I started this thread during the home game against Leeds. My post was a knee-jerk reaction to a truly awful display. I've watched with interest the subsequent posts and I'm closing it with a number of final observations.
1. In pre-season it was obvious to all that we needed prop forwards. Instead we released Chris Hill. Maybe he had the mother of all offers to join the Giants. I have no idea, but I do know that I would have negotiated very strongly to keep him.
2. We do have some promising youngsters coming through the Academy. I think they would need encouragement from the coaches and fellow players. I find it totally
reprehensible that Daryl Powell would choose to publicly denounce Riley Dean, not once but twice. We have plenty of "senior" players more deserving of a dressing-down.
3. Mike Cooper - what a player he has been for us. I have no idea whether he was a "bad apple". It's been suggested that he was more interested in his clothing business. Again I have no idea, but you'd need to sell a lot of hats to compensate for his salary as a rugby league player.
4. Defence. I recognise that Daryl Powell has a reputation for favouring attacking teams but the total collapse of our defensive capabilities under Steve Price takes some understanding.
5. Attack. The kicking game has been dreadful - I don't think that's too strong. It wasn't that good last year under Lee Briers but he would seem to be doing okay listening to the Wigan fans.
6. This thread shows that Daryl Powell has some supporters. I don't understand this myself based on this season's performances.Nor do I share the view that next season promises better - why would it as most of the players available will be the self-same that have proven to be so disappointing this year?
7. I was six or seven what I first went to Wilderspool. It was 1964 or 1965. So I've some pretty awful displays in the interim. Memory fades but I well remember the 0 - 50 defeat to Salford. In more recent times, I don't recall ever seeing a team put out by Tony Smith or Steve Price that simply gave up. I saw that under Paul Cullen (Castleford away and home) and this year too.
Here's to next season............