Excellent defence? I'm not so sure. Maybe if you watched it again without the nerves and emotion and you'll see his errors.

I very much doubt anyone has seen a faultless display in RL from a team, or player, I would guess that the word excellent takes that into account and is a judgment on the performance as a whole, and is not a statement of perfection.

big up to Wane, going for the big bench, MM playing the 80 and Logan left out.

Our momentum does get halted when Logan come on. He could be a decent player, we have seen glimpses, but not yet there. Any more news on him going to NZ to carry Sams luggage?

Wane learnt a lesson from when they beat us at the DW, tie up Brough, give him no space and stop him kicking and you neutralise half of their threat.

Wane has stepped up in my eyes as a good tactician.

Not me, what good was Andy Powell? None. I'd drop him, start Dudson/Crosby and play Hampshire off the bench, with Tuson in for Hughes and Goulding in for Thornley with Gelling shifting to the left centre. There was a moment where MM went down and it dawned on me "What the hell will Wane do if a hooker or half gets injured in this one? Farrell at hooker?

"

I know that. But as a whole, his performance was far from excellent. Sometimes it is easier to see these things when it isn't your team involved.

For the very few minutes Powell has been on the last 2 weeks I have been impressed,he always seems to be around the action and has'nt made too many glaring errors but after both of his first stints he just looked knackered and had a look on his face like it was all too intense for him.Like the previous poster said drop him for Hampshire so we have options to cover the back line.

Anybody think SOL will be back for the Final?i think even an 80% fit SOL is worth the risk in playing.

You keep mentioning using Hampshire off the bench, how exactly? It's too disruptive to the team IMO to start moving halfbacks about. Before last night I was well up for dropping Green and letting Hampshire start at 6, but I don't think this is an option anymore. You can say the same about any position, you can't have like for like cover on the bench in case anyone gets injured, like when we lost Goulding v Leeds and Farrell had to go in the centres. We've had times when we've had players like Williams or Sam Powell sat on the bench for long spells and they've ended up being a waste of a sub, and an extra forward on the bench would be more beneficial

I think the team is more stable when 1,6,7 and 9 are consistent for 80mins. I agree re Powell, though. I think he's out of his depth at the minute and needs a full pre-season behind him. I don't know how Wane has seen him as a starting prop, if we are going to use him then 10-15 minute spells off the bench would be better.

Gelling and Thornley are doing my head in atm, neither seem to want to put their name on the LC position. It was Thornley's to lose after the CC final but he hasn't kicked on, now after last night you'd have to say it's Gellings, I really hope he can stay consistent for the last (hopefully) couple of games.

For the next game I think we should go:

S Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding
Gelling
Richards
Green
Smith
Crosby
McIlorum
Mossop
Hansen
Farrell
Flower

Taylor
Dudson
Tuson
Hughes/Burke

Thought Jack Hughes had a good game when he came on as well.

He should be. But we're not there yet

He can come on for McIlorum with Smith going to 9, or he can come on for either of the halves If they underperform, or if they're dealing with Sam too easily we can bring him on at full back with Sam going into the halves. It gives us options to change the momentum if we find things aren't going our way after half an hour or so, and it effectively provides cover for 1-7 and 9. Then you have props and back rowers on the bench anyway. We used to do a similar thing in '11 with McIlorum coming off the bench for Deacon with Leuluai moving from hooker to scrum half.

Yeh and I used to hate it. Can see the reasoning behind your thinking, just don't agree with it

.

The majority of the top hookers in the NRL play the full 80 and I think McIlorum should. I think the tactic of having a hooker on the bench is becoming a bit outdated, unless you've got someone in the Burrow/Higham mould who you can bring on to scoot at tired defenders. I think this season will have benefitted Logan immensely in terms of the experience he's gained, and he has had some excellent moments, but I really hope we don't see him in the 17 again this season.

There were two huge collisions in the first 10 minutes between Eorl Crabtree and Andy Powell, Eorl won both collisions due to better RL technique, but neither player was right afterwards, courage and determination on Andy Powell's part played a significant part in nullifying Eorl's impact. Yes AP is not yet technically very good, but he has size and heart and he deserves credit for that, though he played short minutes as a Huddersfield supporter I thought he did significant work in blunting one of our big weapons.

I've seen him driving to training most days this week, so his foot can't be too knackered - although I appreciate controlling pedals and running are two totally different things...

I do think he could prove to be a decent asset to Wigan in the future, I just think at this moment in time he is too raw and has too much to learn to be starting games at prop in playoff games. I'd have no problem with him coming on 10 minutes before half time because due to his size, strong running and offloading he'd cause problems to tiring defences.

Oh dear - have a guess who has written this?



No you made yourself look an idiot by admitting to breaking the AUP.

The next time you derail a thread will be the last time you post on here.

So you are using a comment I said on an entirely different website against me?? Unbelievable

P.S. I haven't admitted anything. Read carefully - I said "I may" have gone looking for a reaction. You really are clutching at straws here. I haven't broken the AUP and you know it. Saying McIlorum didn't play well is stating an opinion, which I am entitled to do.

Well, every village has one...

I never said you broke the AUP about McIlorum - HTH.

However your actions and now your comments show you up for what you are.

End of conversation.

What I am is somebody who is understandably aggrieved at what is blatant unfair treatment.

I agree, if were you, i would never set foot in here again... Bunch of barstewards,,,,

It's a ruddy rugby forum, not an employment tribunal.

Seriously, chill out.

Hold on. I'm being threatened with bans for simply stating my opinion on rugby matters. Surely it isn't me that needs to chill out?

Will somebody tell this idiot who reported his comment off Redvee as he seems to think I did it.

I read them for myself on Red Vee last night - it's what happens what you post something on a public forum.



Someone owes you an apology.