They also only had 4,000 against Leeds you saying Leeds wouldn't of took that aswell?

They're lowest crowd was 2,100 big gap from 3,800

But still doubt they're was many more than 600 last night but I do get the point about people getting back into the swing of going again esp away matches

Well the first problem is that Shaul isnt fit and McNamara is.

I'm not talking about this as a long term move, but for the next month or so.

McNamara has a much better skillset than Shaul to play hooker.

You seem to think all you need to play hooker is pace, so why not play Swift there?

The hooket situation is Radfords fault, he should have addressed it two years ago, but he preferred to play Houghton for the full 80. Even if Houghton was out he rather play the likes of Fash, Hadley or Washbrook over Litten.

I just hope Hodgson can see how desperate we are for a hooker.

We do need another prop, but we have 6 decent props plus Bowden.

Compare this to Houghton and Johnstone, you can see hooker is a real weakness.

Wigan's attendance tonight was just 5,555 which will ring alarm bells for all clubs.

Indeed snd I think it was always going to a real concern that such a long lay off of not being able to go to games means clubs and the sport will lose fans from getting out the habit of going, struggling financially due to covid, realise more important things to do or spend money on etc the list goes on. There is also a real apathy for the game that has been growing not helped by the piddle poor governance of the sport.

I also think the growing discontent amongst the Wigan fans and Lam being the coach won’t help their attendance on top of the other reasons.

Whats the skill set Mcnamara has that Shaul doesnt have to play 9?
Its normally pick the ball up and pass to a first receiver.Any Pro rugby player surely can do that.
Pace is now what the game is all about and some real pace in this area would help our go forward such a lot.
Maybe until Shaul is fit then use Mcnamara in this position but for me he is too similar to Johnstone.
Still maintain its no longer a specialist position and as you have pointed out in your following post Radford used several forwards in this position.The wrong options in my opinion but goes to prove its not specialist and why the hooker position should be officially reclassified as a dummy-half

Radford did and it never worked. That's why hooker is a specialist position. You are surely contradicting yourself.

It is indeed. Think we got circa 5k for our 2 games. Interesting what ours will be against Leeds especially on TV and a Thursday night.

As Dave K said if it's that easy why don't you play wingers as a hooker. Passing the ball with speed and accuracy to the first receiver tackle after tackle is a skill. Hookers make it look easy because they've played there all their professional careers. I agree with you the new rules suit a more explosive pacy dummy half but Shaul has never played there before and I cannot see how he can adjust now.

Craig Wing would of been your man, he was a hooker, and a Wing

As said we’re in desperate need of a 9. I’d be going for Joey Lussick. Isn’t getting a game at Eels but was always impressed with him at Salford.
After a hooker we need a prop. Bowden offers less and less each game and Brown still hss daft mistakes in him, although in a few seasons time he’ll be some player.

As for Savelio it was gunna happen as him and JJ was at each other all game. Probably due to JJ milking every penny out of the club and putting even more pressure on the rest of the squad in a very tough season for everyone. Everyone shows passion in different ways and for me I’d rather someone express some sort of passion rather than the way certain players carry themselves.

while i understand your reasoning we know jamie was a halfback before dropping to fullback so his hands/passing are ok , its his choice of pass or not when joining the line at speed from fullback ? passing off the floor from a set position in a well coached team along with his running skills and general upper body strength leads me to think he could be a really good if not great hooker ? its just an opinion like yours but until tried we will never know who is right or wrong ?

And I respect yours and other peoples opinions who differ from mine. If he makes the switch and is a success I'll be as pleased as everyone else but I can't see it happening.

Especially those with massive financial troubles.

Which will be all clubs, think every club will be worried

Exactly Dave, even if any of the clubs are financially sound due to very wealthy owner (Wire as an example) it makes no difference how much money you have if the rest of the league and sport in general is collapsing. Again you only have to look at what happened to the ice hockey when the Elite started and the league collasped when 2 teams folded, didn't matter that 3 of the teams were minted as they were left without anyone to play.and no product to sell.

I was quite shocked with the level of loses that Hetherington made know about the Rhino's due to the impact of Covid on them as a club and the sport. He admitted that this year and next is likely to face similar loses so again proving that no club is safe.

Its more important than ever before that clubs, owners and authorities start to work together for the common good of the sports preservation.

I see Jones has had his ban reduced to one match, you couldn't make it up, especially when Watson supported him for fighting soon after the match had finished.

It's laughable. If the RFL want to put an end to punching give out longer suspensions. Don't dish out a suspension then reduce it on appeal!

The inconsistency is mind blowing.

The whole system needs an overhaul. I'd like to see us have a points loading system like in the NRL. This should be harsher on repeat offenders, but if the staff at the match review panel doesn't change, it doesn't matter what the process is.

After Ligi Sao was pinged for a high tackle they decided to miss several elbows to the face from the Hudds player on the floor.
so an elbow is acceptable but a punch is a ban

At the appeal, Jones pleaded not guilty to the offence. His argument was rejected in principle, but the classification of the offence was reduced to Grade B, and the suspension was reduced to one match, while his fine remains at £500.

so on that basis we should have appealed,
Savelios argument would have been rejected but grade reduced

How was Tony clubb playing tonight
8 match ban ?

Based upon the Jones decision I’m surprised we hadn’t appealed, in the hope the Panel reduced the ban.

However, overall I’ve never seen the point of player appeals unless new evidence becomes available. When a game has been on Sky, they have various TV angles to review the incident, so the correct disciplinary ban should be handed first time around.

He served eight matches - the Wigan v Hull game was in April and Wigan haven't had the match postponements most clubs have.

Surely we have appealed Savelio, I thought we had a good chance of it being reduced based on other bans such as Mossop's. But with Ones being reduced we should have an even better chance.