He's took a lot of stick on here, but look at his stats from yesterday 53 tackles 0 missed, and a try. www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... port/12239

He's took a lot of stick on here, but look at his stats from yesterday 53 tackles 0 missed, and a try. www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... port/12239

I was worried when Mac was injured that Powell would really struggle.

Completely wrong, guy is a workhorse topping tackle counts all over the show, decent distribution, and can put a decent kick in. Really impressed with him.

Hope it continues.

He's rubbish Rogues, all the experts on here tell us so... WANE OUT!!

Not a big fan but went well yesterday. My main issue is he clearly has talent but fails to string good performances together.

Hopefully yesterday will be a platform for him to build on.

He played easily his best game for the club yesterday. It's easy to forget that he spent his youth playing as a half and now seems at home at 9. Hope he can kick on from yesterday and continue to make progress. Well done Sam!!

I was also underwhelmed by the prospect of him doing 80min as hooker, but had a great game yesterday and those stats speak for themselves

Agreed John. You have summed it up well.

I wish he would kick more, you can have a yard of space at dummy half and regular kicks would take the heat off Smith and Williams also keep the opposition guessing. With Tomkins back we would have some good kicking options if Powell can take more responsibility it would bring more threats.

More creativity than any of the halves on the pitch yesterday! His defence and fitness is incredible for a "bench 9".

Well I thought he more than matched the supposedly best 9 in the game.

Roby who?

I've criticised Powell in the past because I didn't think he was good enough for us, but it would be very churlish of me to not now go on the record and say that he was terrific yesterday. That's easily the best game I've seen him have in a first team shirt.

I think that for some posters on here, it's the lack of patience we have for young players thats irritating. This is not directed at you, as you are not a culprit. Some posters expect us to have the worlds best in every position, and thats just not realistic... Trust me, no one would like to see that more than I !!!...

MM was slated by many on here when he first came into the team, now he is seen for what he is... Not the worlds best by any means, but a bloody good whole hearted performer for the team. Powell looks to be in a similar mould, and is fitting in rather well. We have some good players to come back, SOL is playing out of position, and we have only lost to Widnes, the hot, form team of the early season, and good luck to them. We have great strength in depth, have players who have flexible skills, and we will be able to ride injuries better than most. That the club have gone this way has been forced upon them by the constraints of the cap, and the amounts of money that is available to SL clubs.

Good luck to Sam, and i hope he keeps fighting for his place, and fighting for Wigan RLFC....

Very good yesterday and played 80 minutes.

Yes, this. Powell could never be criticised for lack of effort, but that was outstanding yesterday, and his very smartly taken try was just reward.

I've been a critic, and to some extent I still am regarding his attacking threat, especially as a halfback. His work rate and defence are faultless, he just has too many games where he's ineffective with the ball. One swallow doesn't make a spring, I need to see more before I'm convinced he has a long term future. For the record I hope he has a blinder for the rest of the season.

It was very good rugby from Sam when he spotted McDonnell out of position, kicked through their defensive line, re-gathered and scored. Excellent was that!

It was his best game since the NZ Warriors warm up game before the Roosters WCC. At that time he really looked to be ready to start controlling games but he's been in and out ever since and a lack of minutes has plagued him.

Hope to see him kick on now because he could be a big weapon if he really starts to dictate that play the ball area and test defences with guile like that.

as a outsider I thought he was one of your best players

I think he is benefitting from MM being injured meaning he is getting the minutes to try and impose himself on the game. He's not had that previously and the game time has to make a difference. I don't think he can do that for the rest of the season without back up and will have to be rotated/rested from time to time.

Smith to 9, Williams 7, Tomkins 6 ?

Sure it's what a lot of fans would love to see, but I can't see it happening.

Smith will never get dropped/moved position.

Just thought it would be a decent line up if Powell were to get injured or Wane decides he needs a break.

I'd be inclined to keep Smith at 7 and Williams to rotate at 9. I don't think Williams is ready for the main organiser role yet.

Surely Tomkins would be the main organiser in that scenario?