Re: Wigan V Bradford U19 academy game : Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:10 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

He’s a good player Knowles but I don’t think his level is unachievable for Smithies or somebody like Shorrocks (I’m talking 2 or 3 years down the track here) I wouldn’t have him as the best back rower in superleague tbh. He’s the best out and out 13 (although he’s probably the only one of them in the league nowadays) but if we’re putting second rowers in there as well, then I think he’s in a group of very good ones along with guys like Faz, Bateman, Linnett and Currie. He does bring a lot of qualities that you can’t measure in stats to be fair to him. I’d have him a bit like Micky Mac was for us in that regard but to have him as a clear best he’d need to be cutting teams open with his running and passing game and he doesn’t do that. The one thing I do like about him is he seems to thrive in big games and again that’s something you can’t measure. Maybe I’m doing him a disservice but I don’t see his level as anything like a unattainable for many young backrowers across the league, as long as they’re prepared to work as hard as he does.

I don’t think we could play Bateman and Farrell in the same team versus either the Aussies or the Kiwis.
Currie doesn’t seem to be the same player since his injury and I’m not sure if Linnett would be eligible?

I think that we are in general agreement that with hard work and general improvement in skills for the right guy a place is there to be taken.

Re: Wigan V Bradford U19 academy game : Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:21 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

I don’t think we could play Bateman and Farrell in the same team versus either the Aussies or the Kiwis.
Currie doesn’t seem to be the same player since his injury and I’m not sure if Linnett would be eligible?

I think that we are in general agreement that with hard work and general improvement in skills for the right guy a place is there to be taken.

I just meant in general, not for England. Those guys along with Knowles are the best 5 backrowers in the comp IMO. The position and way Knowles plays is very different to be fair. I saw some stats from his recent games earlier though and Knowles had one where he carried the ball 6 times for 18 metres and a couple around 40/50 metres. People are crucifying a guy like Bateman here yet he’s been well in excess of 100 metres most weeks. A kid like Smithies hasn’t had numbers like that for a while either. It’s not to bag Knowles, I can see that he brings an awful lot of attributes that don’t carry statistics. That’s why I said he’s like Saints version of Micky Mac. He was the ultimate player for not judging on stats but Saints fans would try and compare his lack of dummy half runs/metres. He set our defensive tempo, lead the line and was our enforcer. You couldn’t measure most of the things he brought to the side and I see Knowles a bit like that.

Our young lads will be top class in time I’m sure, just like Knowles is. We need to rebuild the side and everyone’s confidence and give them the required support.

Re: Wigan V Bradford U19 academy game : Tue Sep 28, 2021 7:59 am  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Good, it's absolutely awful.

I watched the Wigan ladies game a couple of weeks ago on Sky (the same night we played Catalan) and it was a shocking standard. Absolutely shocking that I pay money to sky and they don't televise all SL games, or all NRL games but play this tripe.

I'm very much a one step at a time kinda guy. The club can't even broadcast academy games, let's not add another headache with Women's rugby.

When the Women's Super League started three or four seasons ago, Wigan along with Castleford and Leeds were the best three teams.

However, the other clubs together with St Helens and York have recruited better and bigger players while the Wigan squad has remained more or less the same smaller squad which has resulted in the Wigan team slumping from being one of the top three clubs to now only fifth in a league of only eight clubs

Like the men's squad, they badly need to recruit more better and bigger players!

To say that the standard is shocking is not fair when it is a new concept and like the wheelchair rugby, should be encouraged and made better like it is in Women's Cricket, Football and Rugby Union.

Re: Wigan V Bradford U19 academy game : Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:23 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

He’s a good player Knowles but I don’t think his level is unachievable for Smithies or somebody like Shorrocks (I’m talking 2 or 3 years down the track here) I wouldn’t have him as the best back rower in superleague tbh. He’s the best out and out 13 (although he’s probably the only one of them in the league nowadays) but if we’re putting second rowers in there as well, then I think he’s in a group of very good ones along with guys like Faz, Bateman, Linnett and Currie. He does bring a lot of qualities that you can’t measure in stats to be fair to him. I’d have him a bit like Micky Mac was for us in that regard but to have him as a clear best he’d need to be cutting teams open with his running and passing game and he doesn’t do that. The one thing I do like about him is he seems to thrive in big games and again that’s something you can’t measure. Maybe I’m doing him a disservice but I don’t see his level as anything like a unattainable for many young backrowers across the league, as long as they’re prepared to work as hard as he does.

I think that's spot on. Knowles biggest positive attributes are his fitness and first class attitude / concentration levels which bring with them a very high level of consistency.

I must say i don't really think too much of Smithies. When he first came in I was lambasted on here for saying I'm not sure I see what he does other than tackle (and of course tackling is important). But he seemed indisciplined with it.

hopefully he kicks on because better judges than me rate him highly - he's still very young and has some more bulk to come which should help him with the ball. And playing in a team with some props would certainly help . . . . .

Re: Wigan V Bradford U19 academy game : Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:24 am  

First team is rubbish
Academy is rubbish
Womens team is rubbish

I might go and support Warrington

Re: Wigan V Bradford U19 academy game : Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:26 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

I think that's spot on. Knowles biggest positive attributes are his fitness and first class attitude / concentration levels which bring with them a very high level of consistency.

He's also playing in a good side where 6 carries a game isn't highlighted as much as it is when your pack is getting smashed week after week.

Bateman, Farrell, Powell, Hastings, Gildart etc etc are all results of the same thing. Eacj and every player under Lam has seen their performance levels go backwards.

Re: Wigan V Bradford U19 academy game : Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:58 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

I think that's spot on. Knowles biggest positive attributes are his fitness and first class attitude / concentration levels which bring with them a very high level of consistency.

Very high level of consistency?

Re: Wigan V Bradford U19 academy game : Tue Sep 28, 2021 10:10 am  

Matty Nicholson looks a real prospect. A big athletic back rower who has hands and a great support game (the amount of tries he finishes off with support play is impressive).

Re: Wigan V Bradford U19 academy game : Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:30 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

I think that's spot on. Knowles biggest positive attributes are his fitness and first class attitude / concentration levels which bring with them a very high level of consistency.

I must say i don't really think too much of Smithies. When he first came in I was lambasted on here for saying I'm not sure I see what he does other than tackle (and of course tackling is important). But he seemed indisciplined with it.

hopefully he kicks on because better judges than me rate him highly - he's still very young and has some more bulk to come which should help him with the ball. And playing in a team with some props would certainly help . . . . .

I think he has kicked on this season but it’s gone under the radar a little due to how poor we’ve been. His discipline is better, he’s making more ground and he’s still defensively exceptional. He’s missed a good few games so that hasn’t helped but he’s going in the right direction for me. He’ll be better for the struggles of this season down the line.

Re: Wigan V Bradford U19 academy game : Fri Oct 01, 2021 7:04 pm  

I've only just watched the highlights of the Bradford game, and yes, it does renew your faith a bit, doesn't it? I thought Wigan scored some belting tries, high-speed short passing keeping the ball alive, every thing, in fact, that sadly we haven't seen in attack from the first team. It certainly looked thoroughly enjoyable and made me resolve to get to a few games next year.