Why should we forget Aus? It's the only example of a top eight play off season in rugby league to hand. The gap between first and eighth in SL is 4 points. The gap between first and eighth in NRL is 4 points.

Unless we have an excellent last half of the season we are going to struggle in the play-offs due to the inconsistent early season form. Do you not agree with this point?

Do we need to add the word "fact" to the list of words you seem to need help on?

The evidence I've listed in terms of finishing positions, both in a top 8 system and from what we know of the previous system here show finishing in the top 2 means you are significantly more likely to contest the Grand Final.

I'm sure you'll be dying to show everyone these "facts" you have and the evidence they're based on?

Aren't you bored of his rants?

Who RHJ

or jonh? I assume you mean jonh..I think he makes some very valid points....it's all a matter of opinions not everyone one will agree.

In my opinion, I'd keep on Noble for another 2 years, at least.

At first I was sceptical about keeping hold of him at all, but actually thinking it through, I think we need some consistency for once at Wigan.

A new coach would want a different squad - to change this current set up would be daft. Wigan have, in the past, fallen in to the trap of piling the blame on the coach and pressing the red button far too quickly.

Noble clearly likes his job at Wigan and we, as the fans, need to respect that and accept it. Wigan need a stable platform and Brian Noble is the man to deliver it.


[size=75Disclaimer:
I'm up at 4:27am by the way, because I have lots of Uni work to do and I'm 100% sober. [/size

From what i have been hearing for the last 2 weeks Noble will be here for at least another 12 months if not 2 years. Heard yesterday the Betts could be on his way back to join the coaching staff how true it is i dont know but it could fit in with what i have been hearing about a big shake up of the backroom staff at wigan that B.N. and I.L. want to do.

OK - so it doesn't matter where you finish in the play-offs as long as you peak at the right time, which Noble has done for the last couple of years.

But Wigan haven't made the final, despite peaking "at the right time". Why? Because they left themselves too much to do by finishing too low down the table.

You'll have to do some serious "peaking" from 9th too.

Anyone who doesn't think regular season positions are important is seriously deluded. In fact, I wonder whether they have ever actually watched a play-off series, here or in Australia.

We will finish in the top 4 only just halfway through the season lots of things can happen between now and the playoffs a few weeks of bad form and you drop like a stone its very competitive this year 2 weeks ago you were 4 points clear and now your just 1 point clear

Absolutely agreed, anything can happen. I reckon you'll finish top4 too. Just making the point that the higher you finish, the better your chances - the mantra that all that matters is making the play-offs is tosh.

Wigan might make the top eight but there are too many teams above them that are playing better.The roblem with your squad will be when injuries occur to your already threadbare forward line especially your forward pack.

They already have in a way, O'Carroll has been out for a while after being arguably our best prop for the first few weeks.

As for the 2nd row i think we'd only hugely miss lockers and hock, but just the same as if saints don't have wilkin or leeds pelatua and sinfield.

On the contrary. We've got a bigger, better squad than we've had for several years. We have five props - all pretty useful (one of whom is injured but not too far off recovery), three hookers, and five back-rowers.

Injuries can strike anyone at any time. But to say that Wigan are less prepared than others is extreme wishful thinking on your part.

If Wigan play to their best for the majority of the remaining games we'll walk into the top 8. If every side in the league played at their best for the rest of the year only Leeds and Saints best would be able to beat ours as proved by our two 3rd place finishes in the last 2 years.

Also we have plenty of depth to our squad. We might not have the same quality in the first 17 but we have more back up then a team like Saints which is encouraging.

from our side on Saturday we had the players below sat in the stand-

Ainscough
K Pryce
Goulding(on loan at Salford but only short term)
O'Carroll
Riddell
Hansen

theres plenty of first team experience there and we also have quite a few youngsters that could hold their own if needs be so we're not too badly off.

Not only are you in 9 th position in the table you have played 1 or 2 more games than the teams just underneath you and i would argue that warrington,catalan and bradford have played poorly so far just like yourselves and that if the play to their poential they would also be breaking into the top 8.Imo catalan and wire are better than wigan

Much depends on if we can now be consistent. Wire and Bradford have found it seems some consistent good form, I think Wire may well be bolters up the table in the next few weeks and the Wigan game for them and us will be huge, Bradford also have put together 2 good performances and are clearly better than there league position suggests.

If we can maintain form rather than these odd one off's then there is no reason we too cannot push up the table at a fair old rate as well, if we return to the inconsistent form we have shown to date we could be a major casualty of the top 8, i think one traditional "bigger" club will miss out.

You're entitled to your opinion, but it was also your opinion that Wigan have a threadbare squad, which was proved wrong within about ten seconds of your posting it, and which I now notice you no longer want to talk about.



So pardon us if we don't take your opinion on other Wigan-related issues too seriously.

Close call between the 3 IMO, but at their peak I'd back Wigan against both.

Any truth in the rumour that is going around about Justin Morgan coming next year heard it from a very strong force.

of nature?

Don't know, suppose you could ask him for clarification if the force be with you.

None unless he wants the assistants job

Again I would have to take issue with some of this. We have played well against Bradford, Saints and the last 3 in succession. However I take your point that consistancy has been the issue but as I said earlier, maybe it's taken the signing of Gleeson, the settling in of Smith and Phelps and our front row finally putting it in to get to the point where we are. Those things have only just happened and so maybe it's the consistancy from here on in that is the relevant point?

That being the case I'm sure you're extremely worried about your own team given we've outplayed you on both occassions we've met this season!

Of course Justin Morgan will be coming to the JJB next year.
Who else will be HKR coach when they play their League game here?