Wigan are quality but we’re not exactly a million miles off are we? We’ve also got some tremendous prospects coming through….one of whom I believe will be better than Wardle in the not too distant future. Getting Fitzgibbon fully fit is going to be huge and if I was coach I’d be spending a HUGE amount of time on Hayes and Leyland developing an effective kicking game.

Dufty is a fullback though and a better one than field. Field bottled out of a few high balls last night. The only ones he took were when nobody was putting pressure on him.

Wasn't meant as petulant but I take your point.

In my view we are unproven at scrum half and limited at right centre.
We seem to be light in the forwards and our best forward may be leaving. We dont have a reliable goal kicker.

But we will see next season.

Pretty much said this myself regarding those positions and with reports of Russell in this mornings match I’m concerned. I did say when he was announced I did not see him as a replacement for Nicholson and that I’m not sure how we improve on this season.

Like you we will see next season I guess.

Little rumour on our (Wigan's) board that we've signed a young out of contract HB, a six, from you, nothing confirmed, just wondering if you've heard any whispers ?

Yeh it’s all part of a swap deal for French and Smith

If that’s true maybe we’ll see a massive dummy spit from Burgess like the ‘likeable’ Peet.

Sounds like we've got a blinder then, can't wait to see him

Can’t find this story which thread is it in.

The George Hirst thread, think it was page 2

Quote ="ratticusfinch"If that’s true maybe we’ll see a massive dummy spit from Burgess like the ‘likeable’ Peet.'" Peet saw his arris good and proper over Nicholson. His face is a picture. About as classy as those Wigan fans singing "you're sh it" with 3 mins to go last night, https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... moralising

Quote ="ratticusfinch"If that’s true maybe we’ll see a massive dummy spit from Burgess like the ‘likeable’ Peet.'" Peet saw his arris good and proper over Nicholson. His face is a picture. About as classy as those Wigan fans singing "you're sh it" with 3 mins to go last night, https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... moralising

He's very 'umble. Provided things go his way.

Quote ="Wires71"Peet saw his arris good and proper over Nicholson. His face is a picture. About as classy as those Wigan fans singing "you're sh it" with 3 mins to go last night, https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... moralising'" It is still one of the most laughable outbursts I can remember. Not least because Nicholson is a Halifax lad who learnedhis rugby at Siddal, he is not some Wiganer raised on pie barms.

Quote ="Wires71"Peet saw his arris good and proper over Nicholson. His face is a picture. About as classy as those Wigan fans singing "you're sh it" with 3 mins to go last night, https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... moralising'" It is still one of the most laughable outbursts I can remember. Not least because Nicholson is a Halifax lad who learnedhis rugby at Siddal, he is not some Wiganer raised on pie barms.

I see we have swung full circle from "Tony Smith's teams peak too early by winning the LLS. Look at McDermott's Leeds - they finish 5th and peak at the right time".

To quote a very wise man “Say what you see”.

You can be the best team by a mile and win the LLS at a canter, but it means nothing if you then lose when it counts. See Cas in 2017. Ultimately you need to put yourself in a position to win two games at the end of the season, and then win them. Wigan, Saints, and for many years Leeds, are really good at that.

The point is by winning the LLS you give yourself the best path to the final and should be in the best shape. It obviously does not guarantee you will win the GF. I thought I was stating the bleeding obvious…

Sally was being a bit mischievous. The format has changed many times over the years. I agree with you that 1st or 2nd is the most advantageous place to finish. I said this at the start of the season but to win SL the recipe is simple. A team will need to win > 75% of league games, win a home playoff game, then win the final. This will mean a season long effort and respecting all league games. I can't help feel the Vegas game will become a distraction and cause a recovery upset in the games afterwards.

This is why I started the Wigan v Wire in Vegas thread. Even though Penrith said they not playing the WCC game Radlinski is going to try to get it on.

One possible way is they switch games in Vegas and we play Cronulla. I am 100% against that for the reasons you give above.

You can bet that whilst we are on the PR stunt in Vegas, Hull KR won't mind sitting that one out and concentrating on the mundane business of winning league games. All about priorities.

As it stands I don’t mind the game out there with Wigan as it’s classed as a league game and hopefully it sells the game to a wider audience for the good of Super League.

I take your point. Just as the Milwaukee game did. (one for our older readers)



But afterwards when we slump and lose at home due to insufficient recovery etc

The only hope I have of the Vegas game is it creates a catalyst for something to happen between the NRL and Super League.

I remember that game I have a commemorative shirt from that game. And you are right about recovery time. In the beginning I was not a fan of this game but given it’s classed as a league game I came to accept it and hopefully it as some commercial benefit for the game over here.

How is playing a game in an empty stadium, in a country that doesn’t care one bit about rugby league “good for super league”?

Call it for what it is. A jolly

Agreed.

The last 6 grand finals have been won by teams finishing 1st. The last 11 have been won by teams finishing 1st or 2nd.

On that basis, and because you're Warrington, you had slim chance from 3rd.