Re: Saints (a) : Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:49 pm  

Wigan fans throwing their pints at kids.

Stay classy wigan fans.

Disgusting

Re: Saints (a) : Fri Jun 09, 2023 10:14 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

It was probably a bit better than I feared. It’s a tough spell for sure but there are reasons for it and we just need to make sure we start getting a run together on the other side. I think we will and I’m not ruling us out of anything yet.

I’m very much with this point of view, I have pretty much written off the challenge cup but I think with a few more bodies back in the pack and we could be in with a shout come October. I really do think if Dupree was a realistic signing we should pay the money and get him in now, he could be the difference this year.

Re: Saints (a) : Fri Jun 09, 2023 10:34 pm  

missing briers

Re: Saints (a) : Sat Jun 10, 2023 2:03 am  

Pieman wrote:

missing briers

Missing tackles! Our defence is shocking.

Re: Saints (a) : Sat Jun 10, 2023 2:10 am  

exiled Warrior wrote:

Leadership agreed - none on the pitch Farrell is not a captain.Our 7 will do nothing with a pack that has no go forward and even worse no runners, Farrel back to lumbering up and walking, Smithies always offers less than zero in attack, we really miss Isa who runs on to the ball with some speed and at least gets the defense going backwards even if he is not really big enough.

Our pack was useless today apart from Ellis who I thought ran himself to a standstill. everything feels like slow motion. We need some serious recruitment and a few clearouts at the end of the season. Peet needs to decide who is playing 6 and stick with them keep chopping and changing is not helpiing at all.

Too many one out drives and stupid mistakes are killing us, same each week.

I agree with you Exiled, our pack is the problem and it needs some serious surgery. Anything short of two new props and another second row will be criminal. We need to stop trying to put round pegs into square holes. The only stand off in the squad is Hampshire yet we persist with trying everybody else in that position. If the coaches deem Rocky not good enough then we need to recruit. Come on Rads and IFL get a ruthless streak and move players on.

Re: Saints (a) : Sat Jun 10, 2023 2:11 am  

jonh wrote:

We are very low on grunt in the pack and confidence.

If we are to turn this around both those elements need addressing.

We have been for a few years John, I keep hoping we are going to correct the problem but then we sign the likes of Mago!

Re: Saints (a) : Sat Jun 10, 2023 2:26 am  

NSW wrote:

Saints were sensational - threats all over the pitch. Bringing Walmsley off to put Paasi on is unfair. Heavy favourites for everything still.

As for us Jesus were to start.

Was slightly optimistic at half time, after their second try we started to get agreesive and matched their physicality. Second half was just men against boys.

Mago is a complete waste of time and we should just blood Hill/Nsemba over him.

Team wise I don’t know how to sort it but Harry Smith needs a settled partner.

I know Powell splits opinion but how on earth is Cust getting a game over him, he’s an absolute turnstile and must have missed at least 5 tackles.

Thornley had a shocker and King should return next week IMO.

Hopefully we can sneak a result next week then try to work out our best team before a potential semi final. Can’t see it unfortunately.

I think that is a fair summary. We need to get rid of a number of players and sort our recruitment out. Mago, Singleton, Powell, Cust, Miski, King, Thornley and either Isa or Faz need to go in order to release some cap space and non-federation quota spots. Miski has been one of the successes this season but we can’t have a backup winger as an overseas player. Likewise we cannot afford to carry two players who are coming to the end of their illustrious careers. We need to follow the Saints model: size; power; and craft. We are forever commenting on ‘if we had their pack of forwards’ but our management do little to bridge the gap. As for our coaches, they must now come under the spotlight. Lockers is our defence coach and we are leaking tries for fun. Tommy is our attack coach and we are struggling to create opportunities. Peet now looks out of his depth with team selections.

Re: Saints (a) : Sat Jun 10, 2023 6:41 am  

DannyT wrote:

We’ve been waiting for the warm weather to play our ‘free-flowing’ rugby but we are just getting shown up in every area of the game now. The mitigation is the pack is all over the place but when I hear Wilkin say ‘this is a good learning game for Smithies’ I'm just left shaking my head in disbelief, he’s got 13 on his back, our absolutely iconic jersey at the club and he’s got nothing to his game that warrants that honour.

Apart from the 53 tackles he made? 22 more than anyone else in a Wigan shirt and 17 more than anyone in a Saints shirt.

Re: Saints (a) : Sat Jun 10, 2023 7:24 am  

nathan_rugby wrote:

Apart from the 53 tackles he made? 22 more than anyone else in a Wigan shirt and 17 more than anyone in a Saints shirt.

Was half expecting some raw stats to be used but they don’t show his impact on the opposition, he doesn’t dominate tackles, he’s too small. Symptomatic of our entire pack to be honest, great engine but absolutely offers nothing in attack to warrant the opposition being concerned by him. You would think he did more tackles anyway with the amount of ball we didn’t have. He’s a bit like a welterweight throwing 100 punches on a heavyweight and then the heavyweight lands one and puts him down.

Re: Saints (a) : Sat Jun 10, 2023 7:41 am  

DannyT wrote:

Was half expecting some raw stats to be used but they don’t show his impact on the opposition, he doesn’t dominate tackles, he’s too small. Symptomatic of our entire pack to be honest, great engine but absolutely offers nothing in attack to warrant the opposition being concerned by him. You would think he did more tackles anyway with the amount of ball we didn’t have. He’s a bit like a welterweight throwing 100 punches on a heavyweight and then the heavyweight lands one and puts him down.

Great post (and raised a smile here)

Agree 100% on the pack as a unit - not good enough.

Can't agree with some other comments on this thread re get rid of Smith/Cust/Hampshire/King/Thornley - if we fix what is the real problem (the pack) then these guys look 100% better. I'm not saying the backs are perfect BTW.

Rest Smith? For who - Farrimond isn't ready and where is Astley? Maybe Forber at a pinch?

TBF - Get Havard back and maybe look to promote the biggest reserve prop we have, get Singo fit along with Isa and we get more out of Hill/Nsemba rotating in. We just can't afford less than 4 forwards on the bench right now so pick your best Hooker and Stand off and stick with them.