Have lost a massive amount of weight in the off season. Ran into most of them the last couple of weeks and there is a massive difference in body shape. The likes of Wilkin and Wheeler have totally different frames.

Hard work in training pays off!!

If Wheeler loses any weight, he is in danger of becoming even more invisible.

I think the younger players + wilkin will benefit most from the new fitness regime. However it wasn't all bad last year, roby was as good if not better than in the year he won mos

I'm sorry but you've lost me there... who is this Wheeler?

Out of order.

A player Wigan forced you to pay over the odds for.



Or maybe not, but only time will time will tell.

Good to hear. If they were fat and feigning injury I would hate them slightly more.

The key is getting them at their optimum playing weight.

That doesnt necessarily mean losing weight. In some players they may perform better with a few pounds put on.

Its upto the fitness guys to work out whats best for a player, taking into account their position and role within the team for the forthcoming season

Certainly Roby seemed to be at optimum weight last year.
While the extra timber on Wilkin reduced his speed and mobility.

From looking at Wilkins slmiline physique, i reckon he will be used a lot wider out this year. Fulfilling the wide running backrower role.

I personally think that this season with correct planning we could have an excellent balance within the pack of size and pace. Being able to go big, or fast depending on the opposition.

Wheeler needed to lose weight. He looked a right pudding last season.

I don't see why Saint's players losing weight during preseason should be considered a good thing. When Maguire joined Wigan he stated that our players weren't big enough or fast enough for his liking, so he went about increasing both. Now for the Saints fans out there who think their players are to big, I never noticed that they ever looked physically bigger than their opposition, certainly not when playing Wigan this year. If anything it was slightly the other way around.

I think the key is, or certainly has been at Wigan is tailoring training around individuals rather than as a collective group. We all have our strength and weaknesses, so by tailoring training around that to overcome the varying deficiencies within a group of players. For example you can't artificially manufacture pace. If player hasn't got any to begin with their unlikely to develop much more through training. All you can do is make sure that they perform somewhere close to their potential.

We were lucky at Wigan that Maguire's earliest background is in fitness and conditioning, so that coupled with Mark Bitcon who we recruited at the start of 2010 has given us a real boost. I haven't heard anything about Saint's recruiting a new head of strength and conditioning, so I'm guessing you'll be going with the same guy you've had since Apollo left. Which leaves me wondering whether Royce has a background similar to Madge in fitness and conditioning?

If I were part of the Saints coaching setup my number one aim however would be to eliminate the amount of injury's that players seem to suffer at the club. All clubs from time to time go through a bad patch injury wise, but Saints over these last few years have really been hit hard by it. Making me thing it's more than just bad luck.

You are confusing 'bigger' with 'fatter'. We are talking about fat, not muscle or even frame size. There were a number of our players who looked like teletubbies last season, which only serves to slow them down and undermines their fitness.


Absolutely. But pace will increase if they don't have to cart flab around the pitch.


Many Saints fans came to the same conclusion.

Is there a single topic this guy doesn't troll on?

Alas, it seems not.

Zip them up when you're done.

Your point on injuries is a good one, but on your point about size, we were the wrong type of big last season. It was the most immobile Saints' side I have ever seen.

So you don't think Wigan made Wheeler an offer which Saints bettered.

Like you thought I was trolling when I told you that Saints had signed Perry, LMS and Shenton, well before those signings were confirmed.

Oh and when I said that Meninga would not come to Saints, but Simmons would be your new coach.

Or as a few on here will tell you that I informed them that Soliola had signed for Saints well before it was announced.

If that's trolling, then yes I suppose I am.

Whenever you post anything constructive about RL. I'll take notice.

End of lesson.

I agree with Don

what about the time you told us KC had played on a year too long

Or that EVERY saints player is a closet wigan supporter

sick and tired or reading your version of the truth on EVERY thread - post on the wigan board for a change.

I do think KC played year maybe two to long. (my opinion)
Eastmond and Dean were Wigan supporters, ask them.

If your sick and tired then don't read them or comment.

I was correct about, LMS, Meninga, Perry, Simmons and Soliola.
Wigan pulled out of the Shenton auction.

Wigan put an offer to Wheeler (why I don't understand but that's just my opinion) which Saints bettered.

All that is true, if you don't want to believe it then don't.
Or maybe I just guessed right (I'll check my lottery numbers tonight)

Thank god there are some supporters on here with whom a decent RL discussion is possible, and a bit of banter.

I never said Eastmond had signed for Sale.

The Shenton, LMS and Perry signings were not public knowledge when I posted.

Feel free to go back through my posts to prove me wrong.

To help you on the Eastmond to Sale one it was late July early August 2009.

Keep me posted.

Ok but only If you hold your breath until I get back to you.

BUT we KNOW your opinion - every wigan player is better than a saints player - quite why we bother sometimes is beyond me!

As for not reading your comments - its impossible you post on every thread, and if anyone disagrees with you it's your opinion - well I repeat go and post some opinion on the wigan board. Although I dont suppose eulogising about super sam has the same impact when everyone agrees.

Who gives a rat's backside?


Who gives a rat's backside?


Who gives a rat's backside?


Who gives a rat's backside?


Yes you are, you sad old man.


Some of us don't want you to take notice. Some of us want you to go and post on the Wigan board.

The MAJORITY of my posts are on the Wigan board, thank you.
And I have many good discussions on there. It may surprise you to know that there are some who have different views.



I'm not a sad old man, age is only in the mind and I'm quite happy especially after the 2010 season.

You are correct in that some of you don't want to take notice.
"There are none so blind as those that will not see" comes to mind.

Have a fun season.


You've addressed one problem (an ageing squad) which I had warned you about. Luckily they have have been replaced with mediocrity.

I have never had a problem with anyone disagreeing with me, or providing a reasoned argument. Free speech should be encouraged (who gives a rats backside is a failed response)