I said to my mate at the game today that I’m seeing Smith a bit different this season. I always expected him to be an organiser more so than a runner and I thought he’d be more of a Paul Deacon style seven but I’m seeing a bit of Sean Long in him at the minute. He’s scampering around the place and coming up with some magic plays. He’ll get the daft errors out of his game with experience and as long as we’re patient, I think he’ll be winning us plenty of games in a couple of years.

No doubt. He has a touch of the Maverick about him that I think most hadn't given him credit for. The way he outmanoeuvred Escare was fantastic to see but the presence of mind to make the long pass to Farrell was the real highlight. I really hope Lam sticks with him once Tommy is back. Like garlic bread, he's the future

I think we'll see Tommy take Shorrocks spot on the bench.

From an attitude and leadership POV I think we've missed Tommy. You think back to last season and all the good parts of it (especially the defence), Tommy had a huge role in that.

Wouldn’t be the last player to be restricted by a coach’s rigid game plan.

Should have been a comfortable win, we should have absolutely smashed a Salford side missing their best players and captain. But no, disgraceful once again. Lam says we were “courageous”, I don’t know what side he was watching but we were anything but.

That result shows how utterly inept Lam is, Shorrocks at centre? Zak on the wing? No structure in attack, defence all over the place. Honestly what has Lam brought to this club? Get rid.

I think we are courageous in how we defend our line and refuse to just fold but that isn’t enough for a club like Wigan. We look a rabble with the ball and devoid of ideas. I fear these bucketload of close wins in run of the mill league games will actually do is more harm than good longer term, as it may keep Lammy in a job and I see no signs that we have more in us to show in the big games at the end of the season.

I'd like to think management are already making plans to replace regardless of how we finish this season. The rugby on show is just not entertaining even when we face lesser opposition with injuries. I just don't see the supporters coming back in droves once restrictions are lifted, that has to be a big concern to IL and KR.

I said on another forum that it’s criminal to think we’re so turgid to watch when our back line includes two man of steel winners from the last 5 years and a guy in French who should’ve got it last season IMO. We should be flying and an absolute nightmare to play against.

Yesterday if you imagine Bibby as a first choice winger until Marshall is fully fit we had the chance to play four out of our first choice back five in their correct positions, Lam decided to play two of them (French and Manfredi) where they should be, he then put our right centre on the left wing our left wing to left centre and a back row forward to right centre who others have said has never played there before.
Can someone on here with coaching experience explain explain that to me because I can't get my head around it.

Might sound harsh but I think we’re just supremely fit and able to defend like that because we are so fit.

It’s such a paradox, we’re sat top of the table unbeaten 7 games in and yet we’re calling for Lam’s head. I’ve got mates who are, unbelievably, pro Lam who just laugh when I’m off on one about him. We keep saying “we’ll get mullered by a good side” but we won’t. We’ll not get splatted by Saints by 30odd l - our lads have too much pride in the bank for that. I just hope that despite what the league says, IL/KR have seen through the smokescreen that provides and realised just how crap we are. It’s a good job the rest of the league is so poor IMO other than 2/3 other clubs.

I don't get why Lam is so desperate for Joe Shorrocks to play every game? One of the most average players we've brought through in recent times. Defending in the centre position he was out of place a few times as well and thankfully covered by Smith and Manfredi on a couple of occasions.

Said this the other day but against Leigh he made ONE carry in his 30+ minutes. Lam's reaction? Play him at centre... unbelievable!

Couldn’t have put it better myself.
I pray the powers that be can see through 7/7. We are treading a tightrope.

Either that or he saves us the trouble/disappointment and goes back himself

IL supposedly operates on trophies won.

He has 1 chance left to make it 1/6. That isn't good enough IMO.

Last year I was very much of the opinion that if we won the Grand Final he should stay on and I agreed with him staying on even losing it because of the manner of it and how we lifted at the back end of the season. This season is different for me. I’d replace him even if we did win it (which we won’t) unless we win it and in the process between now and then we actually start to look like a team that trains together in the week and plays this sparkling, attacking rugby he speaks of on a consistent basis.

The point people make about the crowds is a good one. Nobody other than diehards will be rushing out buy a ticket to watch what is on offer.

I’ll be going when we’re back at the DW. I want to take my lad to his first game now he’s just about old enough, but I won’t be going for the entertainment value. Just to ensure his loyalties are in the right place.

I still think the first game back will, and should, be packed to the rafters (as restrictions allow) and the first game back post restrictions should be also, further on from that and we’ll drop to the old crowd levels, if not less. You only have to look at social media to see that the fans disgruntlement isn’t limited to this forum.

I don’t think crowds will get back to pre pandemic levels for a long time sadly. I think people will have got out of the habit and when you add in the fact that a fair amount of people will still be pretty cautious about going in to areas packed with people.

The rugby on offer needs to be good to tempt as many people back as quickly as possible. What we’re dishing up at the moment won’t get any casual fans off the sofa or out of the pub. I loved being back at the game yesterday but the rugby on offer did it’s best to dampen the enthusiasm.

I really don’t see a grand rush to the turnstiles for the return to the DW,going to the match is a habit and once it’s broken it’s a hard one to get back in my humble opinion and let’s be fair pre pandemic they where hardly ever hanging the house full signs out even for the good Friday game

Funnily enough, I know quite a few people who's interest in Wigan & RL has grown over the pandemic. That's simply because it's been easier than ever to view every game on TV.

I'm also pretty confident that these people won't be rushing to the DW. They were casual fans that might have previously looked out for results and watched a few games on Sky, but they won't ever turn into "live" fans. They were however disappointed when the games switched back to different venues & on the our league app. All that will now happen is those fans will be lost to the club again.

Times have been changing for a while with crowds decreasing, whilst alternative choices becoming more abundant. The pandemic might be the final nail in the coffin and one that forces change (whether it is wanted by clubs or not).

To be fair I accept both valid points from NK and hengirl and I’ve just seen our first games back at home and when;

18/06 - KR
30/06 - Wire (On a Wednesday??!!)

So in summary; you’re both probably right.

Not sure why we’re having to wait till 18th June for a home game when others have had two already? I presume it’s our request as maybe work is getting done on the pitch. The only other thing I can’t think of is that the club want the chance of having bigger crowds comes then but that would be a dangerous tactic, given the easing of restrictions could always be put back.

People can talk about 7 from 7 all they want... but we are 0 from 1 in must win games this season.

Lam is 0 from 5 in the search for a trophy.

We’ll get found out soon enough.

I imagine that the delayed return for home games is down to the pitch having it's yearly maintenance

I remember, what, about a year ago on this forum someone reckoned we'd be so pleased to watch live sport that there'd be 15000 at the DW when crowds were allowed back. I thought that was crazy talk then, and I still do.

I do not have a down on Shorrocks. I think that he is a good young player who will make his future in the game. I see him a bit like Greg Burke though. He is a solid defending, ball playing forward who could add something different to an attack. Unfortunately he is being used as one of our clone middles or as a speculative centre.
For years now we have been in the position of throwing too many youngsters in at the same time because our senior players have not been up to the job.