Possibly, but for me I just think that Singo was brought in to be a pack leader of sorts. A 200+ game vet coming into his peak, prop years. He's instead been outshone by two kids, who have carried him a parts of the season (Saints at Magic is the obvious one).

He's just not good enough and a couple of 100m games and a low error count doesn't cut it. He's averaging about 6.8m per carry which is a woeful number for the supposed number 1 prop, playing for a team 2nd in the league.

We're all rightly happy with Cooper and one of the main reason for that, imo, is because Singo isn't doing the job he was brought in for.

I can go with most of that apart from the 6.8m a carry being woeful. He isn’t left on for long spells that guys like Peacock and Graham were back in the day but they rarely went above a season average of 7m a carry (I’m in no way putting him in that company by the way). I sound like I’m backing him to the point of being chuffed with him and I’m not but I think he’s been pretty good.

What I will say is that his best games seem to be against the lesser sides and that’s a worry. It’s the games like the magic one that have let his season down and leaves him vulnerable. Ultimately Singleton has never been a huge metre maker and if that is why we brought him in, we got the wrong man. It’s why I still feel Peet might just have him first choice. I think they like his experience and aggression from the start of games. We’ll see how it plays out in a few weeks I suppose.

I’m happy with Singleton. People get massively bogged down with stats. When you actually watch the game he doesn’t look out of place like Clubby and Flower use to. Could he be better yes but I think he does bring the experience to the team that is needed. I’d be happy for him to see out his career here

I really don't know ow why this "see the season"thjng has crept Into sport ti.e was players got moved on sharpish non of this waiting around so good to see him come over early

It has just dawned on me while reading this we have gone from arguably the worst pack in the league getting dominated every week last season, to the point where we have so many solid potental combinations that we can't even decide which one is best!

How the bloody hell did we get here? What a time to be a wigan fan!

It’s been some turnaround from having Lam show that little trust in guys like Clark and Bullock, that we’d even see a guy like Shorrocks propping at points in games.

Good recruitment has played a part but Peet being able to kick Byrne, Havard and Smithies on a level or two has been key IMO. It’s funny how your recruitment generally is very good when you have a good coach and it’s rubbish when you have a poor one.

Great point.

Singo has been a good player for Wigan and probably isn’t on mega bucks either.

Overall he’s exceeded my expectations since he joined us.

Reading this thread just now I was thinking the exact same thing! It doesn't seem five minutes since...

Can’t wait till we play Warrington on the 5th hope we tear them a new one… again

The way this season is going it will be a disappointment not to win the Grand Final.
The feel good factor is so good at the min

The pressure is off us, we have one of the two major trophies on offer already in the bag. We can all agree no doubt that our expectations for the season have already been exceeded, so much so that even if we didn't make the GF or lose in the final weve had one hell of a season compared to last.

The pressure I feel is on Saints with their 4 x Champions title hopes, nothing less will do. They've already mucked up on the Challenge Cup to us and can't afford to let it happen again. Strange things can happen when under pressure, we are still 8 games away before the playoffs and poor form/player injuries/suspensions can certainly add to that pressure.

I'm happy, we're in a good place.

Completely agree.

This season, imo, has been the most enjoyable one since the Madge days. One of the main reasons for that and it's something that I've wanted to see for years, is the consistency we show week to week. It's like the regular seasons game matter again and I'm loving it.

Fully understand this is a contradiction to the above, but over the next 8 games I'd love to see us get more out of our squad depth.

If we can find a way to rest Field, or French for one game and use Miski, or give Bibby, Smith, Havard or Byrne a week off then we'll see the benefit of it come September.

I'm not calling for wholesale changes, just one (max two) per game, spread over 8 weeks should be doable. Some of the guys mentioned above have played almost every game, or at least a good stretch of them. There's also guys like Thornley & Tommy to come back, which will give us options to rotate without dropping the quality of the side.

100% start of the season just being competitive was my only wish. The rebuild we have going on was now coming in to its 4th year and it was clear we’d trusted the wrong man in Lam to lead us through it (just look at Leeds now). Even before the rebuild how many times under Waney did people mention the club were papering over the cracks. I don’t think the rebuild is complete however, it’s clearly noticeable steps are being made in the right direction to improve the club. This year not only is it great to see the squad developing but it’s great to see the coaches developing. Think this is more evident as the season has gone on and although French and Fields are the stars each player has massively improved. Carry on the way we are going and I think we will be dominant again, this will be helped by saints potentially having a big turn over in players due to their ages. I’ll stop now as it sounding very cringy over just a rugby club but it’s great to see after last year were I was getting to the point of boredom with the club and it was clear Covid had taken it toll financially on the club and the sport as a whole. All I hope now is we get good crowd back at games backing the boys and injecting money in to the club.

This in spades! Been the best year in a long time already and, with a trophy already in the cabinet, a successful one too. The rugby on show has been pure entertainment. That said, I think we can do the Grand Final too

Anyway, Mike Cooper. In the named squad for Thursday and looking likely for a debut.

Can we not turn this into another d!ck measuring contest of us Vs Saints?

Not sure how another thread has turned into a Wigan v Saints debate but FWIW I don't see us beating Saints in the Grand Final (if we both get there of course). They're an outstanding side with a lot of experience in playing well and winning in big games. They make far more metres post contact and will inevitably win the territory battle. We have a small chance but we'd have to defend brilliantly for long periods in our own 30 metre zone, hope their attack breaks down a bit like it did in the semi and be ruthless with the limited chances we would get.

Quote ="MadDogg"Not sure how another thread has turned into a Wigan v Saints debate but FWIW I don't see us beating Saints in the Grand Final (if we both get there of course). They're an outstanding side with a lot of experience in playing well and winning in big games. They make far more metres post contact and will inevitably win the territory battle. We have a small chance but we'd have to defend brilliantly for long periods in our own 30 metre zone, hope their attack breaks down a bit like it did in the semi and be ruthless with the limited chances we would get.'" Spot on - all Wigan v Sts thread derailing here please: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=639913

Quote ="MadDogg"Not sure how another thread has turned into a Wigan v Saints debate but FWIW I don't see us beating Saints in the Grand Final (if we both get there of course). They're an outstanding side with a lot of experience in playing well and winning in big games. They make far more metres post contact and will inevitably win the territory battle. We have a small chance but we'd have to defend brilliantly for long periods in our own 30 metre zone, hope their attack breaks down a bit like it did in the semi and be ruthless with the limited chances we would get.'" Spot on - all Wigan v Sts thread derailing here please: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=639913

Last season with Lam and the inability to score at all, has made this season the more enjoyable....

That’s a bit OTT. The season has far exceeded expectations so far & it’s been a delight to watch us at times. St Helens are still the team to beat and have a pack which can dominate anyone in the league.

Yes, we can compete but it wouldn’t be a disappointment not to win the GF, St Helens are still strong favourites and rightly so.

Yeah, it's a great feeling when you stop punching yourself in the face...

Just heard Peets interview and he seemed to indicate he won’t play this week.

He isn't playing, He had covid again a couple of weeks back and needs to get his fitness level back up.

Allegedly had covid

I'm gonna call BS and say that it's one of those infuriating "make him earn" it type calls. Peet pretty much said the same in his video on Wigan TV.

We've identified and signed Cooper, because we have a need for him. It's baffling to hear that loyalty to existing guys needs to be factored in. The very definition of a mid season signing is that you've identified an area of weakness and want to improve on it.

It's like buying a new car to replace an old one that keeps breaking, but still continuing to use the old car anyway for sentimental value.