Re: Forward watch : Thu Apr 14, 2022 9:21 am  

Stu M wrote:

I think with a fully fit team he would be on the bench at best as an impact back row. Unfortunately Hopoate has barely played (although I am underwhelmed by his signing) and Grace has played one game all season so Hurrell has been needed.

With a fully fit team it will be 2. Makinson 3. Hopoate 4. Percival 5. Grace

The Hopoate signing was a strange one, was never really overly impressed with him in the NRL, I remember he burst onto the scene on debut with Manly but after he came back from his religious break from the game he never hit the heights.

Guessing his connection with Woolf played a part.

Played over 150 NRL so must be decent but wasn’t a signing I was gutted about Wigan missing out on (despite his needing a strike centre).

Will see how he goes tomorrow as barely seen his this year.

Hurrell is a luxury player that a team like Leeds couldn’t afford, Saints however who are normally on the front foot in most games he’s a good squad player for them.

Re: Forward watch : Thu Apr 14, 2022 10:22 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

“We know they can’t defend”

Do we? Where have you seen that? Field has been superb defensively this season. French has hardly played and will be on the wing anyway, so it’s unlikely he’ll have to do much tackling.

He only strolled over once against Leeds, so we should be ok. I think there’s every chance Saints leave him out anyway, that’s how much they trust him.

Isn't French on the opposite wing anyway? It would be a very disruptive game plan that would be looking to have Hurrell running at French. I hope they do!

Alternatively it could just be Shabino not knowing what he's talking about...

Re: Forward watch : Thu Apr 14, 2022 11:07 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

Isn't French on the opposite wing anyway? It would be a very disruptive game plan that would be looking to have Hurrell running at French. I hope they do!

Alternatively it could just be Shabino not knowing what he's talking about...

If Saints line up like last week and we do regards Hurrell and French, they will be on the same side (Hurrell right centre and French left wing). It’s a clash of styles for sure and an interesting one if either manages to isolate the other but with it being a winger and a centre it’s doubtful we’ll see Hurrell go over/through French in a one on one. On the flip side French may get a chance to come inside and attack Hurrell, especially when running the ball back from kicks and maybe linking with Field.

I think somebody summed it up well when stating that Hurrell is a luxury player and Saints can afford that. The work their players will do in the middle could well mean he has a blinder and barges over for a couple of try’s. It’ll be a fast game tomorrow though and the longer it goes and the closer it is, the more he will tire. He’s lost weight but it doesn’t look to have had a huge impact on his fitness (you could say the same about Mago but then he’s only going to play for 20-25 mins).

Re: Forward watch : Thu Apr 14, 2022 11:10 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

(you could say the same about Mago but then he’s only going to play for 20-25 mins).

They will be the 20-25 minutes that could win us the game though I feel.

If we can hang on when Walmsley is on the field and not end up 3 scores behind early then his offloads could break things open for us.

Re: Forward watch : Thu Apr 14, 2022 11:18 am  

Egg Chasing wrote:

They will be the 20-25 minutes that could win us the game though I feel.

If we can hang on when Walmsley is on the field and not end up 3 scores behind early then his offloads could break things open for us.

Fully agree.

I think it’ll be quite late when we see him (possibly after half time) and it’s so important we stick there or thereabouts until that time because if we can get him 8-10 carries in the time he’s on the field, there’s a chance he can crack something open for us. I hope we chance our arm tomorrow and really move the ball. I’ve no issue with us going conservative for the first 20-25 mins but we’ll need to open up at some point to trouble them.

Re: Forward watch : Thu Apr 14, 2022 11:52 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

If Saints line up like last week and we do regards Hurrell and French, they will be on the same side (Hurrell right centre and French left wing). It’s a clash of styles for sure and an interesting one if either manages to isolate the other but with it being a winger and a centre it’s doubtful we’ll see Hurrell go over/through French in a one on one. On the flip side French may get a chance to come inside and attack Hurrell, especially when running the ball back from kicks and maybe linking with Field.

I think somebody summed it up well when stating that Hurrell is a luxury player and Saints can afford that. The work their players will do in the middle could well mean he has a blinder and barges over for a couple of try’s. It’ll be a fast game tomorrow though and the longer it goes and the closer it is, the more he will tire. He’s lost weight but it doesn’t look to have had a huge impact on his fitness (you could say the same about Mago but then he’s only going to play for 20-25 mins).

I was thinking more in terms of Miski playing in which case French will be on the right. If it's Halsall then it could be either but I still think he'll be on the right but could stay on the left. I think he played left last week because Thornley was in the side which he won't be this week.

Re: Forward watch : Thu Apr 14, 2022 11:55 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

I was thinking more in terms of Miski playing in which case French will be on the right. If it's Halsall then it could be either but I still think he'll be on the right but could stay on the left. I think he played left last week because Thornley was in the side which he won't be this week.

That’s a point. At least Saints will be as in the dark as we are. I’d like to see French somewhere around Hurrell but Makinson has been playing on the left with Percival, so that side is very strong for them and they may want to put French over there with Bateman.

Re: Forward watch : Thu Apr 14, 2022 12:09 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

That’s a point. At least Saints will be as in the dark as we are. I’d like to see French somewhere around Hurrell but Makinson has been playing on the left with Percival, so that side is very strong for them and they may want to put French over there with Bateman.

I think he needs something of a roaming brief if he's on the right. His footwork last week looked to be getting back to what we know he's capable of. I think it would be too much for Hurrell even with relatively little space.

Re: Forward watch : Sat Apr 16, 2022 10:11 am  

Not reading 25 pages to get the general consensus but having watched all of Wigan's games this season there's got to be concerns over a lot of these 'middle' forwards longer term. It might be tactical to build fitness through the season and peak at the end but right now nobody looks capable of making good ground consistently, really missing a big enforcer to lead the younger lads. You'd think Mago would be the one to do it but very disappointed with what he's given so far, too occupied with getting an offload away rather than getting on the front foot. His stats from yesterday are a disgrace - 22 metres from 7 carries! Even if he's getting flat ball from dummy half he's getting dominated in the contact every time to only make that pitiful average gain.

Havard looks a great prospect but does he have any intention of staying long term? By all accounts Melbourne were after him a couple of years ago and if he keeps performing it's only a matter of time before the NRL interest comes back.

Singleton got some good aggression defensively but you need more, he's coming into his peak now and I'd expect better from someone at this stage of his career.

Byrne is doing OK but is crying out for a starting partner who he can play off. You wouldn't be starting him at all at ideally but needs must.

Partington, not going to make it for me. Been playing regularly for a few seasons now and he's powder puff in the carry and full of dumb errors and discipline. Needs massive improvement.

Jury out on Ellis, needs a regular run before we can really evaluate.

Back row is fine, could upgrade on Isa with KPP (another who probably won't stay though!) and Smithies is another positive, he is being brought through well behind the established players and should be playing 13 for a good few years.

Re: Forward watch : Sat Apr 16, 2022 1:06 pm  

SFW wrote:

Not reading 25 pages to get the general consensus but having watched all of Wigan's games this season there's got to be concerns over a lot of these 'middle' forwards longer term. It might be tactical to build fitness through the season and peak at the end but right now nobody looks capable of making good ground consistently, really missing a big enforcer to lead the younger lads. You'd think Mago would be the one to do it but very disappointed with what he's given so far, too occupied with getting an offload away rather than getting on the front foot. His stats from yesterday are a disgrace - 22 metres from 7 carries! Even if he's getting flat ball from dummy half he's getting dominated in the contact every time to only make that pitiful average gain.

Havard looks a great prospect but does he have any intention of staying long term? By all accounts Melbourne were after him a couple of years ago and if he keeps performing it's only a matter of time before the NRL interest comes back.

Singleton got some good aggression defensively but you need more, he's coming into his peak now and I'd expect better from someone at this stage of his career.

Byrne is doing OK but is crying out for a starting partner who he can play off. You wouldn't be starting him at all at ideally but needs must.

Partington, not going to make it for me. Been playing regularly for a few seasons now and he's powder puff in the carry and full of dumb errors and discipline. Needs massive improvement.

Jury out on Ellis, needs a regular run before we can really evaluate.

Back row is fine, could upgrade on Isa with KPP (another who probably won't stay though!) and Smithies is another positive, he is being brought through well behind the established players and should be playing 13 for a good few years.

thats been the issue for 3 years now