Oldham with all due respect were an NL2 club and with or without 13 men they looked better than us. We only started to score once they tired and that you would expect against part-time opposition. It wasn't good enough.

For me it was clear from this one game that we were going in the wrong direction for the season. If Oldham could make us look ordinary then what of Leigh, Halifax, Toulouse? The natural order of things on the National Leagues is the team with the full-time squad and the biggest crowds goes through the year winning the title with seemingly little effort. Huddersfield (undefeated I think), Salford twice etc. This doesn't seem to be the case with Widnes and its not acceptable.

I was looking round the squad and they liked size, we lacked big names. Oldham had more than we did! It wasn't something that was going to be rectified by playing a few games. We looked worse than last year and that team was built by scratch.

I wouldn't say it was knee jerk I just think they realised they'd made a mistake giving him another contract and they could see how clear the indicators were that it wasn't going to be an different this year. We can't afford to waste a year. Plus we got 2800 for the game which was OK for the NRC but I think Saturday would have saw another 500 shaved off that at least. Its likely Steve O' realised just how unpopular he was with fans and how that could impact money and crowds, which are important for the whole franchise malarkey.

I concur, its like the Premier League starting the season with 4 rounds of the Carling Cup before starting the League.

Franchise application aside I really don't care if we win it or not. I was mildly happy when we won it last time but it didn't mean anything.

Really?

So, no one wants to start with the Northern Rail Cup then ?

With an 11-team league (20 games) would you want the season to end in July, then, like in 2001 ? I wouldn't.

I can't see anything wrong with starting the season in this manner as it allows the coaches to fine-tune their squads ahead of their respective Championship seasons without any undue pressure.

Except when you're bad enough to lose abysmally at home to a part-time side from a lower division the knives are out nice and early



He was always on borrowed time. Kurt Sorensen anyone ? He wasn't photographed in Widnes' new kit for nothing in Oz last year.....watch this space.

Quote ="miscreant"So, no one wants to start with the Northern Rail Cup then ? With an 11-team league (20 games) would you want the season to end in July, then, like in 2001 ? I wouldn't. I can't see anything wrong with starting the season in this manner as it allows the coaches to fine-tune their squads ahead of their respective Championship seasons without any undue pressure. Except when you're bad enough to lose abysmally at home to a part-time side from a lower division the knives are out nice and early He was always on borrowed time. Kurt Sorensen anyone ? He wasn't photographed in Widnes' new kit for nothing in Oz last year.....watch this space.'" Firstly it wasn't an abysmal loss, Oldham played very well. Me and my brother have been critics of the Nothing Rail cup for a long time. Heres a little example from 2007 when it wasn't even pre-season, viewtopic.php? ... highlight= It just guarantees that when the real season starts there is about half of the excitement that there would have been.

Quote ="miscreant"So, no one wants to start with the Northern Rail Cup then ? With an 11-team league (20 games) would you want the season to end in July, then, like in 2001 ? I wouldn't. I can't see anything wrong with starting the season in this manner as it allows the coaches to fine-tune their squads ahead of their respective Championship seasons without any undue pressure. Except when you're bad enough to lose abysmally at home to a part-time side from a lower division the knives are out nice and early He was always on borrowed time. Kurt Sorensen anyone ? He wasn't photographed in Widnes' new kit for nothing in Oz last year.....watch this space.'" Firstly it wasn't an abysmal loss, Oldham played very well. Me and my brother have been critics of the Nothing Rail cup for a long time. Heres a little example from 2007 when it wasn't even pre-season, viewtopic.php? ... highlight= It just guarantees that when the real season starts there is about half of the excitement that there would have been.

Obviously you don't realise that Ste mac was in his 4th year at the club?

Think he meant Wigan tbh.

Brain nobles p45 is beeing written as i type this i suspect!

Noble has to be under pressure now, especially with it being Wigan. Not known for their patience over in Wigan.

They certainly haven't shown any patience with young players over the years.

e.g Endacott losing 3 games in a row. Sound familiar.

Can't see Noble having much longer.

Its similar to Widnes and McCormack, he's had the job a few years now and looking at the start of the season they aren't going in the right direction. He's had a couple of years to build a side and they don't look very good.

They might have only lost 3 games but they've lost to 3 teams that finished in the bottom 5 last year.

At least theres no relegation eh?

Should be Paul Kidd

we are not the sameclub under Lenegan

Unfortunately

Lenegan has been quoted as saying he has full confidence in the coaching staff.

Sadly for Wigan Brian Noble is going no-where.

The rest of super league must be thrilled.

PLEASE don't let him be fired before 20.00 hours next Saturday!

You a Quins fan then ?

Made up fact of the day.

Can I second that.

Noble will not go till the end of the season, IL will not want to pay him off.

I just feel sorry for the Sky subscribers who have to put up with us next Saturday.

Although most of them will probably get the tissues out over it.

Works better for me

One of the chains has stopped taking bets on Noble getting sacked next.

Hes already gone if the rumours are to be believed