Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 11:09 am  

Let's have a look at Leeds last night and see if the same happened to Wigan how it would look.
Five Internationals in the backs played, with a winger and centre missing.

If that was Wigan we would bring in Ainscough and put Goulding to centre.
Leeds had two props missing.
Wigan could start with O'Carroll and Prescott and still have Feka on the bench.
Leeds had Eastwood, Sinfield and Ablett missing.
Wigan could have Hansen, Bailey and O'Loughin out, and still have Mossop, Joel Tomkins and Liam Farrell.

This is Leeds first choice 17
Webb
Hall
Senior
Delaney
Donald
Mcguire
Burrow
Peacock
Buderus
Leuleui
Jjb
Ablett
Sinfield

Beastwood
Ali
Bailey
Diskin.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 11:09 am  

If it was first past the winning line, Leeds would not have lost as many as they have upto now. Just goes to show that you can take it easy for certain parts of the season and still make the semi's, grand final....

Jez if it was the same in Footy, you'd even put money on Liverpool!!!

Fully fit Leeds will win it again...

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:00 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Let's have a look at Leeds last night and see if the same happened to Wigan how it would look.
Five Internationals in the backs played, with a winger and centre missing.

If that was Wigan we would bring in Ainscough and put Goulding to centre.
Leeds had two props missing.
Wigan could start with O'Carroll and Prescott and still have Feka on the bench.
Leeds had Eastwood, Sinfield and Ablett missing.
Wigan could have Hansen, Bailey and O'Loughin out, and still have Mossop, Joel Tomkins and Liam Farrell.

This is Leeds first choice 17
Webb
Hall
Senior
Delaney
Donald
Mcguire
Burrow
Peacock
Buderus
Leuleui
Jjb
Ablett
Sinfield

Beastwood
Ali
Bailey
Diskin.

So your team would have been

Phelps
Ainscough
Goulding
Carmont
Richards
Tomkins
Leuluai
O'Carroll
Riddell
Fielden (taking your two best props out)
Tomkins
Mossop
Farrell

Feka
McIlorum
Deacon
Davies/Tuson

IMO, that team would lose by more than 20 to Leeds best 17.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:12 pm  

I don't think they would lose by 20 especially if Leeds didn't have any fit subs for half the game.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:21 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I don't think they would lose by 20 especially if Leeds didn't have any fit subs for half the game.

That pack would be eaten alive by Leeds first choice, let's not get silly.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 1:01 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I don't think they would lose by 20 especially if Leeds didn't have any fit subs for half the game.

I do. Just like last night, you would be competitive for 60 minutes and the constant wearing down of your forwards would tell late on. I'm not dissing Wigan but your squad depth is no better than Leeds so don't get too carried away. Had Peacock and Leuluai played last night you'd still have won but it would have been a lot closer.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 1:09 pm  

If Wigan had 9 players out and went to Headingley to face a full strength, in form Leeds I reckon Wigan would lose by alot more 20 points.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 1:27 pm  

Sthelens RLFC wrote:

I really can't pick it. The addition of Brough to Huddersfield ranks gives them a huge chance as well. It may well be the same order as last season but there's a gnats bollock between the lot of 'em!

I really feel that it may come down to the team with least injuries in October as it stands. Plenty of rugby to be played before then obviously but I don't seen any one team running away with the shield and SAints could conceivably come anywhere from 1st to 5th as far as I'm concerned.

It's going to be exciting that for sure and it's nice to see 4 or 5 teams who look pretty even up at the top instead of just you guys and Leeds.

We do look at good side but we're yet to play really well away from home and I worry if our pack can keep the same intensity up all year. The younger members of the pack have been sensational so far but it's a long season.

We'll be top 4 without a doubt imo but the play offs will be a whole new ball game.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 1:31 pm  

Blobbynator wrote:

If Wigan had 9 players out and went to Headingley to face a full strength, in form Leeds I reckon Wigan would lose by alot more 20 points.

And your Entitled to your opinion of course, I reckon we'd still give em a game.

I seem to remember going to The Current Champs,Saints missing 1/2 dozen 1st teamers being 20 points down & Winning

I remember Saints coming to ours with a Full team and we were missing 9/10 first choice regulars and beating you?

We've beat Leeds 4 or 5 times when they've had a full team last couple of years so who's to say we wouldn't have done it Again?

I would argue (And it's only my opinion of course) that Wigan's "Squad" is as good as anyones out there inc Leeds.

1st 17 I would say Leeds/Saints then Wigan/Warrington/Hudds but with equal injury situations over a season I reckon our squad would be as much if not more capable of dealing with it than anyone other than Leeds.

Re: Wigan the new champions : Sat Mar 27, 2010 1:33 pm  

Blobbynator wrote:

If Wigan had 9 players out and went to Headingley to face a full strength, in form Leeds I reckon Wigan would lose by alot more 20 points.

I think Wigans strength in depth was overlooked by alot of people in pre season and still is being now tbh. To lose 9 players may be abit excessive but we could cope with 4 or 5 injuries pretty well imo. We didn't have Phelps, Hansen, Deacon, Paleaaesina, Pryce, Ainscough, Farrell etc playing last night and they'd all do a good job in the first team(well maybe not Pryce but he's got some experience).

The worry I have with our side is wheather it contains quite enough quality in the first choice 17 to win a trophy this year but I have no worries about our depth at all.

Depth wise I think we've just about got the best options in superleague.