You've seen plenty of tackles, but you have no idea as to what the tackler intended to do at that moment - none of us do. Parents are quite correct to be ''concerned about the technique'', but that isn't to say that it's a deliberate attempt to injure people, more that the technique itself can be dangerous if not carefully and properly managed and applied.

Oh, and before you talk about me, or any other Wigan fans being 'DUMB', learn some basic grammar.

Are you seriously suggesting that Maguire has trained the likes of Lima and Hoffman to 'carefully and properly manage and apply' their tackle technique?! That's the most ridiculous statement I've heard throughout this discussion and is not in any way borne out by the evidence that's before our very eyes on a weekly basis.

Two men hold up the tackled player - a third man barrels into his standing leg with no regard to the possible consequences; there is nothing careful or managed about that, as you well know.

Sheesh - as I've said before, it's like a cult.

Only 'likely' to maim? Are you mellowing?

Like I say, must be the world's worst coach - I mean, after all he's been trying to get players maimed for two years now and not maimed a single one!

Do you condone the high shots on Tomkins week in, week out, or is it OK that he gets maimed? After all ( repeat post alert) he does sometimes milk a penalty and NO OTHER PLAYER in rugby league EVER does that do they?

Get a grip. Even Saint Sinfield (whom I respect) spends a lot of time trying to get penalties (with constant whining in his case)

You said it

It amazes me that four pages of bile are spewed here. If I go and look at the last game, I don't see any real significance between Wigan and Saints tactics, although I do see some differences in execution - a good few trapped arms of Wigan players, the same "offence" which got S Tomkins in trouble.

The difference between Wigan/Warrington and the rest of SL is, nothing other than skill in executing the same technique. I would argue that Warrington are not as good as the technique as Wigan, simply because the level of whinging isn't the same. Saints are the same, as are Leeds. Huddersfield were in the same group with a good positional kicker but lost form.

With the greatest of respect, that's a load of knackers.

Wigan have been one of the most physical teams in the comp for longer than McG's reign. Referees dont seem to have a big problem with how they play. They are just a physical, rough and tough team that for the most part are within the rules. I dont want to see a super fast PTB, sanitised touch and pass style of play. This also does not help our players when it comes to playing the Aussies who control the PTB well either imo. This has been proven lately when our halves cannot play at the international level because the defensive line is set (due to the oppositions control of the ruck), and they cant rely on speed and footwork. All our halves have to do in SL against the majority of teams is wait for a quick PTB and run through big gaps in the line. For me Wigan play very hard and control the play the ball very well. Nothing wrong with that. If it against the rules then they will get penalised.

So people seriously believe that Maguire - or any coach - would send his players out with instructions to try to seriously injure opponents? Unbelievable.

What Maguire was trying to do was get Wigan to control the opposition in the tackle, therefore slowing down the PTB and allowing the defence to get reset. That's what all NRL teams do, albeit the Storm are the best at that particular area (and regularly topping player polls of dirtiest opponents interestingly).

In fact the oddity is that hardly any other SL team tries this - the Wire-Leeds game was seemingly played by both sides with no regard at all for controlling the PTB (which made for a very fast game but not one they'd get away with vs an NRL side).

This defensive technique can go wrong, as can any tackle. Particularly when you've got someone like Lima who seems not to be the brightest player - and quite possibly individually a dirty so and so. I can also understand people not liking it as a spectacle. But its a nonsense to suggest that the intent is to injure players - the intent is to win games.

But this then goes back to what Mick Potter said. If you know said techniques are likely to result in injuries to opposition players, should you be using them in the first place? Potter questioned the ethics at Wigan and I agree with him. It has happened too many times this season to not be a deliberate ploy.

Can you cite these examples of players being injured? Given the number of games Wigan have played, doesn't it seem a bit odd that techniques you say are 'likely' to result in injuries haven't led to such a thing? Can you show anything to suggest more players have been injured by Wigan than any other opponent?

Sense at last,

Plenty of players have been injured by their tackling techniques. Solomona was a big story, but the likes of Jake Emmit had his season finished by Lima and I'm sure a few more did.

Saints v Wigan game. There were two tackle between 60-70m where a saints player came in as 3rd man and 'attacked' the legs of the wigan player. There was also a possible chicken wing by Dixon.

Any outcry? Any injuries. Any lynch mob after Simmons?

If it isn't wigan, or his name isn't lima then it isn't commented on.

Rubbish. Don't believe that for a second. Tell me the exact minutes and I'll check it out.

Just about every coach in the NRL has complained about Melbourne's approach and most in SL about Wigan's. Can you not see some link there?

Those tackles are not necessaily put in with [iintent[/i to injure, but with total disregard for the [ipotential[/i to injure, which fits with the 'win at all costs' culture that appears to have been created at Wigan.

Solomona was a 'big story' because Tony Smith whinged like a little girl.

That was a perfectly legitimate tackle.

So i guess if Craig Bellamy and Mike Maguire were available all of those clubs that have complained would not be interested in employing them?

Of course they would.

If you have some stats showing the amount of career ending / threatening tackles that Melbourne / Wigan have made compared to other clubs then im all ears.

How did you decide that Wigan are the biggest Club in the World based on what measurement?

Wigans loss to St George in the WCC was not that close in reality, St George went up a gear when ever they had to and handed Wigan a master class in how to play.

Based on semi-pro trophies. They can't be bettered.

Just because Brisbane is a bigger club than Wigan doesn't make it a bigger club than Wigan.

Bellamy has won nothing at Melbourne and Maguire fluked a Grand Final at Wigan. Neither are in the top eschelon of coaching.

Maguire has shown himself to be a short sighted coach lacking in tactical depth. Once Royce figured out a masterplan he was beaten. Had Maguire rested his key players and brought through some of the much vaunted youth Wigan might not have limped so pathetically out of the playoffs.

he did'nt butcher the game and I think most if not all clubs over here would defo have him as head coach just look at what he has done with wigan in the 2 years he was here and i think it was clever what he done.

But Trophies won from different competitions is not necessaries a yardstick.
That is not comparing Apples with Apples, Wigan were a Shark swimming with minnows for a decade and they were expected to win nearly everything.

The biggest Club in the game is the one that has the most fans, the biggest crowds, generates the most revenue etc.

The fact that South Sydney and St George have won plenty of titles in the past does not make them contenders for the biggest Club in the Game nowadays.


The fact they employed an assistant NRL Coach who left at the first opportunity to get a first grade spot in the NRL is an indicator of Wigans current standing.
In my opinion...

Sorry, I forgot you were Australian, it probably needed a smiley.