???, Noble won his first game (Hudds, away) then lost his next 6 !!!!!




p.s. I dont think anyone should underestimate the impact Shaun Wane has had.

Never ever let the facts get in the way of a good story!!!!

We have never gotten off to a good start under Noble. The last 3 years we have looked sluggish and unfit right from the off. This year we look fit, healthy & enthusiastic. If we can get off to a good start [say 10 wins out of 13 in the second half of the year we should be really in good shape for a top 4 finish.

If we can get 10 out of 13, I would have us as being in a good position for a top 2 finish.

The way we are playing right now still has a few rough edges that will be ironed out over the season.

However, I'm struggling to remember the last time I saw a Wigan that looked as desperate to do well both in attack AND defence as this one - Probably when Mike Gregory was in charge.

If we keep going exactly as we are now, I would put us in the top 3.

If we iron out some of the little issues (penalties conceded, allowing the ball to be stolen, etc.) then I personally think that we can finish in the top 2, with no reason whatsoever that we couldn't grab top spot.

I know, I know - Too early in the season for such abject optimism, but I just can't help myself.
MM and SW have made a true believer out of me.

10 wins out of 13 would put us in a fantastic position and after starting with 3 wins from 3 it's not unachievable(although is still a tough ask).

If we managed to do it and then replicate that form in the 2nd half of the season we'll be nailed on for the top 2 and in all honesty probably finish top. I'd imagine whichever side does finish top this season will probably lose 7 or 8 games because theres just so many tough fixtures out there.

Leeds must still be favourites to finish in that top position but they've lost 2 games already you'd have expected them to win. When you consider they've still got away games at places like Wigan, Saints, Hull, Bradford, Warrington, Catalans, Huddersfield etc those 2 defeats could end up costing them.

The downside to that is bar the Warrington fixture we've still got to go to all those places aswell.

Well we have won three now so that means we need 7 wins out of our next 10 games...not undo-able. Massive ask with big games against Leeds & Saints coming up.

I think we can get one win from those two fixtures, that should put us in a good position

If show we can compete with those two, and back it up with a solid performances week in week out, then we can talk of a top 2 finish

The big tests for our hopes of finishing top 2 will be at places like Bradford next week and at Castleford a couple of weeks after that. They are both decent sides but if we look at the game between the 2 last Friday then compare it to our game the night after against Wire they're both clubs we should be well capable of beating.

As ever it's all about the attitude. If it's as good in those games as it has been upto now we'll stand a fantastic chance.

Games against Leeds, Saints and Wire could go either way and in reality any wins picked up in those are like bonus victories. They're hugely important but they're not our bread and butter.

Maguire always talks about improvement throughout the group.
This is what is being acheived so far.

Against Crusaders we were scratchy in part and understandable being the first game.
When HKR were here we improved and Morgan said that at times Wigan's kicking game was perfection. After that game MM said we needed to improve for the visit to Warrington.
At the HJ I thought it was a massive improvement on the HKR game in most things apart from perhaps the kicking game. We raised the pace and intensity of our play and the players out there gave it absolutely everything.

In the first two games at DW the opposition only scored one try in each game. If Cats are restricted to one or two tries then it will be another good performance.
As improvement is what MM is seeking and getting then we have every right to be optimistic. At the same time we are all realists.
The comparison of our first three game this season with the first three last year shows the degree of improvement made.
Well done all, long may it continue!

Couldnt agree more. The steely grit of the side has a lot to do with Wane.

Looking at the weather tonight could be our first test of the season in real wet weather. There was abit about for the Hull KR game iirc but it's been pretty heavy overnight and this morning and if that carries on througout the game it'll be a leveller.

We've been pants in the rain over the past few seasons.

agreed i said that in the predictions thread

Exactly,
Let's worry about Bradford next week, and Leeds and Saints when we play them.


Tonight will be difficult against a physical and BIG side on a pitch that is very boggy.

We're nailed on for the Leeds game as I'm out of the country!! Anyone know anywhere at EuroDisney showing Sky Sports?

Show off

I agree I don't think this is a banker by any means. The weather and talk of HH being out and Mossop on pain killers is starting to set the alarm bells ringing.

Dave

Feka not playing as well and the Pitch is an absolute Quagmire!
If you think the pitch looked bad 2 x weeks ago or even last weeks for the Tics against Spurs, Wait till you see it tonight under an inch of standing Water!

Proper Rugby pitch is that.

I'm hoping the saving grace for Wigan is that Catalans won't have probably their best forward in Elima and then guys like Ferriol and Carlaw don't seem to be in the best of form(going off stats only mind). After that they have an aging Guissett and an average Joe in Remi Casty so their pack isn't quite as big and nasty as it could have been or has been in the past.

If our attitude is right we should have enough to win but we may have to really battle hard and for the full 80mins to get the points.

Any team with guys like Mogg, Johnson, Fakir, Maguire etc is going to be a threat.

Are first choice was Kearney, but we ended up with McGuire, it would have been interesting to see if under Kearney we'd have performed and got the same results as we've had under McGuire.

[urlhttp://www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Kearney-impressed-with-Warriors.6112348.jp[/url

I thought yesterday watching the WCC how similar our play has become to Melbourne storm - fierce gang tackles, hunting in packs, lying on a little bit in the tackle, and non stop pressure going forward. Given madges roots I can now see where we have got it from - hopefully we will have as much success - lovin' this season so far.

I've wondered since the arrival of Maguire was Kearney actually first choice or was that people just getting the wrong end of the stick?

Lenagan said at the fans forum they'd been monitoring Maguire and doing their homework on him for ages before they appointed him but i'm not sure if that means he was first choice or not.

Watching back on the Super League Show this morning, first thing I noticed was how we are running very deep in attack now and having a 2nd line of attack and dummy runners. All elements that we were missing under Noble

having watched the storm performance last nite is it just me or did anybody else notice the way we,ve been playing this year was,nt to different to the way storm played at leeds ie strong defence,slowing down,n quick plays to the wing. thoughts!

Aye Storm reminded me of Wigan last night, which is to be expected considering our coach was their assistant coach for a number of years. Terrible kits though!