At the moment I'd get rid of Powell yes because all the things a hooker needs, he hasn't got which are a good running game and decent passing, at least Smith can pass and his kicking game won't play a part because he's at dummy half, Sam and George can kick so it'll be better In the halves
I actually think Powell has done ok since McIllorum got injured. He's played long minutes every week and has been very steady. Let's not forget he's a squad player and not a first choice hooker. Smith on the other hand is our first choice scrum half. The one who should make the team tick and for me he's nowhere near the level he should be at. His passes are far too often behind the intended runner meaning they have to 'check' their run and lose momentum going into the tackle. They get dominated and the PTB is slow. (Not always because of Smith).
I'd certainly like to see SW try something different though. Sam & George in the halves but leave Smith on the bench. Bring him on to give Powell a rest. Powell is making 50 or so tackles a week and I just can't see Smith doing that.
I'm with the majority on here and I think a big shake up might be in order, starting with SW. I'm just not sure who would want to come that could offer more? Player wise, I'd take a shot on Konrad Hurrell to take Charnleys place but move Gildart to the Wing but I would prioritise a scrum Half over all other positions.
I actually think Powell has done ok since McIllorum got injured. He's played long minutes every week and has been very steady. Let's not forget he's a squad player and not a first choice hooker. Smith on the other hand is our first choice scrum half. The one who should make the team tick and for me he's nowhere near the level he should be at. His passes are far too often behind the intended runner meaning they have to 'check' their run and lose momentum going into the tackle. They get dominated and the PTB is slow. (Not always because of Smith).
I'd certainly like to see SW try something different though. Sam & George in the halves but leave Smith on the bench. Bring him on to give Powell a rest. Powell is making 50 or so tackles a week and I just can't see Smith doing that.
I'm with the majority on here and I think a big shake up might be in order, starting with SW. I'm just not sure who would want to come that could offer more? Player wise, I'd take a shot on Konrad Hurrell to take Charnleys place but move Gildart to the Wing but I would prioritise a scrum Half over all other positions.
I agree with a lot of things you've said there, mainly to do with SW, his time is up I think and he needs to go, who do you get? Maybe Daryl Powell if you can tempt him.
Sam Powell has done okay up to now but because of the amount of minutes he's played as you say, it's taking a toll on him I think and making him worse, you could try George at Hooker, Matty Smith and Sam Tomkins in halves and Powell off the bench, that'd add a bit more maybe
Regarding Matty Smith, I'm one of his biggest haters if im being honest, I think he's quite possibly the worst scrum half in super league but because Wane was so dumb enough to let Rocky go at the start of the season, we've got no real back up stand off/ scrum half. Matty proved how good he was (or shall I say bad) when George and Sean were injured, and if we'd of had George and Rocky in the halves, I generally believe we'd of been 6-8 points a gam better off than we are right now.
Shaun Wane, I don't mind but his time has come, imo he's a bit of a bully and thinks the only way he can get through to his players is screaming and shouting at them when it obviously isn't working, his ego has probably driven Harris and Deacon out of the club, leaving only him with very little help, just the way he likes it.
Something has to change or else it's not our year and it's going to have to start on Saturday against Leeds
I just can't see Wane changing anything considering he says he doesn't have any concerns about our attack. Like most I would like to see some sort of change but the thing that strikes me is that senior players are in absolutely awful form and making stupid mistakes. The only one that is playing at any sort of decent level this year is Charnley (not counting Bateman as senior yet..), the rest have been appalling.
We had the best start to a SL season in years in terms of winning games but even then the performances were miles off. We could easily have lost the Catalan mudfest, could easily have lost the Huddersfield away game, the Salford home game, and Hull away. Those results have put us up in the top half of the competition and in my view paper of some significant cracks. The injury issues have been well documented as has the illness that led to the hammering by wakey and to be fair we haven't had a consistent run of games with our senior players involved. I'm worried about our club but I said I'll give it a few more weeks before I write us off. Once we have a run of games with Sam, Lockers Faz & Flower in the ranks it'll be a more accurate indicator of where we are. I've always said that SL is about squad depth and the one thing this season has shown is that our squad can't cope with several first choice players missing at the same time. To put things into perspective, I'm not confident we'll beat Leeds, even though they are so bad!!
We had the best start to a SL season in years in terms of winning games but even then the performances were miles off. We could easily have lost the Catalan mudfest, could easily have lost the Huddersfield away game, the Salford home game, and Hull away. Those results have put us up in the top half of the competition and in my view paper of some significant cracks. The injury issues have been well documented as has the illness that led to the hammering by wakey and to be fair we haven't had a consistent run of games with our senior players involved. I'm worried about our club but I said I'll give it a few more weeks before I write us off. Once we have a run of games with Sam, Lockers Faz & Flower in the ranks it'll be a more accurate indicator of where we are. I've always said that SL is about squad depth and the one thing this season has shown is that our squad can't cope with several first choice players missing at the same time. To put things into perspective, I'm not confident we'll beat Leeds, even though they are so bad!!
I posted during the Leeds game that we were absolutely awful. I got absolutely blasted by the majority on here as we were winning games. All the things I commented on at the time and in that game are what everyone is complaining about now. The issue of bland, lifeless unimaginative rugby is a deep rooted issue that has gotten progressively worse over the last two years. Wane is to blame for that, solely and completely. The creative element is either being stifled or the players are that low on confidence that even the basics seem beyond them, we can't hold the ball playing boring, simple predictable rugby. How Wane plans to change this intrigues me, because for two seasons he has done the opposite, he has slowly squeezed the creative free flowing rugby that we once played out of the players.
Warrington led 16-2 in Saturday's Grand Final, but their joy was short-lived as Wigan roared back to win the Super League title and extend the Wire's 58-year wait to be champions
I know I sound like a stuck record but we will waltz into the top 4 and most likely be at OT in October. Which annoys me in a sense because we are cack for most of the season but have a habit of turning it on when needed. Saints are similar - they were a 40/20 away from the GF last year and they'd had dog's abuse off their fans most of the season.
If we don't lift silverware this season that will be 3 years without and that's enough for any Wigan coach to be shown the door. We are playing a progressively worsening brand of RL and it needs fresh ideas. Wane can count himself lucky he has had players like Bateman who can drag us to finals regardless of our complete lack of structures and organisation.
I don't agree that we're one of the worst teams in the league, we clearly aren't. But we have miles more potential than we are achieving. People have said individual errors can't be blamed on the coach - I think they can.
A top coach instills focus, composure, confidence and has the team working to clearly understood plans that rub out brainfarts and panic plays. Maguire being the obvious comparison. This current team looks like a rabble potched together with sod all organisation!
Saying all that, we'll t*** Leeds at Newcastle next week
I have to give credit Waney and the players, for all the criticisms of the season we are still only 80 minutes from a championship in our name. Whatever the outcome, the post mortem can be done in the off season. For now, come on Wigan!
I have to give credit Waney and the players, for all the criticisms of the season we are still only 80 minutes from a championship in our name. Whatever the outcome, the post mortem can be done in the off season. For now, come on Wigan!
I've got a few emotions/thoughts this morning. First is that I'm obviously delighted we've made it to the GF, the effort and spirit on show has been immense.
Second, after reading Matty Smiths comments yesterday regarding the team playing better just playing off the cuff and not sticking to the structure is interesting, to me it seems we've stuck with something that has been broken for 18 months and we've been too stubborn to admit it.
The players have actually played some rugby and looked like they've enjoyed doing it, something we haven't done for most of the year, scoring should be something you joy, not just a relief.
It feels like alll the players have overcome personnal (on the pitch) demons or have finally accepted that certain (injured) players are not coming back in the team and they are what they are. Whatever it is they are enjoying a new lease of life and its very reminisent of 2003. Lets hope it turns out better this year.