It was a nice touch seeing the two teammates swap shirts. Lets hope they go on to bigger and better things under a proper coach.

I think they will do that against the Aussies. You don't play the same game against one team than you do against another. You adapt accordingly. Last night in the second half it was all about defending our lead rather than taking risks out wide which could have resulted in dropped ball or interceptions. We did have one chance of a try but Shenton couldn't get the ball out accurately enough to Hall due to pressure. Fair play to him for having a go anyway. Smith will have directed play in a different way in the second half to that of the first, which is fair enough since our aim was to get through to the final, not put 40 on the Kiwis.

I've took lot of stick on the Saints site for suggesting Roby should be dropped and Carvell included next week.

If only O'Loughlin was fit I'd feel a bit more confident.

I have to agree with this.

I'm not exactly sure what Roby, and an out of form Roby at that, can bring to the party.

Carvell would be a good option, simply because the only way we are going to beat the Aussies will be to grind them to death down the centre of the pitch, with countless 4 or 5 drives and then a kick.

Also a few heavy downpours wouldn't go amiss around kick off time either...

Lockers is a big miss I agree. If only Hock wasn't a numpty as well.

Smith as taken a lot of stick got to give him credit last night tactically he was spot on

. Sinfield was awesome at hooker and Smith knew he had to put him there to take the pressure of Tomkins and Eastmund Roby wouldnt have done that. He got substituions right and was a good descion to include Westwood. Tom Briscoe hasnt done nothing wrong but Fox was outstanding last night our MOM behind Ellis. Bridgews defence was awesome a better inclusiion than Smith. Credit has to go to Tony Smith got it spot on last night what a team display



. Imust agree with Tomkins at the beginning didnt rate him TBH but hes got everything pace,awareness,courage and hes good in defence the future looks quite good for England

It's Eastmond, not Eastmund.

Thanks.

that's what i like about Tomkins even if he can't tackle them he'll hold onto their shirt until someone else comes in with a hit, a tenacious little barsteward.

You Wigan lot know he's a wire fan don't you

the thing is they have played with each other for about 100 minutes and they look like they know each others game, one attacks the other holds and vice versa. sinfield starting 9 works but i would keep roby there just for a bit of variety to try and get the quick play the ball.

Rightly so, too, coz you're talking out of your bottom.

Roby brings zip. And his passes were all spot on last night, so you can't even bleat about that. It was Sinfield who threw a few wild ones. His scooting is very useful against quick sides especially and Australia are such. He is also defensively very sound. So Roby brings his own skills just as everyone else does.

How surreal must these last 12 months have been for Sam Tomkins?

From:

A Wigan Warriors Reserve player with one first team performance against Whitehaven.

To:

Being informed he was in the First Team Squad.
Being informed that he would figure in approx 10 first team games.
Taking the Super League by storm winning many SL MOM Awards.
Becoming a First Team Regular and Fans Favourite.
Winning Wigan Warriors Player of the Year Award.
Winning a place in the SL Dream Team.
Winning SL Young Player of the Year.
Being informed he was picked for the England Squad.
Scoring a Hat-trick against Wales on his England Debut.
Getting picked against Australia & NZ (with stand-out performances).
Surely getting picked to play in the Four Nations Final vs Australia.
In with a chance of becoming an International Championship Winning Player in his first season.

Cracking list that for his first 12 months isn't it?

Yes it is and all well deserved, as wigan fans you should be very proud of the young man, he sure will be a star for years to come.

I was disapointed in Tomkins yesterday tbh....

I wanted him to deck that cocky prick marshall

Yup, and proves the adage true that if you're good enough, you're old enough.

However, knowing of his attitude and determination to succeed, I feel he may be dissapointed with how the full season panned out:

Failed to have won in two Semi Finals.

Plenty of time has the young fella.

Well in theory that could be correct as having a good, united, team spirit in the camp can be good for moral and increased motivation to work hard for your team mates. The current Leeds Rhinos side, I don't think, are technically brilliant individual players or that they have any 'superstars' in their squad but the core of their squad have been playing with each other since they were in their academy & so have formed a strong bond and team spirit with each other which can be seen when they play and puts them at an advantage at times against other teams who have only been playing with each other for a few weeks.

what an odious little turd you are........

Benji Marshall captain of the world Cup winning New Zealand, NRL grand Final winner for his only club West Tigers and a pretty decent bloke if youve ever watched Any Australian Rugby on TV.....

does your carer put stars on a chart when you post a totally idiotic and senseless post.....? tell her to stick another one on it after she's mopped up your dribble

He's just having an opinion, which he is entitled to do on a forum. Whats your problem with that? besides not being able to spell 'know' under your avatar.

probably because 'Eric' is the biggest troll on the wire board. it doesn't exactly endear him to the hearts of the Wire faithful. [size=75I know this isn't the wire board[/size

I would keep the same 1-7 maybe start with roby and put sinfield back at loose forward.

How many times would a team have to start badly with Roby at 9 before people twig he's an impact player at best? Bench, and nowhere else.

And assuming all carers are female..................................

www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=5282 gives a decent insight as to how the team's binding and how Sam and Eastmond have come to know each other's game. Can only be good for the future of England and GB...

www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=5282 gives a decent insight as to how the team's binding and how Sam and Eastmond have come to know each other's game. Can only be good for the future of England and GB...

Lets hope Sam can get into Eastmond's ear and convince him to stay in rugbyleague with Wigan



If Saints are struggling to fit him under their cap for 2011 we should be able to with the likes of Fielden, Bailey, Coley and Paleaaesina off contract.