Re: Squad London : Sun Mar 10, 2024 9:26 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

NickyKiss wrote:

I’ve just got home and I can’t lie, I thought we were ordinary in a lot of what we did today but that isn’t a complaint. I totally get it and you’re not doing bad if you can run in 60 points, minus 8 or 9 players. There’s just quality everywhere and players are pushing each other for spots. Try and name a first choice 17 and it’s extremely difficult. We’re top, with a game in hand and we’ve played well within ourselves. You can’t be anything but pleased.

I think you may need to watch it again NK. We were anything but ordinary in the forwards. If you're talking about the free flowing rugby we're capable of them I agree we didn't do that today. The ref made it far too stop/start for that but the fact is we didn't need to anyway. The forwards were that dominant. How often do you see so many prop forwards on the score sheet?

A 60 point drubbing with half a team out is pretty impressive even if it wasn't impressively pretty.

The dominance of the forwards was easily the main highlight yesterday. Thompson, Mago, Dupree, Hill and even Chan looked powerful, confident and in form. At times there may have been a lack of intensity in defence and some clunkiness in a much changed spine but both very understandable. To win any game by nearly 40 points when resting both halfbacks is fantastic. Its been a brilliant start to the season.

Re: Squad London : Sun Mar 10, 2024 9:43 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

I think you may need to watch it again NK. We were anything but ordinary in the forwards. If you're talking about the free flowing rugby we're capable of them I agree we didn't do that today. The ref made it far too stop/start for that but the fact is we didn't need to anyway. The forwards were that dominant. How often do you see so many prop forwards on the score sheet?

A 60 point drubbing with half a team out is pretty impressive even if it wasn't impressively pretty.

I’ve no complaints, the forwards did run the ball strong. It’s a back handed compliment really. We played absolutely nowhere near our best and put on 60 points. If you can do that while being a bit disorganised in attack and not always showing the correct intent in defence, I think you can be really happy and I am. If we get Walters, Havard, Cooper etc back in the next couple of months, how do you pick a pack? I don’t think I can recall us being in that sort of position for donkeys years.

Re: Squad London : Sun Mar 10, 2024 9:48 am  

Peet said their game plan was to keep it in the forwards more and punch holes down the middle which that did - so it was different to the usual route of scoring tries further out wide.

A few passes when we did play to the wings did go to ground but that's understandable since we had a new HB pairing and Zak playing out wide. Farrimond showed up well for a first proper run out and good to see Hampshire get a game.

Mago showed up really well, nice hands and good minutes again.

O'Neil really looks the part, both from a 9 and a leader now. Really determined, good talker and good distribution

Great to see Junior out there, came back sooner than I thought and very good timing for being match fit for the GF game.

It would be nice to see zak get a few games in the centre to see how he goes, looks quite a prospect and we need to keep a balance of playing him to keep him happy and our first choice centres on the pitch too.

Ref blew far too often which spoiled the game a bit, especially for incorrect PTB's most of which looked OK (for both sides).

Despite the score I thought London put a pretty good stint in and looked sharp in a number of areas.

Re: Squad London : Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:28 am  

Jason65 wrote:

Thought Eckersley showed a great turn of pace,going to be a good player that one.
As said forwards controlled and dominated the game.
Dupree another excellent game as all the forwards had.

To think Cooper,Ellis,Marshy,Bevan,Harry,Havard,Byrne,Leeming- All missing ,that is some squad depth.

Plus some promising squad players in Eseh, Douglas and Makin still to play. The depth is phenomenal. Better than I can ever remember it in the Superleague era.

Re: Squad London : Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:31 am  

A lot of positives to be taken from that game considering the number rested and injured. To have props Havard, Byrne and Cooper out injured and to still play Dupree, Thompson, Mago & Hill is brilliant.

We looked a bit clunky at times, that’s to be expected resting our halves and after the WCC game.

The youngsters who came in all looked as though they are ready for more game time. There were a few wayward passes but Farrimond looked the part. Him and Hampshire controlled the game well.

London are definitely a gutsy team. They are on a hiding to nothing this season, I went with my mate from Cas, he’s a bit worried about them.

Re: Squad London : Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:40 am  

Very happy with the result and the overall performance.
Particularly pleased to see Thompson go well again. As his confidence and fitness grows he’s starting to look like an international prop. Hill looks and is playing like a different player this season. He could be the real deal this lad. Really pleased to see Nsemba back and he didn’t disappoint.
The player who really caught my eye was Chan. Very aggressive and always looking for work. He’s got the pedigree and he looks like he has the determination to succeed. A great acquisition by the club and whoever suggested that we sign him deserves a big pat on the back for an astute addition to the squad. Wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up in the backrow.
Great to see all the youngsters do so well.

The Salford game should be a great test for us and it will be interesting to see how Shorrocks and Cust go.

Re: Squad London : Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:55 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Very happy with the result and the overall performance.
Particularly pleased to see Thompson go well again. As his confidence and fitness grows he’s starting to look like an international prop. Hill looks and is playing like a different player this season. He could be the real deal this lad. Really pleased to see Nsemba back and he didn’t disappoint.
The player who really caught my eye was Chan. Very aggressive and always looking for work. He’s got the pedigree and he looks like he has the determination to succeed. A great acquisition by the club and whoever suggested that we sign him deserves a big pat on the back for an astute addition to the squad. Wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up in the backrow.
Great to see all the youngsters do so well.

The Salford game should be a great test for us and it will be interesting to see how Shorrocks and Cust go.

Cust out of the game unfortunately.

Re: Squad London : Mon Mar 11, 2024 6:17 am  

I remember when Wigan's biggest weakness was their small, ineffective forward pack. Wow, what a pack we have now. Looking back at the Wigan squad over the years, I don't think we've ever been so complete as a team. Dominant forwards, electric backs, an amazing half-back partnership and unbelievable depth in the squad.

Mago continues to surprise me. The potential was always there for everyone to see and full credit to him, he's switched on big time. I believe Mago is our best forward right now, he's powerful with a good step in him and a great short-passing game; could he be our future 13? I think he'll be the cornerstone of our pack in the next few years if he stays (fingers-crossed he does).

Re: Squad London : Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:26 pm  

If ever a player has turned things around it's Mago.

Middle of last season he was getting 10 minutes game time in which he did close do nothing. Now he's standing out in a pack full of quality.

Really liked him at 13, just adds that extra ball movement we have been lacking in the forwards which helps unlock tight games. Interesting to see whether he plays that role more often - especially when Ellis has been playing so well.

Credit to him for putting the hard work in.

Re: Squad London : Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:47 pm  

Big Steve wrote:

If ever a player has turned things around it's Mago.

Middle of last season he was getting 10 minutes game time in which he did close do nothing. Now he's standing out in a pack full of quality.

Really liked him at 13, just adds that extra ball movement we have been lacking in the forwards which helps unlock tight games. Interesting to see whether he plays that role more often - especially when Ellis has been playing so well.

Credit to him for putting the hard work in.

Said recently that Mago is like a new signing, mid season last year I would have got rid. It seemed that his effort and attitude into getting into shape becoming of a rugby player as well as his minutes on the pitch were severely lacking in all departments. Rumours were he had been sent away from the squad to train on his own, then following a couple of moderate to better than average performances an announcement of a contract extension was made, much to the dismay of many on here (me included) and around the terraces. Most of us assumed his mild improvement was to gain another contract and he'd slip back into his old ways.

Well he's certainly made us all eat our words, what a stunning turnaround. One of our best players on the field, looks like he's enjoying his rugby too. Fantastic to see.