I think you do Flower a disservice. None of our props end up making a huge number of carries because they are all spelled pretty much equally. And while Flower doesn't carry as strong as Bullock he gets quick play the ball and has good technique going into contact (although the strapping on his knee slowed him down noticeably). His defence is exceptional and his technique in the tackle generally prevents dangerous players from getting on top and that's what we'll need to replace. Our defence is often noticeably stronger when Flower is on the field, particularly around the ruck.

Also, Tautai shouldn't be in the side given he's the latest on our growing list of drink drivers.

Flower is mediocre which makes him the best prop we have. The TT comment was prior to the news released today.

he must have had a drink to celebrate....

He must have been sipping his drinks through a Homer Simpson style beer can bat because there’s no way he could have kept hold of a pint pot without dropping it.

I would imagine Wigan would have made enquiries about bringing Mitch Clark in now.

Minus Flower I think we can rule out a tilt at the top five. We’re bad enough in that department with him, so I can only shudder how much worse we’ll be minus the only prop we have of an acceptable standard.

It should be a good opportunity to take a look at a few young forwards in the squad. Mist clubs would pull a signing out the bag in circumstances were you’ve lost three props from your squad but I doubt we’ll go down that path. If not then they may as well see it as an opportunity to take a look at a few lads like Partington, Byrne, Kibula, Kilner and Havard. I’d try and get the majority of those some game time over the coming weeks/months.

Agree with your general point but I hope we don't bring Kibula in. He looked way off the pace for Swinton v Toronto. The prophecies people were making of him taking over from Lockers were well wide of the mark. Can't see him playing first team for us again.

TBF most prophesies are way off. Speaking of Swinton, I remember some on here proclaiming Rhodri Lloyd as the next big thing years back. Some of our fans are always at it.

Yep, Greg Burke was the next SOL.

Smithies looks the closest I’ve seen to show anywhere near the potential to replace SOL , but he’s still only very young yet so we need to manage our expectations.

Agreed, the same with Smith and Hanley. There's a long way between being a promising youngster and a competent super league player, never mind any more than that.

I quite liked what I saw of him back in 2012 but he never seemed to kick on.

He's captain at Swinton now. Just found his level I think.

I’m basically writing off the season though and saying we’ve nothing to lose in giving anybody a chance. We probably need another couple of wins to be safe from relegation and if it takes a few weeks to get them then the top five will definitely be gone.

I’d probably stick to the more established youngsters like Partington and Smithies in the shorter term but at a point we can’t go down or make the play offs then having a look at a number of youngsters would be wise IMO. I’d probably want to look at the ones they have doubts over the long term futures of, such as Kibula, more then ones you’re confident will make it at some point such as Havard. It gives you a great opportunity to make a judgment call in live first team action. It’s always tough to judge anybody on loan arrangements.

This team, whilst awful, is nowhere near the depths of 2005/2006. That was the worst team I've seen since i started following Wigan 30 years ago... Dennis M.. M.. I cant even bring myself to say it. Scott Logan, Calderwood, Vaeliki, Tim Jonkers, Wilkes, the Davico fiasco... Though I did go to every game that season. What does that say?

Scott Logan was half decent, Calderwood was alright and his 3 against Bradford give him protection from criticism IMO, Vaealiki redeemed himself when he burned Wellen’s off, Wilkes wasn’t Wigan standard, Jonkers was a steady eddy journeyman and Davico played 5 mins at Salford. Dennis Moran was a wrong fit for the team, when he was at London he was ripping the league up from fullback but a move to 6 and become an organiser with the loss of Farrell it just didn’t work. I hated him at the time but looking back it probably wasn’t all his fault.

that team would beat this team

We could do with Scott Logan now. Probably the last old school prop we had as in he carried the ball a decent amount and hurt people in defence

Davico was 2005 wasn't he?

Our props in 06 were Seu Seu, Logan, Hargreaves and Feka.



Played 7 in 06 (and 05 for that matter) because in 06 we actually had Danny Orr at SO as organiser and Moran was still crap. He even played FB and was crap.

That's revisionism of the highest order, until Noble/Dobson (the bigger one IMO)/Fielden came in anyone couldve beaten that lot, and frequently did.

the standard then was far far higher then it is now

Would it balls

there's nothing like Wigan fans for overreacting

Look at both teams......



So....

Rads
Richards
Goulding
Vaealiki
Dallas
Borwn
Orr
Fielden
Higham
Logan
Fletcher
Hock
Lockers


hansen
Feka
O Carroll
Godwin

.....that wouldnt beat us

That isn't even close to our side in 2006

Radlinski
Calderwood
Richards
Vaealiki
Dallas
Orr
Moran
Logan
Higham
Feka
Hock
Fletcher
O'Loughlin
Brown
Tickle
Fielden
Seu Seu

Except that wasn't an accurate representation of our 06 team.

FB Ashton v Hardaker - Hardaker
RW Calderwood v Davies - Davies
RC Richards/McCavoy v Sarginson - Sarginson (as a centre!)
LC Vaealiki v Gildart - Gildart
LW Dallas v Burgess - Draw (Dallas last season before retirement)
SO Orr v Williams - Williams
SH Moran v Leuluai - Leuluai
P Logan v Bullock - Logan
H Higham v Powell - Powell (Higham was gash for us)
P Paleaaesina v Flower - Draw (Feka better in attack, Flower in defence. Flower plays longer)
SR Hock v Greenwood - Hock
SR Fletcher v Farrell - Draw
LF 06 O'Loughlin v 19 O'Loughlin - 06 O'Loughlin

S Seuseu v Clubb - Clubb
S Godwin v Sammut - Draw
S Tickle v Navarette - Navarette (Tickle played prop that year and got smashed senseless)
S Hansen v Isa - Hansen