Re: Squad for Good Friday : Wed Apr 13, 2022 3:47 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

This was always coming when he moved back to Yorkshire. It doesn’t sound too serious but they’ve done the right thing in stamping down on whatever it is. It doesn’t help us in this game but it will have its benefits down the track, whether that be from Hardaker getting the issues sorted or just as a note to other players.

Sadly true,good on Peet on stamping on whatever nonsense Zak’s been up to to me it shows clear leadership and as you say sets the marker Peet will accept.

Re: Squad for Good Friday : Wed Apr 13, 2022 4:40 pm  

Wigan are currently +10 on the handicap. I always bet on the opposition in a massive game as it softens the blow if you lose so I’m defo lumping on that! I’m really not confident in a saints win at all

Re: Squad for Good Friday : Wed Apr 13, 2022 5:05 pm  

There’s no doubt in my mind even full strength it’s a tough ask to beat the best team by far in the league who are at full strength too(or at least not far off). Toulouse showed they were beatable but I just think that was an off day.

Do I think it’ll be a battering? No, absolutely not. I think 10-20pts to Saints but this result doesn’t define our season if we lose, nor would it if we win. Let’s be fair here, there’s not going to be many Wigan fans with a straight face who’ll tell you confidently we’re going to Saints and winning and I’m not saying that to mitigate the loss or get excuses in early, we’d have said the same under Madge and Wane. But it’s Good Friday, literally anything can happen in these games and it’s just as big IMO as the Grand Final or CC Final. So big it’s almost a final in itself.

It’s a going to be an immense day and an immense game. A sell out crowd on a warm Easter afternoon with a game of immense rugby league on show. I cannot wait in all honesty.

Re: Squad for Good Friday : Wed Apr 13, 2022 5:05 pm  

TheWarringtonWolve69 wrote:

Wigan are currently +10 on the handicap. I always bet on the opposition in a massive game as it softens the blow if you lose so I’m defo lumping on that! I’m really not confident in a saints win at all

Why? I know you've calmed down a lot and are actually becoming a decent poster (never thought I'd say that) but you've always told us how far ahead of the pack Saints are and we're severely under strength, particularly in the three quarters. Even allowing for previous trolling what's changed that you're now not confident?

Re: Squad for Good Friday : Wed Apr 13, 2022 5:30 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

There’s no doubt in my mind even full strength it’s a tough ask to beat the best team by far in the league who are at full strength too(or at least not far off). Toulouse showed they were beatable but I just think that was an off day.

Do I think it’ll be a battering? No, absolutely not. I think 10-20pts to Saints but this result doesn’t define our season if we lose, nor would it if we win. Let’s be fair here, there’s not going to be many Wigan fans with a straight face who’ll tell you confidently we’re going to Saints and winning and I’m not saying that to mitigate the loss or get excuses in early, we’d have said the same under Madge and Wane. But it’s Good Friday, literally anything can happen in these games and it’s just as big IMO as the Grand Final or CC Final. So big it’s almost a final in itself.

It’s a going to be an immense day and an immense game. A sell out crowd on a warm Easter afternoon with a game of immense rugby league on show. I cannot wait in all honesty.

Not strictly true that we are at full strength.

Both second rows missing (Matautia and Sironen) and also Grace.

Matautia was in great form before his injury.

Re: Squad for Good Friday : Wed Apr 13, 2022 5:36 pm  

Zak's timing is perfect as always. I honestly will never understand some of these lads. They've got it all, and they still toy continually with throwing it all away.

Re: Squad for Good Friday : Wed Apr 13, 2022 5:42 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

Zak's timing is perfect as always. I honestly will never understand some of these lads. They've got it all, and they still toy continually with throwing it all away.

I don’t know what Hardaker has done but let’s say he’s been turning in late. Imagine having the opportunity to run out on a rugby league field, in a Good Friday Derby, in front of 18,000 and for the first Good Friday with a crowd for three years and you pee it away for an extra half hour in bed (or a beer in the week or whatever it is).

Re: Squad for Good Friday : Wed Apr 13, 2022 5:43 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

Why? I know you've calmed down a lot and are actually becoming a decent poster (never thought I'd say that) but you've always told us how far ahead of the pack Saints are and we're severely under strength, particularly in the three quarters. Even allowing for previous trolling what's changed that you're now not confident?

We are vulnerable out wide because of the way our Defence sets up to constrict the middle. We are lucky because our scramble defence is so good to counter that vulnerability. However, Jai Field and Bevan French have the pace and X factor to counter our scramble defence. That’s what I worry about the most and we haven’t been in the best form recently. I know that sounds daft considering we beat Catalans away but we were nowhere near at our best. Maybe I’m worrying about nothing, but I did call at the start of the season it would be between us and you

Re: Squad for Good Friday : Wed Apr 13, 2022 5:50 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

Zak's timing is perfect as always.

Funny you should say that…..

Re: Squad for Good Friday : Wed Apr 13, 2022 5:51 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

This was always coming when he moved back to Yorkshire. It doesn’t sound too serious but they’ve done the right thing in stamping down on whatever it is. It doesn’t help us in this game but it will have its benefits down the track, whether that be from Hardaker getting the issues sorted or just as a note to other players.

I'm surprised its taken this long. Travelling from Yorkshire every day was always going to be tough particularly as he also has young children. Not defending him but you could see it coming.

I don't know if leaving him out of the side is the best form of punishment though - it only hurts the team and club as a whole. Depends what he's done I guess - I'm just assuming it's timekeeping.