https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-he ... gue-season

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-he ... gue-season

I think we’ll go pretty well this year despite being written off by a lot of journalists and ex players in newspapers and on the radio. I sense a real determination about the place to prove a few people wrong. The spirit at Leigh on Sunday seemed much better and something I’ve been wanting to see for ages happened, the players looked like they enjoyed themselves and enjoyed their teammates successes (The Hamlin and Shorrocks try’s in particular).

If we want it enough then a top four place will be ours. I genuinely believe there isn’t a squad with more talent in then ours with the likes of Sam Tomkins, Gildart, Burgess, Williams, Bateman, Farrell, O’Loughlin etc. We’re certainly not in a St Helens like position of 2016/17 of wanting our coach to pull something out the bag but then looking around and seeing only the likes of Roby, Walmsley and Percival as genuine top class players (that’s not to bag Saints as they’re now much improved if a little over reliant on some Barba magic I’d expect).

I feel optimistic.

Of course I like anyone could criticise certain areas and want improvement or a new signing or two, but that's the reality of the game, I imagine most fans have doubts about their team and at times feel their team needs a few adjustments or additional personal, but it is what it is.

We seem to have depth in the forwards, options in the spine and a good mix of experience and youth despite losing a few senior players in the offseason.

I think it's now up to Wane and the coaching staff to lead the team to success, I feel this season is particularly crucial to Wane, who I believe will be shown the door/leave if we have another poor season.

I can't wait for the new season, intrigued with how we perform, secretly with high expectations for 2018.

I'm hopeful rather than expectant. Having said that, I genuinely fancied us to win both domestic trophies last year after we won the WCC, and look how that turned out! The players are talented enough to win trophies, but the way so many big names underperformed last year, and our trend of picking up so many injuries, are both concerning. Competition will be fierce this year as well, 4 semi final spots between us, Cas, Hull, Leeds, Saints and Wire, and that's before you factor in any of the other teams having an unexpected big year.

The one thing I will say is that if things don’t go well, I think Wane will be in for a rough ride (if we don’t have 10+ players injured at a time) because he has enough talent available to him for him to get us in the top four and competing for trophies.

There’s no excuses in this early part of the season.

Wane is under huge pressure this season and if we start poorly I don't think he will survive till the end of the season.

There are a number of issues that will need to happen/improve for the club to challenge for honours:

1. The props to play like props and lay a foundation for the backs. None of the lazy so and so shirking that plagued last season.

2. Find a halfback that can play with Williams.

3. sort out the woeful long range kicking game.

4. Hope a left centre can play right centre.

5. Actually start winning games when the captain doesn't play.

If you asked me where I think we will finish this season, I couldn't at the moment, only to say we could finish anyway between 1st and 9th. I wouldn't be surprised if we finished top and I wouldn't be surprise if we were this year's Leeds or Warrington in the middle 8s.

I'm optimistic.
Good set of forwards who are capable of getting the team on the front foot.
Quality half backs with guile and pace.
Threequarters who are fast and skilfull.
Altogether a good combination.
Top four and a trophy in 2018.

There is absolutely zero chance of us being anywhere but top 6. Its a poor league and our players more than match any other squad in the league. I dont see why people are so negative. With 2 games to go last season we were 3rd. 2 bad results wont suddenly mean we finish bottom 4

1. Props 'surrender' early to find their front for a quick play the ball to catch the defence off guard for a quick attack. It's a tactic.

2. Halfbacks don't play together, one controls left side, one controls right. It's not 1985 anymore.

3. Brought in Charlie Hodgson. This happened a few months back.

4. Sarge? He's played FB and HB. His passing game should be good.

5. Agree with this one.

Leeds where champions the season before going into the middle 8s.

Warrington got to the grand final the season before going into the middle 8s.

We actually finished 7th before the split (only 3 points above Warrington). I fail to see how being 3rd with two games to go and actually finishing 6th in the Super 8s is some kind of shield from going into the middle 8s. Like I said I wouldn't be surprised if we finished anywhere between 1st and 9th.

1. It's a tactic that isn't working, especially when some props take the ball in less than 10 times the entire game.

2. I'm aware of how the halves play it was more a general phrase to find another half, obviously could have worded it better.

3. Radlinski only mentions goal kicking in terms of employing Hodgson "Our goal kicking is an area that needs some attention and we hope that by bringing Charlie on board to work with our guys, our kicking percentages will improve in 2018.". Be interesting if he is helping with other general kicking.

4. Unfortunately Sarge is a left centre due to his dominant side and step. The fact he played his best rugby for us at fullback makes me wonder why we didn't sign a specialist right centre.

5. Unfortunately this one worries me the most.

Hard to say if the prop tactic is working or not. Even in a terrible season we won the WCC and make it to the final of the CC.
Wane moved Tommy to 9 and has options of Powell, Tomkins, Escare and Sharrocks to play in the halves, not to mention Lockers can also play there. This issue is being addressed.
Pretty sure Hodgson will be helping will all areas of kicking, regardless this issue is clearly being addressed.
Sarge has played FB and in the halves, I don't understand why you think he can only side-step one way? Baffling.
5. Time will tell.

I honestly think Wane and Wigan have addressed all your issues.

Only time will tell if the issues have been addressed or not. Your confidence seems to be based on hope rather than evidence. We'll need to wait until the season progresses before we actually have an answer.

I wish we did have halves that played like it was 1985. I long for the days to return where we had halves that can play with each other rather than just left or just right.

Sadly the 10 yard rule and infinite subs have taken away the need for a specialist half back, basic ball skills and a bit of pace are the skillset nowadays.

I'll be amazed if we finish anywhere below last years position, I quite fancy us top 2 if Im honest.

Good points very well made..

No props, no pots.

I have a sneaking feeling we'll be back to form this year. The way we played against Leigh filled me with optimism that the problem areas were being addressed. The props ran it in hard, the kicking game from both Sams was a big improvement on last year and, along with the return of Escare who we saw last season has a more than useful kicking game, that should only improve as the season progresses and combinations settle.

The distribution from dummy half was also much improved with Tommy at 9. In fact I was surprised just how much quicker it was. Given that TL also brings a running game to the position, something we haven't had in quite a while, coupled with the guile of Ganson, I feel that we will have more options and creativity from Hooker.

One or two players look like they've upped their game. Navarette in particular looks to have taken several steps forward and, along with the terrific showing from Hamlin and the return to full fitness of Clubb and Flower, there should be genuine competition for places in the front row.

Last but not least we won without SOL! Only a pre season friendly maybe, but one giant leap for mankind nonetheless! Haha

I may be getting confused here but to my mind I always felt Sarginson looked like he’d be a better fit over on the right. The reason being that he seems to love that step back to the right, which over on the left kept taking him away from his winger (which was hugely frustrating).

On that right side if he straightens and then goes right that should see him being able to link with his winger on far more occasions. If the space becomes tight then as is the norm, the winger comes inside to give his centre an option.

Sarge needs to watch endless clips of George Carmont and see what a truly great winger does and doesn't do.

I guarantee I will be tapping at this keyboard in 2 months time frustrated at the lack of passes our winger gets - mark my words!

This is so pessimistic. Wigan have addressed the issues with rearranging positioning, bringing in a kicking coach etc, this is evidence based, from this I have hope. What more do you want at this stage? For one I'm pleased we've addressed issues. Like I said, big season for Wane. If he doesn't perform as a head coach it's possible it could be his last.

Debatable. When a team is totally lead around the field by an 'off the cuff' creative half, the team becomes dependent on their creativity to make things happen, when they're injured and replace the whole team looks completely different as they've been dependent on that one player, the old school 7.

Now with structures, a team and the halves play to to the structure meaning there's less impact on losing a star half.

A good argument case study would be Castleford with Rangi v Cas without Rangi. They were often dependent on flashes of his individual skill and flair to breakdown the defence. Now they play much more structured and are a far better team.

It's not pessimistic, it's waiting for [uevidence[/u that things are actually going to change on the field. Given the season hasn't even started yet we don't know if the changes being made will actually address the issues - if not done correctly they could make things worse.

Like I said (on more than one occasion) no one knows how things will pan out. I hope we sort things out and win every game and every trophy on offer but I'm not going to be a happy clapper or doom monger at this stage.

The split half’s thing is an interesting one and not as clear cut as many seem to think. It only really applies when the PTM is somewhere near the middle of the pitch, in that situation having a half back on each side gives the team an option of which way to go and means the defence is unsure of which way the ball goes. If the PTB is on either edge then the half’s line up together just as they did in 1985. In reality it’s not too much different to how it’s always been.