast numbers who despise us. If that doesn’t give you a stirring of pride, then nothing will. Remember, those who rejoice in your downfall do it for one of two reasons: either they fear you terribly, or they’re green with jealousy. It’s difficult to imagine that anyone would be frightened or jealous of Wigan at present, but they know us of old, and deep down they’re petrified that all they’re really seeing here is a sleeping giant.

In any case, it’s not necessarily the end yet. Ian Millward came last season, won an unexpected victory at Salford and then took two tremendous beatings before galvanising us into winning the majority of our remaining matches. Personally, I rate Noble higher than Millward – if only because he’s come to us without baggage and, as far as I’m aware, has so far not fallen out with any of the players. In short, if anyone can secure survival for Wigan this season, it’s Brian Noble. Let’s give him our full, unconditional support. On the same subject, whatever the rest of you folks’ beef is with Maurice Lindsay and/or David Whelan, I urge you to keep it to yourselves for the moment. It’s imperative the club pulls together at this time and doesn’t continue to seek scapegoats for its failures. Constantly sacking people is not the answer mid-season. It’s a panic measure, and all it would succeed in doing is creating even worse factions than already exist. In any case, how can we sack the CEO? Who would come in at this stage? The answer should be obvious. No-one, and then we’d be in freefall.

It’s unbearably frustrating. We know that while we’ve got several players who are total dross, we’ve a number of others who are internationals; either seasoned veterans or exciting up-and-comers. Why are they not performing? It’s so illogical that some fans I know genuinely believe we’re under a curse. Our fixture list, our injuries – everything seems to have gone against us. However, all wheels turn. Remember that. If this team is reorganised by Noble and allowed to play together regularly, and maybe gets a couple of decent wins under its belt, it still has sufficient time to ensure its survival in SL.

But if it doesn’t, it’s crucial that we remember who we are and why we’re here. We follow the most successful rugby league flag in British history. We follow a team whose name is synonymous with the 13-a-side code in every part of the world where that game is played. We follow a team whose history is as proud as any other club in any other field of sporting endeavour. Yes, they’re laughing at us at the moment. But much of that laughter is forced. Saints fans are secretly wondering why, when they’re winning all the time, their support isn’t as big as ours when we’re losing. Leigh embarrassed themselves the last time they were in Super League, and it’s questionable whether they’ll be allowed to do so again any time soon. Bradford are so successful, but in such trouble financially that they had to release their multiple trophy-winning coach because they couldn’t match the deal that we, the bottom club, offered him. Leeds look safer than most, but one title in God knows how many years is nothing to boast about. The rest – Hull, Warrington, Salford, Wakefield – all doing well, yet destined to be the bridesmaids again, and again, and again, and they don’t need us to tell them that.

So take the jeering on the chin, recognise it for what it is, and let’s face up to our dilemma with the courage and loyalty that go hand in hand with the name ‘Wigan RLFC’. We’re not relegated yet, but even if that eventually happens, our club has the strength, experience and capability to bounce back. And in the meantime, we flock to the JJB Stadium – our home ground now, whether we like it or not – in the same awesome numbers we’ve shown for the last two years. Our support, both home and away, is the envy of the British game. Only Leeds do better and that’s purely because they’re the top side. So we keep on turning up, and we sing and we cheer our hearts out, and even if the team infuriates us, even if we feel betrayed by our owners, we show that we love and support our club to the bitter end, and we forcibly remind the RFL that they can’t afford to have Super League without us. Who knows, maybe a show of strength like that will cause some radical thinking come September/October. If it does, I certainly won’t be embarrassed, because in a couple of years time the whole thing will be up in the air anyway: the franchises will be in, promotion and relegation may well be things of the past.

So heads up. No more wrist-cutting, no more arguing, no more calling for departures. Mobilise yourselves in force and get down to the JJB on Friday night, and let’s show the rest of the rugby league world that, wounded though it is, the Wigan club - as embodied by its fans - will not just roll over and die.

What a great rallying cry,are you in P.R ?.I think you are right in what you say and other fans are jealous or afraid of us, and yes we are getting as much publicity as the league leaders which must rankle a bit,but I am still concerned with the fitness of a team that gets so many injuries.
I will be at the JJB on Friday and the only reason I didn't go to Hull was a birthday party.
Iknow someof the players may not be up to our standards bot they are now playing for Wigan and we must give some of them time to adjust and maybe when we have a settled team the results will pick up.

[waterside glens]

well said cruncher much better read than the misery being put out by the victor meldrew brigade

[Susi]

Some very good points raised in your post Cruncher.
I hope we do not go down but will carry on supporting the boys even if the worst happens.
It was a very long journey home yeserday though.

[mike binder]

walshiered posted:

Cruncher posted:
Attention all Wigan fans

Now is not the time for us to show weakness in the face of the enemy.

Today was disappointing. Much more so than I, for one, anticipated. I didn’t expect us to win but I thought we’d maintain last week’s momentum by at least keeping it to a respectable score. Alas, that didn’t happen, and it’s now a certainty that we must spend the entire rest of the season scrapping to avoid relegation. However, I’d just like to draw your attention to a couple of things: Firstly, we’ve been there before; we survived it and we returned the greatest force the British game has ever seen. Secondly, when we were at the top, we were the only thing anyone wanted to talk about; now we’re at the bottom, and we’re still the only thing anyone wants to talk about. On the way back today, it was interesting to hear one texter to GMR after another – from St Helens, Warrington, Leigh, you name it – and all they wanted to comment on was Wigan, not their own clubs. That says more than plaudits ever could. We’re currently at our lowest ebb, yet clearly we’re still THE rugby league club in Britain … as proved not by us, but by the vast numbers who despise us. If that doesn’t give you a stirring of pride, then nothing will. Remember, those who rejoice in your downfall do it for one of two reasons: either they fear you terribly, or they’re green with jealousy. It’s difficult to imagine that anyone would be frightened or jealous of Wigan at present, but they know us of old, and deep down they’re petrified that all they’re really seeing here is a sleeping giant.

In any case, it’s not necessarily the end yet. Ian Millward came last season, won an unexpected victory at Salford and then took two tremendous beatings before galvanising us into winning the majority of our remaining matches. Personally, I rate Noble higher than Millward – if only because he’s come to us without baggage and, as far as I’m aware, has so far not fallen out with any of the players. In short, if anyone can secure survival for Wigan this season, it’s Brian Noble. Let’s give him our full, unconditional support. On the same subject, whatever the rest of you folks’ beef is with Maurice Lindsay and/or David Whelan, I urge you to keep it to yourselves for the moment. It’s imperative the club pulls together at this time and doesn’t continue to seek scapegoats for its failures. Constantly sacking people is not the answer mid-season. It’s a panic measure, and all it would succeed in doing is creating even worse factions than already exist. In any case, how can we sack the CEO? Who would come in at this stage? The answer should be obvious. No-one, and then we’d be in freefall.

It’s unbearably frustrating. We know that while we’ve got several players who are total dross, we’ve a number of others who are internationals; either seasoned veterans or exciting up-and-comers. Why are they not performing? It’s so illogical that some fans I know genuinely believe we’re under a curse. Our fixture list, our injuries – everything seems to have gone against us. However, all wheels turn. Remember that. If this team is reorganised by Noble and allowed to play together regularly, and maybe gets a couple of decent wins under its belt, it still has sufficient time to ensure its survival in SL.

But if it doesn’t, it’s crucial that we remember who we are and why we’re here. We follow the most successful rugby league flag in British history. We follow a team whose name is synonymous with the 13-a-side code in every part of the world where that game is played. We follow a team whose history is as proud as any other club in any other field of sporting endeavour. Yes, they’re laughing at us at the moment. But much of that laughter is forced. Saints fans are secretly wondering why, when they’re winning all the time, their support isn’t as big as ours when we’re losing. Leigh embarrassed themselves the last time they were in Super League, and it’s questionable whether they’ll be allowed to do so again any time soon. Bradford are so successful, but in such trouble financially that they had to release their multiple trophy-winning coach because they couldn’t match the deal that we, the bottom club, offered him. Leeds look safer than most, but one title in God knows how many years is nothing to boast about. The rest – Hull, Warrington, Salford, Wakefield – all doing well, yet destined to be the bridesmaids again, and again, and again, and they don’t need us to tell them that.

So take the jeering on the chin, recognise it for what it is, and let’s face up to our dilemma with the courage and loyalty that go hand in hand with the name ‘Wigan RLFC’. We’re not relegated yet, but even if that eventually happens, our club has the strength, experience and capability to bounce back. And in the meantime, we flock to the JJB Stadium – our home ground now, whether we like it or not – in the same awesome numbers we’ve shown for the last two years. Our support, both home and away, is the envy of the British game. Only Leeds do better and that’s purely because they’re the top side. So we keep on turning up, and we sing and we cheer our hearts out, and even if the team infuriates us, even if we feel betrayed by our owners, we show that we love and support our club to the bitter end, and we forcibly remind the RFL that they can’t afford to have Super League without us. Who knows, maybe a show of strength like that will cause some radical thinking come September/October. If it does, I certainly won’t be embarrassed, because in a couple of years time the whole thing will be up in the air anyway: the franchises will be in, promotion and relegation may well be things of the past.

So heads up. No more wrist-cutting, no more arguing, no more calling for departures. Mobilise yourselves in force and get down to the JJB on Friday night, and let’s show the rest of the rugby league world that, wounded though it is, the Wigan club - as embodied by its fans - will not just roll over and die.

What a great rallying cry,are you in P.R ?.I think you are right in what you say and other fans are jealous or afraid of us, and yes we are getting as much publicity as the league leaders which must rankle a bit,but I am still concerned with the fitness of a team that gets so many injuries.
I will be at the JJB on Friday and the only reason I didn't go to Hull was a birthday party.
Iknow someof the players may not be up to our standards bot they are now playing for Wigan and we must give some of them time to adjust and maybe when we have a settled team the results will pick up.

was you at the same birthday party as me