Really liked that full back of yours last night. Probably better than Sam under the high ball. Wouldn`t mind signing him if he was available.

He's generally not been that good under the high ball, great player though aye, I think he's played his way into a bench spot for next week

For such a small sample you would have to look at context... Nowhere near a big enough number of games to "Prove" anything.

If Wane drops him to the bench after last night and starts with Matty Smith, he'll be massively letting Hampshire down.

I wouldn't get on Smith's back too much, he just seems to be having to do it all himself IMO. I forget Blake Green was on the pitch

It's hardly just the 1 game though is it? I agree Smith isn't the only halfback under performing, but he was awful last night, and wasnt exactly brilliant the last 2 games prior to that either. Hampshire has completely outshone him in the last 2 league games, for me it sends completely the wrong message if he's dropped from the starting lineup after those performances.

He was not, for 10 mins...

Smith needs a good running stand off to partner him, what's Green meant to be doing again? Hopefully he's just getting back into the swing of things. Hampshire has only played a handful of games in the first team, all at full back bar a 20 minute cameo in the halves last week v Widnes. He's going well but he's got to do it consistently for a while before I'd give him the starting spot. I'd give him about 40 mins off the bench this week with Green taking a breather for 20 then McIlorum doing the same (Smith to 9).

I'm more concerned about Charnley. He's been a staple of the first team now for how long? And yet his defensive positioning is atrocious, he has no faith in his inside men and gets needlessly drawn in leaving his winger unmarked, as he did for both Swift tries last night.

With those two early tries by Saints, if you watch them back again, Charnley was 'all at sea' with both of them.

He is one of the very best finishers in the game, but his defence last night ?

After looking at the table this morning one thing really stood out.

Huddersfield points for 703.
Wigan points for 736
Warrington points for 721
As you can see Hudds are within 33 points of Wigan and Wire within 15 points of Wigan in points scored, I know Wigan have had far less points scored against them than Hudds and Wire.but it is the change in points scored in the last 8 weeks that are worrying.
If you had looked at the league table before Magic I seem to remember that Wigan had scored getting on for 150 points more than the other two.
This made me look back to Bilko's Stats.

In the 17 first team matches up to and including the Broncos game (week before Magic) Sam scored 29 trys.
In 8 matches since (including Magic) he has scored 3.
I know you can say that Sam has not played much during the last few weeks ,but when you look at the number of trys he scored in those 17 weeks and more importantly the No of assists he was involved in gives a lot to think about.

It does not take much working out how many points in theory are being taken from the Wigan Team and the job Wigan will have replacing those points when/if Sam goes.

Exactly. His reputation is built entirely on his attacking play - which of course is often second to none - but that seems to be all a lot of people see.

He was the sole cause of the first conceded try and the major cause of the second, both with terrible defensive reads, and we never fully recovered from that deficit, yet I haven't seen one person criticise him and instead heap criticism on the much less experienced Gelling, whose mistakes weren't nearly so costly.

I'd buy Danny Houghton it would solve a lot of problems

I just wonder if Charnley has issues because Goulding is struggling as well - he looks off the pace. I do wonder if Goulding is anywhere near fully fit, he has missed a lot of games this season and does not look up to the standard he set last year.

Playing devils advocate...


3.Briscoe would be a good replacement if he does come - would certainly add some pace and has a lot of experience. I tend to discount rumours though until something definite is in place.

2. Both Thornley and Gelling do have potential and I would love to see one of them at least go on to become a top centre but both are young and relatively inexperienced, both make mistakes and bad decisions at times,obviously following Carmont was always going to be tough as I thought he was the best centre Wigan had for a very long time. I just wonder if an experienced centre would be worth signing for a year or two teach the younger players....might just add some variety to our attacking play as well.

1. Hampshire is still too young for full time SL - introduce him gradually but he is not a full time replacement for Sam if he does leave, at least not yet (and possibly never - he is supposed to be a half back as far as I know) - all dependant on what Sam does...........

I thought Matty Smith was at fault for the first two tries, but we are entitled to have are own opinions about these things...

The first try was a 2 on 2, Meli (I think) and Swift v Smith and Charnley. Smith made the tackle, if Charnley had marked his man there would have been nobody to pass to and the play would have been complete, yet Charnley came in for no reason at all giving Swift free reign down the wing! It was a nonsensical defensive read. Besides, regardless of who is playing inside you and what problems they may or may not be having, you have to let them take on their responsibilities and you take on yours.

Smith makes the tackle in the first try and Charnley decides to help, leaving Swift unmarked for the offload.

Smith misses the tackle in the second try but this is covered by Goulding and Hampshire. Unfortunately Charnley decides to help again, which as well as being unnecessary is badly timed and he leaves Swift unmarked again for the offload. I'd say Smith was more at fault in the second as the initial break was his fault, but had Charnley not left his wing again Lomax would likely have had no offload option.

You're not wrong pal, I think that even with or without him that we will still struggle to beat either the Wolves or the Rhinos come play off time

IMO we've batted well above our average this season and it's not so long ago that we believed that the SL leaders shield was done and dusted,now we find ourselves in a race for either of the top 3 positions,I believe that the Challenge cup is going to be our only realistic trophy this season I'm afraid and that it will be a shoot out between Warrington and the Rhinos at OT

Briscoe is quality, but will only thrive with a good centre, sadly Carmont and Glesson are long gone. There isn't a good centre at the club.

Charnley seems to be getting a good return despite having a rubbish centre...

Two rubbish centres at Saints!!