I thought the Hull game might have been a good game to give Rocky another go, but thinking about it, Bowen is in sensational form and has a maximum of 5 games of his career left (probably), so he won't want to be rested. And why would we want to start swapping the halves round so close to the end of the season.

Hampshire's time will come, but some of the hysteria on here at times because a 20 year isn't in the team every week is laughable.

Leeds are away at Catalan. You'd expect them to win that but they could quite easily get turned over. If we put a big number on Hull we could be level on points with nothing in the points diff. I'd love to pinch top spot off them, they can't have all the silverware can they?

It would, of course be nice to get the LLS, and it would have been helpful if we could have beaten Leeds last month.
What's important now is to be ready for the semi final and final.

I've been saying since about round 13 that leeds will eventually tipple over a few games, and now as it turns out wigan have another chance to capitalise. I honestly think we will put a big score on against hull hence the unchanged game squad and leeds could be in trouble IF Cas were to turn saints over as leeds have Cas and hudds still to come who are still in contention (mathematically at this point should I say) for the semifinals.

I certainly think leeds have the tougher final 3 games than us due to how the 8's have panned out. interesting!

all this talk of leeds winning the LLS and GF as well as their CC win will come undone if you ask me, they are there for the taking.

There is a tipping point for most people unless you follow something as if under sort of spell or indoctrination. It's called having a personal opinion and thoughts.
I have watched Wigan on a regular basis since 1966 therefore, have seen many thin years and fortunately many good years.
Hampshire has more skill than Smith however, Smith probably does what he is told and plays to a game plan therefore gets the position. That's great if you steam roller teams but not very good if you need to execute a game changing move or try against stiffer opposition like Leeds or Saints.
You may be surprised but coaches obviously have favourites but I can't tell you why SW favours Smith versus pace a and natural ability or than maybe he doesn't want to play two half backs at a young age in the same team.
Can you explain why we should planning Bowen tomorrow? SW has stated previously that he need to nurture him through the season therefore, why not rest him against what is on paper an eminently winnable game?
By the way if I was Hampshire's uncle or dad I would be telling him to get out of Wigan a sap because he wasting precious years of his playing career.
I may be very wrong but losing Hampshire will come back to haunt us for years to come because a coach feared losing some control in letting the team play a more off the cuff style of play.

A coach lives or dies by his results. He has an idea in his mind of the way he wants the team to play, he has decided Matty Smith is a better option to get that than a young kid who has played a handful of first team games in the halves?

That is his job and why he is paid good money. If we are champions in five weeks he 100% picked the correct side if we aren't he might have questions to ask, but to say your going to give up your season ticket if he doesn't play Rocky is a bit OTT

Spot on. The coach has the right to pick the team that he wants. He will stand or fall by those decisions and if he gets it wrong often enough he will be gone. Personally I would have given Hampshire a few more games in recent weeks, particularly when Williams got those knocks to the head v Wire, but that's just my opinion.

Wasn't it Wayne Bennett who said "If you start listening to the fans it won't be long before you're sitting with them."

Philadelphia Eagles coach Joe Kuharich in 1967, but has been repeated by many since, including Bennett and John Monie, and IMHO very true.

Why would it be listening to the fans? Two people can have the same opinion you know.

The quote everyone is responding to was very OTT.

Despite having an up and down season, we're in pretty good shape at present. We left the Cup in awful circumstances, particularly given that the team who beat us went on to play like absolute chumps at Wembley. At one stage we couldn't win away from home for toffee. And yet now, at the business end, things look to have changed dramatically. On current form, the title is ours to lose. In that regard, having a real pop at Shaun Wane over of his management of a promising kid smacks a little bit of someone trying to find a reason to moan.

I too would consider it a big error to lose Ryan Hampshire, possibly an error akin to the loss of Sean Long and with much less reason. But we ought to remember that he's still a relatively untested youngster. Just how dramatic an issue is this? Moreover, I sincerley hope that Ryan himself doesn't read these forums, because some posters almost sound as if they're encouraging him to leave.

Cruncher I think that some of your comments are a response to my earlier posts so I would like to clarify a few points if I may.
Firstly believe it or not I am a SW fan and I applaud his determination to encourage the development of new blood via our youth system however, for me the potential diamond in that said system is used infrequently and when used is in a position that he obviously does not enjoy or display some basic requirements of the role.
We have lost Burgess and will lose Charnley for next season. Sarginson is also off and add to that Bowens retirement which leave our backs exceptionally exposed.
I work on the premise that no news is bad news therefore, assume that Hampshire will also be exiting.
How many backs have we got left?
We have tried to get Carney but I believe he is off to Hull. I know bugger all about NRL so haven't got a clue who we could sign from there and as for SL who would we like to sign even if we could?
I currently despair at our apparent ineptitude in recruiting and retaining backs of any quality. You may consider that a moan I consider it a fundamental requirement.
I am not a fly by night but neither am I a one eyed spectator who accepts a modicum of improvement as everything is rosy in the garden.
I personally want to aspire to perfection and hopefully achieve excellence. Come on Rouges who is that quoted from?


Maybe I am being too pessimistic or perhaps I'm being pragmatic?
You describe our season as up and down I would describe the majority as bland.
I want pace with calculated risk not a 2 and 5 making hard yards whilst a front row pick their noses and scratch their s.
I'm hard to please? yep I am.
Currently we have probably the best facilities, youth system and infrastructure in SL therefore my expectations are set on these premises.
Losing Hampshire in itself will have no impact on the current season or maybe even next season what it will for me concur is that we can't retain quality or recruit quality which longer term is worrying.
Hey I hope your optimism is absolutely is spot and I am being an owd maudering fart who should accept the glow of today and ignore my impending chill of tomorrow

Much of this, I agree with. But seriously, don't cancel your season ticket. In the days of Jinkin' Jimmy Fairhurst we all had lots of reason to walk away and never come back. Look what we'd have missed if we had.

I will cancel my season ticket when Hampshire leaves but will just attend the must see Saints Wire and Leeds matches.
I did the same when when we sold John Burke to Workington all those years ago and obviously returned to the fold eventually!
Sometimes a point of principle is more important but even a man of principle like myself eventually yields to the pull of the cherry and whites!
I just don't think we must support the club at all costs like some young easily led puppy. It is total shoite and IL and Co need to know that some of us think like this.
I just get so peeved off with this rough tough forwards backs are soft shoite

. Forwards get you to finals invariably backs win you the finals.
As I said I seek perfection but will gladly accept excellence.

.

Supporting a club through thick and thin is called being a fan. But each to their own. Coming back when things get good is better than not coming back at all.

Would you have cancelled your season ticket if Sam Tomkins had gone to Wire instead of Wigan? Players come and players go, that's a fact of life. Hampshire has two more years on his contract at Wigan and he has been offered a new contract. That offer has been on the table since early in the year. IL can't hold a gun to his head. I don't want to lose him, but it will be Hampshires decision.

Didn't IA just make a flippant remark to state his annoyance? He's getting hammered over this one!

Hammered? Just looks like people giving their opinions.....

How hard have we tried?
Money is the number one consideration but more playing time is pretty damn close.
What is the point of playing Smith and Williams tonight? Can anyone make even an inkling of a case to justify it? I await the deafening silence.
IL caanot force the lad to sign but his coaching staff are making it almost impossible for Hampshire to sign.
Rouges let's see how good Tomkins is when he has no three quarters to play with. Also if Tomkins had signed for Wire for more money well that's life and you bat on. If we continue to lose backs at the current rate and put up with 2 back rowers playing centre and use Wingers as battering rams then that's another matter. When was the last time our right winger actually received a pass with any resemblance of an opportunity?

Absolutely correct.
I have my views which obviously differ with majority but that doesn't mean I'm wrong or that other people's views are a nonsense. It's just opinions.

I would say that at this stage of the season, keeping a consistent team is vital. Too late to chop and change so as to suit red in the face fans..

Well Hampshire is starting at fullback tonight.

Tautai at loose and Connor Farrell on bench, according to Bilko.

Not too vital then now the actual team has been announced

Have to say I'm looking forward to seeing TT in the back row. I think he could be very dangerous out wide.

I can see a 50 point win for you guys tonight as long as you don't take your foot off the pedal