Re: Do the Team Train in Lilliput : Sat Feb 24, 2018 1:35 pm  

DaveO wrote:

Personally I think the trip and the short turnaround with the Wire game being on a Friday are bound to have affected the performance which was entirely predictable and reason to not play that pointless friendly in Oz.

100%

The one thing that did me with that Souths game was why did we bother starting a strong team when Souths had named a real mix and match side. I’m guessing we’d have had an idea what Souths we’re doing weeks/months in advance and if so I’d have liked to have seen us fly the likes of Lockers, Clubb, Flower and Leuluai back maybe 4 or 5 days in advance of everyone else.

Re: Do the Team Train in Lilliput : Sat Feb 24, 2018 4:50 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

100%

The one thing that did me with that Souths game was why did we bother starting a strong team when Souths had named a real mix and match side. I’m guessing we’d have had an idea what Souths we’re doing weeks/months in advance and if so I’d have liked to have seen us fly the likes of Lockers, Clubb, Flower and Leuluai back maybe 4 or 5 days in advance of everyone else.

We went to see Souths train the week before we played them and their coach Anthony Seibold told us then he was playing a young side to see how they faired against us. The likes of Inglis and Sam Burgess were never gonna play in that game so I agree with your comments. I’d only suggest that as club captain Lockers May have had commitments to honour and don’t forget that during that 2nd week, the training for the 1st team was pre planned. We ran out against Cronulla and St Gearge as part of the training plan.

Re: Do the Team Train in Lilliput : Sat Feb 24, 2018 11:33 pm  

I wonder if come seasons end and say either Wigan or Hull fall a couple of points short of qualifying they'll still think that friendly was a good idea?

Re: Do the Team Train in Lilliput : Sun Feb 25, 2018 12:46 pm  

I do think the RFL stitched up you and Hull to a degree. You both had really tough games after a long trip. There would have been nothing wrong with giving you games against less fancied teams. Those teams wouldn't have complained, because it would have given them the best chance to beat you, but to give away games against top four competitors does seem a bit on the tough side.

Re: Do the Team Train in Lilliput : Sun Feb 25, 2018 2:39 pm  

We can only bring in bigger players when the opportunity occurs.
FPN has gone leaving cap space. I'm one of those who suggested bringing in Bousquet from Catalans. If we improve him as we did Escare we'd have a very good prop indeed.
Gells has gone and Hardaker might be here 2020. That's some time off and will give Higginson time to break through into the first team on a regular basis. A big lad, plays centre and kicks. Hope he makes it.
Rumoured Bateman and Sutton may leave with Greenwood rumoured to replace Bateman. A bigger man. Should Sutton depart then surely we can find a big, experienced prop to replace him?
Players who have left or about to leave should be replaced by bigger men on a one by one basis, provided of course they are good enough!

Re: Do the Team Train in Lilliput : Sun Feb 25, 2018 3:37 pm  

Father Ted wrote:

We can only bring in bigger players when the opportunity occurs.
FPN has gone leaving cap space. I'm one of those who suggested bringing in Bousquet from Catalans. If we improve him as we did Escare we'd have a very good prop indeed.
Gells has gone and Hardaker might be here 2020. That's some time off and will give Higginson time to break through into the first team on a regular basis. A big lad, plays centre and kicks. Hope he makes it.
Rumoured Bateman and Sutton may leave with Greenwood rumoured to replace Bateman. A bigger man. Should Sutton depart then surely we can find a big, experienced prop to replace him?
Players who have left or about to leave should be replaced by bigger men on a one by one basis, provided of course they are good enough!

I watched a bit of Bousquet last night and I still say he’d be an ideal signing for us. I know one or two have questioned how good he actually is but I think there’s a lot of talent there and room to get better. He makes good ground with his carries and he has a nice offload and he can act as that link man around the middle as well.

On the other side Fafita continues to impress. He’s just a big awkward lump to deal with and really rolls Wakey forward. He is another I’d love to see here and if money is available on the cap and the club make a fe quid out of the Aussie trip, then go and test Wakeys resolve.

We’re two big forwards short imo but then we’ve been two big forwards short for a number of years yet we don’t ever look like we’re prepared to solve the issue. The club admitted they knew size was an issue after the Roosters game in 2014 and 4 years later we’re no closer to a solution.

Re: Do the Team Train in Lilliput : Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:31 pm  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

I do think the RFL stitched up you and Hull to a degree. You both had really tough games after a long trip. There would have been nothing wrong with giving you games against less fancied teams. Those teams wouldn't have complained, because it would have given them the best chance to beat you, but to give away games against top four competitors does seem a bit on the tough side.

I’m not sure who we played was the issue, just when. Those games really should have been played on Sunday.

[DaveO]

Re: Do the Team Train in Lilliput : Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:15 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

100%

The one thing that did me with that Souths game was why did we bother starting a strong team when Souths had named a real mix and match side. I’m guessing we’d have had an idea what Souths we’re doing weeks/months in advance and if so I’d have liked to have seen us fly the likes of Lockers, Clubb, Flower and Leuluai back maybe 4 or 5 days in advance of everyone else.

I don't understand why we played that game at all. Surely the novelty and publicity was to do with the Hull game in the Gong. If the Souths game was to make the package on offer for travelling fans from the UK a viable commitment and more attractive with two games and not one, well all I can say to those fans who went is "you cost Wigan two points"

Re: Do the Team Train in Lilliput : Mon Feb 26, 2018 12:02 am  

DaveO wrote:

I don't understand why we played that game at all. Surely the novelty and publicity was to do with the Hull game in the Gong. If the Souths game was to make the package on offer for travelling fans from the UK a viable commitment and more attractive with two games and not one, well all I can say to those fans who went is "you cost Wigan two points"

Im sure those fans who parted with their hard earned cash to go will be pleased to know it was their fault we lost against Warrington, based on an "If" and absolutely no evidence.

Consider yourselves told off.

(Before you say I did see both emojis but as far as I can tell the second one just basically says their P*** up holiday cost us).

Re: Do the Team Train in Lilliput : Mon Feb 26, 2018 7:41 am  

DaveO wrote:

I don't understand why we played that game at all. Surely the novelty and publicity was to do with the Hull game in the Gong. If the Souths game was to make the package on offer for travelling fans from the UK a viable commitment and more attractive with two games and not one, well all I can say to those fans who went is "you cost Wigan two points"

And it was totally worth it! Your view is incredibly narrow minded.