And IMO

Clarke and Higham are internationals and still not our first choice hooker
Harrison is an international
and Leuluai and Carmont may get into any other superleague squad but not ours

So perhaps the Wigan players are average after all??????

Should be a great game, looking forward to it. Hoping for a Wire win just because they play the more entertaining rugby. Also disagree with Leuluai being average, I think he's a top player.

In the first team, possibly not given most sides in the top 8 have a good quality Scrum Half. But the initial point was that he wouldn't make the squad.

I'd imagine Rovers would like him in their squad given his versatility and the fact that they're missing their SH for a while. Ditto St.Helens. Hudds and yourselves have plenty of players for that position, so he wouldn't get in there.

I rate Leuluai quite highly, but as a hooker not a scrum half. Mcllorum is just a distributer, and whilst he's a solid defender, I don't think he's the type to take control of the ruck.

Also the guy who thought Hansen is better than Harrison is a little blinkered. I'd put them on a par at best.

My intial point was them not making the seventeen man squad. They'd probably get a gig at Keighley away or if we had a run of injuries. There are players in our team that wouldn't get into Wigan's. Swings and roundabouts, it isn't against the law to amdit that all of your players aren't world class. Unless you're Saints.

McIlurum is a top hooker, wouldnt call him average. Leuluai a bit over rated IMO. BRING ON TOMMORROW ( and hopefully its beer garden weather for the pre match drinks)

Who would you say were the average players in the Warrington 17?

To be honest, there aren't any
OK, there are some who aren't as good as others, but that's life
Higham isn't the best player in SL, but is still agood SL player
Clarke is at the twilight of his career, but is still more than effective at what he brings to our game (distribution, backing up, tackling)
Grix is far from average
Mitchell is growing in confidence in our set up again, after not getting into our 17 man squad for a while

They are probably the nearest that you'd call our "poorer players" from our 17, but NO WAY, would you call them even average.

Chris Riley
Ryan Atkins
Richie Myler(only 20)
Mickey Higham
Simon Grix
Lee Mitchell
Matty Blythe.

Alot of our players are made to look better by the supporting cast as well. All do a decent job and what is asked of them. Not saying they're bad players.

What this guy said!
When STomkins, Finch, Deacon, Leuluai & McIllorum are all fit, I think we'll find McIllorum dumped to the bench. He's average at best.


More than blinkered, that's just Cherry & S*ite trashtalk!

do me a favour

That's why I didn't disagree with your description of Goulding, for instance, as 'average'.

More comedy genius.

Whilst Carmont's signing at the time could have been questioned he has provied an excellent acquisition and would be a shoe-in in our squad and possibly ahead of Atkins on form. Leuluai would also be a welcome addition to our or any other SL squad (but not on the wages he gets at Wigan).

I purposedly left Rogues' statement on these two (and his reference to McCarthy) out of my quote.

Goulding is average!

That's something I as Wigan fan harped on about all last year. Games we lost were because we were dominated down the middle. Thankfully we've corrected that this year by the signing Hoffman and Lima. Now although we'll be missing Fielden and Joel, two big meter makers for ourselves, Mossop and Prescott have really stepped up this year. We may well lose on Friday night, but I'm pretty confident it won't be down to being beaten by the Wire pack.

I'll have to disagree. You tell me who that Carmont is better than in the top 4 then. I don't deny he has talent but the teams I mentioned do need or want him.

Leuluai is a good hooker. But in the halves is very two dimensional. Again tell me where he is better in either the halves or as hooker.

We have 3 international hookers, Saints have the best British hooker in the world, Leeds have Buderus. HE wouldn't get an offer anywhere in the halves. Seems very average there to me.

You have three ex International hookers in your squad. McIlorum has been selected ahead of your two English hookers for the England squad.

My dad's bigger than your dad.

And my mum's bigger than your dad too.

(note: only those who know my mum will appreciate the humour)

For that reason... I'm out.

I'd love to see a complete neutral pro coach of the highest standing cherry pick Wigan and Wires' best 17 throw them together and see which 17 they'd come up with.
Then we could stop bickering, till then, pah.

....yes, by MacBanana

If McIlorum is any where near Test match quality, I will show my cute little bottom in any street in Wigan (on second thoughts...better not, eh)

How much is Leuluai on then?

Yet another Wigan hating thread on the Wire forum no surprise there then, There are NO "average" players in the Wigan squad I think being Super League Champions proves that we have the best squad in Super League we also have the best youth system in England, Wire also have virtually no "average" players hence back to back Cups to suggest a player who has Super League, 4 Nations & a World Cup winners medals to his name aswell as Grand Final Man of the Match is frankly laughable or Comedy Genius as you lot put it, Hansen average do ME a favour, Carmont wasn't very "average" in the World Club Challenge, Goulding Super League's 2nd top try scorer last year is VERY "average" notice no Wire "fan" calling Hicks or Riley "average", Ben Harrison has great potential but to say he is better than Hansen is VERY blinkered and people say we are the arrogant ones despite the fact our past History and last year seem to give us the right to be arrogant as we have damn well earned it after what we went through in 06.

You believe your hype, we'll believe ours

...and breathe