Wiggin game : Thu Mar 30, 2023 9:26 pm  

I think the win at Hull must have taken a lot out of Leigh for the game tonight. Leigh played their hearts out but Wiggin took control and French and Field were on fire tonight. Leigh looked tired and devoid of attacking ideas when in Wiggin's 20. Ipape looks like he's carrying a niggle. I am concerned about Leigh's small squad. Chamberlain is an excellent player in the Championship but he's not top SL quality. Then we have Nisbet as 18th man. No disrespect but you need better fringe players at this level. So next week we will have Big Ben and Gareth O'Brien out. Get any more injuries against Salford and Leigh will be struggling. Time to be looking to beef up the squad.

Re: Wiggin game : Thu Mar 30, 2023 9:33 pm  

I concur. Disappointing is the nicest thing I can say about they, they really did look tired and it didn't make for a good match, it's a pity 9000+ and a TV audience also had to witness it too.

I suppose it was foolish to think we might have a shout or Wigan might be a shadow of themselves but the better team won.

I can't see us getting anything from the Salford match and then we have 3 fixtures that we could do with winning (though maybe not Leeds who seem to be hitting some form) and as WYSIWYG2, having a possibly depleted squad going into those matches and things could look bleak.

Though to be optimistic, getting 4 from the next 8 would really solidify us as a team and in the league. We'll see what the future brings.

Re: Wiggin game : Thu Mar 30, 2023 9:38 pm  

Looked tired tonight. Short turnaround didn't help then compounded by the enforced reshuffle. Hard for Chamberlain to come in to that game so early although I agree he may not be good enough at this level. I've completely changed my opinion on Hardaker's best position, thought he looked really poor at full back. That's probably how we will have to line up next week though!

Ipape needs quick ruck which we didn't get at all tonight. Also think that having Davis as a back up is wasteful as he should be getting more minutes either in the back row or as a replacement prop.

All in all, whether or not we beat wigan isn't gauge for success for us, had a good start and the Wakefield game in a couple of weeks is the big one.

Nakabuwai in a knee brace apparently which we can ill afford. Nathan Mason available for loan which may be great timing for us. Seems like a no brainer. Hopefully Shorrocks will be available again for us soon. Jack Hughes gave me bad Ben Flower vibes when we signed him and early signs aren't good.

Re: Wiggin game : Thu Mar 30, 2023 10:04 pm  

Agree with you Leyther about Hughes. Powell got rid of the Warrington lot for a good reason. Apart from Charnley and Malone, I don't rate the others. Yes, I would get Mason drafted in and, hopefully, Shorrocks back. It's about surviving this season which we should do reasonably well if we can bolster the small squad with solid SL players to offset injuries and suspensions we may pick up. There's a long way to go yet but I think 8th or 9th place finish. In our 7 games we've played mostly top clubs, so they've done extremely well to pick up 3 wins, 2 away from home. Salford have their injury problems so you never know.

Re: Wiggin game : Thu Mar 30, 2023 11:09 pm  

Our forwards were well beaten tonight, and the rest is what happens when you're on the back foot on defence and attack.

I think there's only Warrington & Wigan who have really beaten our forwards this season so far. Disappointed with tonight, but not too much.

Re: Wiggin game : Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:04 am  

leyther wrote:

Looked tired tonight. Short turnaround didn't help then compounded by the enforced reshuffle. Hard for Chamberlain to come in to that game so early although I agree he may not be good enough at this level. I've completely changed my opinion on Hardaker's best position, thought he looked really poor at full back. That's probably how we will have to line up next week though!

Ipape needs quick ruck which we didn't get at all tonight. Also think that having Davis as a back up is wasteful as he should be getting more minutes either in the back row or as a replacement prop.

All in all, whether or not we beat wigan isn't gauge for success for us, had a good start and the Wakefield game in a couple of weeks is the big one.

Nakabuwai in a knee brace apparently which we can ill afford. Nathan Mason available for loan which may be great timing for us. Seems like a no brainer. Hopefully Shorrocks will be available again for us soon. Jack Hughes gave me bad Ben Flower vibes when we signed him and early signs aren't good.

Hardaker hasn't looked a good fullback since before his drugs ban. Lost a yard of pace and doesn't have the playmaker skills that a modern fullback would ideally have. Better played at centre. Rare for him to have such a poor defensive game though.

Re: Wiggin game : Fri Mar 31, 2023 4:48 am  

I know we were well beaten, but the debatable try from Field and the flukey kick that rebounded nicely for Wiggin, then we had them pinned on there own ten metre line and one offload from King with three on him gets them up field easily. Pierce Paul had Lam wrapped up all night. Go behind Lam or bypass him we have an overlap. Over sixty points conceded against Wiggin and Wire not a good sign. Let’s get some teams lower than us and hopefully pick up more wins. Hopefully the 9000+ crowd turns up next week.

Re: Wiggin game : Fri Mar 31, 2023 6:45 am  

Wigan we’re very good last night, having French and field on the ball so much changed there whole set up, we had no answer o for the speed of either, Wigans line speed was tremendous all night and shut down the edges, ipape was s**te he was playing behind a beaten pack I get that but he has to jump and go and keep the line speed honest, Davies jumped twice and made good yardage, not a game we should be targeting in fairness, plenty of more important games, thought mulhern stood out and played big minutes, Ethan Harvard was a joy to watch, big and great footwork

Re: Wiggin game : Fri Mar 31, 2023 8:39 am  

John Asiata is a super player.

Great event last night. You’ll be fine this year and finish between 6th and 10th comfortably

Re: Wiggin game : Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:16 am  

Disappointing night regarding how we played , credit though to the effort , there was no lack of that on show . Wigan stepped up a few gears and bossed us from start to finish and pin pointed our strengths, Lam GOB and Kai and marked them out of the game. Need more strength as every one knows and I’m sure CC and Derek will address
As for the event , as ever really enjoyed it