Dobson is in the "top 10" for missed tackles and errors.

He is, but its tough to compare the other stats with tommy playing half the game at 9.

Dobson is top for kicks in general play and attacking kicks. He's also third for try assists.

Agreed, but the point I was really trying to make is that a lot of Wigan fans only see one side of a game, that's the attacking side.

I never remembered Dobsons defence at Wigan but really became aware last season when Saints targeted him in a televised game.

The stats appear to show that his defence has it really improved. It'll be interesting to see if Wigan send Hock at him next Friday in a similar way they targeted Long on Saturday.

Based on those stats - I'd take Dobbo everyday of the week at 7
Based on what I've seen of both over the years - I'd take Dobbo everyday of the week at 7
Based on what the team needs - I'd take Tomkins everyday of the week at 7 and sign an experienced world class 6 for him to learn off for a couple of years.

IL needs to do everything in his power to convince Smith his futures here..I know hes got things he wants to prove in aussie but his everyday life must be improved a hell of alot over here.the aussie press will be all over him as soon as he steps off the plane.

Come on Timmy you know it makes sense

Agreed, and we should play Tommy at 9.

That's not a dramatic difference tbh and also illustrates his kicking game which makes up for other shortfalls in my opinion.

Ah statistics again....

Dobson misses more tackles than Lulu but makes more (35/184). His ratio of missed to made is 0.19, nearly 1 in 5 tackes missed.

Lulu's is 0.15 (26/166), so he misses less but on the otherhand he also makes less.

And my random control group will be Paul Wellens - 0.14(12/82) and Feka - 0.08 (16/20icon_cool.gif.

I must be bored...

If you take into account that tommy has a rest when Riddell/ Mick Mc comes back on the he would have to go some to make as many tackles as dobson.
Dobson is not as good a player everyone thinks he is when he came to Wigan we were a beaten and a very poor side and he did look good but was found out big time when he went back to the NRL. his defending is poor and luckily for him he has some very good defending players in the same team he is not the player we need.

Alleluia.

So there's not only me.

To be fair you were declaring Sam Tomkins to be a carbon copy of Darren Lockyer a couple of weeks ago Brian

Who does he remind you of Liam....."Darrn Lockyer" i say "Darren Lockyer"

Comparing Smith to Lockyer or Andrew Johns is nonsense! Behave yourself!

Hes not comparing Smith with them.Hes comparing the pass he gave to tomkins which was world class and both the mentioned players would have been happy with.

Some of the greats of the game have said Smith will be world class.Johns and Sterling to mention just two

With Smith being OOC end of 2009 there don't appear to be too many NRL clubs kicking Wigan's door down to sign him.
He may well get an NRL club but he's got to weigh everything up before he returns. Another season at Wigan might do him a world of good.
I'd be very happy to see him stay.
A class act when on form.

I'd be happy to see him stay, but I just don't think he wants to, and I don't want someone who isn't interested playing for us.

I dont think its that, it seems he quite enjoys playing for the club. But it's just not australia is it? We can't really get annoyed because he wants to go back to aus, it's him home isn't it.

I'm sitting on the fence here but...
Since Tommy has a rest in a game he is likely to miss less tackles in a game because he is not tired.
Conversely, since Dobson is not subbed, he must be tired and therefore is more likely to miss tackles.
As rogue said, Friday's game will be revealing (but probably not conclusive).

Apparently Gold Coast are interested in him: www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Tita ... 5260597.jp Would make sense as IIRC, it's where he's from.

Apparently Gold Coast are interested in him: www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Tita ... 5260597.jp Would make sense as IIRC, it's where he's from.

Thats a move that could make great sense for him.

If he's close to family and friends you get the feeling he could play some sensational rugby for them.

If IL & BN anticipated Smith going back to Aus all along then surely they'll have a replacement in mind already. Interesting to know if that's Sam with the 6 shirt next year or another halfback coming in.

Maybe they intend going with Sam at 6, Tommy 7, Riddell 9 and McIlorum off the bench. That would mean Sam and Tommy doing 80 mins which neither do now.
Piggy will have his work cut out keeping McIl from starting.
Separately, it looks like Phelps will get another year from his deal. He's looking good at FB and has that important ingredient, pace!

id sign another player similar to phelps for the halves to cover if anyone gets injured.

joe mellor will be ready in a couple of years to step up.

lockyer would be a perfect signing for a couple of seasons, it would be bigger than barrett if we could get him even at his age he would bring a whole lot to super league similar to menzies at bradford.

This would make sense if tim went back as this would have been trents last year and we may not have saw sam T in the league yet we will never no.

Phelps has to stay imo.

I think if we look at it logically we probably won't be signing a halfback for next year unless one of McIlorum/Riddell were to leave.

We won't keep paying Riddell good money to sit in the stand so i'd expect him to be starting at 9 and with McIlorum looking back to top form he'll probably get a bench spot which leaves us with Tomkins and Leuluai for the halfback roles.

I can see us running with that with Phelps, Gleeson, O'Loughlin and Flanagan to act as cover for the halfbacks.

We will be ok with that imo but need to get a monster pack for them to play on the back of.