Dream team : Fri Sep 02, 2022 8:18 am  

The Superleague dream team gets announced this weekend. I would say Field and French are nailed on for it, Farrell I believe will make it too and is there anyone else in with a chance? Smithies and Harry Smith possibly?

Re: Dream team : Fri Sep 02, 2022 8:32 am  

I’d go-

Field
French Hurrell Lafai Sio
Welsby Croft
Paasi Levi Hill
Batchelor Farrell Smithies

The backs were a pretty easy pick for me, other than maybe Leutele for Hurrell. The forwards were far tougher. Hill has missed a lot of games but has been the best prop in the league when available IMO, so I went him over Walmsley or Oledzki. Chris McQueen or Batchelor was also very tough but Batchelor has been so consistent and absolutely superb against us. Smithies or Yates is tight for the 13 spot. Knowles hasn’t had his best season but I still think he’ll get in, as much in the same way Lockers pinched a spot on occasion, he gets a lot of good press.

Re: Dream team : Fri Sep 02, 2022 11:14 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I’d go-

Field
French Hurrell Lafai Sio
Welsby Croft
Paasi Levi Hill
Batchelor Farrell Smithies

Not much to argue about there - I'd say that's pretty spot on.

I would go Murphy over Sio and Watkins over Smithies. Not sure about Hill but equally not sure who to put in there, maybe Oledzki.

Re: Dream team : Fri Sep 02, 2022 11:16 am  

Surely Knowles is in there NK? He's the best player in Superleague and infinitely better than the 'Poundland' yard dog Smithies.

Re: Dream team : Fri Sep 02, 2022 11:17 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

Surely Knowles is in there NK? He's the best player in Superleague and infinitely better than the 'Poundland' yard dog Smithies.

Not had his best season - brilliant first half of the year, solid second. I'm sure he'll stand up in the play-offs and we'll see the best of him.

I'd still struggle to pick Smithies ahead of him - Knowles is better with the ball for now (as stats for try involvements, busts, breaks show) and I think he leads our defensive line in a way that Smithies doesn't for Wigan (acknowledging we are different sides in that respect) and hts harder.

Smithies has had a very good year though and I think there is still a ot more to come from him. He could end up surpassing Knowles but I don't think he's there just yet.

Re: Dream team : Fri Sep 02, 2022 11:32 am  

Shoe ins for Field, French, Croft (although Smith will have pushed him close), Passi and Farrel.

The rest are a bit more difficult. Welsby will be in the mix but he's been moved around a lot so difficult to know where he would feature. I think Roby deserves to be in the discussion on pure longevity at the very highest level alone but might be pipped by Levi.

McQueen will be in a lot of journalists minds too and it's probably between him and Batchelor for the other 2nd row spot. I like FTVs suggestion of Watkins too. Had a fantastic season after moving into the forwards. Probably a 3 way contest between him, Smithies and Yates although it wouldn't surprise me to see Knowles get it again as you say.

Final wing spot probably should be Sio but Handley, Marshall and Makinson will be in the mix.

Centres are Lafai and Leutele for me but Hurrell has had an impact too and might just sneak it. Made a few too many errors for me so a little too rocks and diamonds.

Re: Dream team : Fri Sep 02, 2022 11:38 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

Not had his best season - brilliant first half of the year, solid second. I'm sure he'll stand up in the play-offs and we'll see the best of him.

I'd still struggle to pick Smithies ahead of him - Knowles is better with the ball for now (as stats for try involvements, busts, breaks show) and I think he leads our defensive line in a way that Smithies doesn't for Wigan (acknowledging we are different sides in that respect) and hts harder.

Smithies has had a very good year though and I think there is still a ot more to come from him. He could end up surpassing Knowles but I don't think he's there just yet.

Fair comments FTV although I would add that Smithies has had the better of him overall in our meetings this season.

I know it comes across that I don't rate Knowles, but that's not the case at all. I think he's a good, solid player and a grafter. I just don't think he's more than that. He certainly doesn't warrant the hype he gets. It's interesting that not a single person on your own site has him anywhere near player of the season and none of the LRL journalists have him in their dream team (one did have Smithies) yet we have the likes of Wilkin coming out with his infamous quote. Beggars belief really.

Re: Dream team : Fri Sep 02, 2022 11:42 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

Not much to argue about there - I'd say that's pretty spot on.

I would go Murphy over Sio and Watkins over Smithies. Not sure about Hill but equally not sure who to put in there, maybe Oledzki.

I think it’s easy to forget the whole season sometimes and to pick the odd player on recent (excellent) form and I think that’s exactly what Murphy would be. He looks such a top prospect and I’m sure he’ll make future teams but not yet. Personally I’d choose all of Sio, Makinson, Marshall and McGillvary ahead of him based on the whole season.

It’ll depend on how they shoe horn players in regards somebody like Watkins over Smithies. If we’re picking 3 backrowers and ignoring if they play second row or loose forward, then I could see it, although I’d then find a spot for Chris McQueen but if they want to pick an out and out loose forward, it should be Smithies IMO (maybe biased) and if not, it should be Luke Yates.

Re: Dream team : Fri Sep 02, 2022 11:54 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I’d go-

Field
French Hurrell Lafai Sio
Welsby Croft
Paasi Levi Hill
Batchelor Farrell Smithies

The backs were a pretty easy pick for me, other than maybe Leutele for Hurrell. The forwards were far tougher. Hill has missed a lot of games but has been the best prop in the league when available IMO, so I went him over Walmsley or Oledzki. Chris McQueen or Batchelor was also very tough but Batchelor has been so consistent and absolutely superb against us. Smithies or Yates is tight for the 13 spot. Knowles hasn’t had his best season but I still think he’ll get in, as much in the same way Lockers pinched a spot on occasion, he gets a lot of good press.

Just to show my mate Jukesays that I can move on from the play off stadium saga, I thik this is pretty much spot on. I even agree with Phuzzy's point about Hurrell making too many mistakes so probably Leutele for that reason.

Probably the only one I would question would be Smithies but then I can't see who I would replace him with. Knowles hasn't had a great season by his standards. I still think Smithies is a bit of a grub and whilst I can see why Wigan fans love him for that reason, its also a reason why opposition fans dislike him so much. However I also see FTV's point that he may well surpass Knowles, he is certainly a few years younger so has time on his side. Other than Leutele for Hurrell that's probably the only other spot I'd question.

Re: Dream team : Fri Sep 02, 2022 11:58 am  

Not saying Roby has dropped off or anything but he hasn't been at his usual very high standard this season (though still very good) with that in mind though, as good as Levi is, a 70% Roby at 36/37 is still miles ahead of the rest. Absolute stand out for me in the SL era. Miles ahead of Cunningham who is in turn, miles ahead of anyone else.