Regarding Bowen and leadership, was this ever part of his game down under? I don't know so was wondering if calls for him to be a leader are misplaced?

Some world class players are just not the leadership types.

Maybe not...but it's what we need from him. Some people are quiet but with experience and age gain in self confidence and are respected, much like Lockers. Bowen has all of those attributes, in fact is so much more highly regarded than say Finch was, yet you couldn't shut Finch up. Bowen must be the quietest Aussie on the planet!!!

Well if we do need this from him it must be because we have shipped out too many players who would take over the leadership role when Lockers is out.

Do we still have the leadership team idea first introduced by Madge? If so who is in it? If not who would you suggest [iwas[/i in it? I don't mean who you might think ought to be in it because just like Bowen they are experienced players but who do you think has the attitude to be a member?

Yes we have shipped out too much experience. That was evident yesterday. Micky Mac was a headless chicken and certainly NOT captaincy material.

The leadership idea was still in place last season, but I've not heard anything this year.

Leadership contenders - Lockers, Matty Smith, Faz and I think Clubb is improving rapidly at prop. I believe that SW reckons he has leadership potential. It is a bit thin though, granted.

I think the fact that we have lost our 2 vice captains (TL and Sam) in consecutive seasons isn't really helping the cause in this regard.

I thought so but like yourself I have not heard about it this season.



That is pretty telling IMO. It is still worth doing again though especially if Lockers is going to limp his way through the season.

The leadership team is still in existence. I've read references to Micky Mac and Faz both being part of it this season.

One thing you notice without Lockers is the team is very quiet vocally, with him there he directs play and keeps everyone in order. That is a massive thing to lose and you need someone with a good rugby brain to fill in the spot, for me I'd go with Matty Smith but take kicking duties of him. I personally think that side of his game is a mental block now, we saw at stains he could kick but those misses must be effecting him.

I thought he had a really solid game. Looked a lot better than huddersfield and Wcc. He just needs some time on the pitch to get used to how we play as well as the super league. It was a dodgy bounce for the try he gave away, didn't see the impedance that some have talked about, and his try was really well taken.

Our biggest problem at the moment is a kicker, we will struggle a hell of a lot this season without those 2s going in every time and it cost us big yesterday

The misses didn't affect him enough to convert from the touchline and drop a goal with two players on top of him, all in the last couple of minutes.

Who knows he may take a lot of confidence from that and (quite literally) kick on?

Hope you're right, Matty Smith imo has been a great player for us

Maybe I don't understand the rules properly but wasn't Bowen taken out by a Cas player when defending the kick that led to a try?

"Solid game", "did alright", "slight improvement".

Yes, just the comments you want to hear about your big money signing

Regards

King James

We didn't pay any money for him. Neither is he reported to be on a 'Big Money' contract. HTH

His Royal Highness Jeff

Hardly a Josh Perry, Lance Hohaia is he?

Now that was brilliant business.

To be fair it's only right to compare new signings at this stage of the season from the NRL.

Bowen started off poorly but is slowly seeming to find his feet, Hull KR will be a clearer indication of what we can expect from him this season.

On the other hand another high profile signing like Mose Masoe is absolutley killing it!!......sorry what?...fat out of condition liability you say? Targeted in defense....water through a sieve?

Ridiculous to write off any new signing at this stage but of the 2 I know who I have more faith in coming good at this stage.

Having seen Bowen perform in the NRL I have no doubt he will come good. just needs time to settle in, learn the pattern of play and get used to the game over here.

Fat out of condition liability at present perhaps, but interesting comments from Walmsley this week:

"He’s very committed, he’s absolutely flogged himself the last few weeks."

Masoe had a slow start but then I think everyone expected him to take a while to get up to speed fitness wise after an injury given his physique. He'll improve week on week I'm sure - as will Bowen I imagine.

Difference being our team isn't relying on Masoe to be a key pivot, unlike Bowen.

Yes, interesting comments from a team mate about a new signing, you would expect him to be slagging him off, calling him a waste of money, that's what usually happens at clubs.

Perhaps you wouldn't expect him to slate him, but at the same time if he wasn't putting in I doubt his team mates would be in print praising his commitment and saying he has "absolutely flogged himself".

Then again all you hear every week from Wigan is what a magician Bowen is in training - maybe you should play your games behind closed doors

The difference is we have seen the improvement in Bowen. As yet we have not from Mose.

I have no doubt both will come good. Bowen is a World Class player without a shadow of a doubt.

Hence my point at the bottom that anyone writing of signings from the NRL at this stage of the season is clueless.

Players are 'coached' by clubs these days to say the right things to the press, whatever he's doing in training his team mates will 'big him up' in interviews ,and yes, the same will apply at Wigan.

Yes he was. Debateable whether he would have got there in time but I think it would have been penalised if it had been seen

as soon as he lays a hand on the ball though defenders are legally allowed to tackle him. If you look at it again with that in mind you'll see why it wasn't penalised - the tackler came in a split second after he threw the ball away (and forward, may I add).

Hence when Milner pounced on it it appeared as if he was "taken out" but he did have hand/s on the ball so the tackle attempt was legal.

I don't think Stokes would've needed to think twice about not giving it - the Channing "try" he disallowed for obstruction was a hilarious call.

But without splitting hairs, I thought he was fairly garbage all day.

McIllorum should've walked for ten at least, but Flower's "cannonball" tackle, upon seeing the replay, was above the knees (and therefore legal) and I think he just caved to the pressure/intimidation us at the back of the sticks put him under

Perhaps it is this 'learning the pattern of play' that is part of the problem with Bowen, maybe the famous or infamous Wigan 'structure' is putting him in a straight jacket and curbing his natural off the cuff style that made him so outstanding. Four drives up the middle and then swing it wide with no real impact from the halfbacks to vary the plays.

You could also say that the very same 'structure' is contributing to the goal kicking problem, Wigan probably score more try's on the wings and less try's under the sticks than most teams, which wasn't as noticeable when Pat was kicking.

So it is simple isn't it. score more try's under the sticks, Bowen could come good and the kicking would improve.