On Friday night prior to the Widnes game I met up with a friend whose mate is on the backroom staff at Wigan. Just before Jeff Lima left Wigan to go back to Aus he was asked who was the best player he had ever played alongside.
His answer was Sean O'Loughlin. Lima said he would be a standout player in Aus should he ever go there.

Think your friend is winding you up

I rate O'Loughlin very highly, but hasn't Lima played in the same team as Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Greg Inglis?

Had he been drinking?

Leeds can target the Challenge Cup and give it 100% as I believe they do every season and still come up short. That's sport it's all on the day and it's not as if their opponents haven't focused on it also. For this core Leeds group now it's going to be difficult to get over the mental barrier that must surely be there.

2005 with Smith should have been the day but Leeds disappointed and the selection of Senior was ultimately a huge roll of the dice that spectacularly failed to come off. Other players have gone into finals in similar situations and carried off the Lance Todd - Ellery Hanley and Kris Radlinski spring to mind here although not necessarily accurate recollections.

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Sean O'Loughlin is a tremendous SL player and appears to be a genuine, level headed individual both on (where he's a fierce competitor) and off the field. Nothing wrong with him - just as there is nothing wrong with Kevin Sinfield - similar types and unsurprising that they have been picked out as Captains.



You'd have to guess so and probably in the same bar as the panel that adjudged the world's best player in 2012 - cracking session that must have been - all IMO obviously.

I'm always interested in how followers of other teams rate our players. Obviously when you see someone every week, you develop a closeness to that player and you support him to the hilt. However I try to watch other teams players closely and recognise good play, especially if it hurts us. When we play Leeds I'm always impressed by Peacock and Leuluai in the forwards and Hall, Watkins and Hardaker are stand out players. Burrow scares the life out of me at times, and I admire his bravery, as just like Tomkins he takes the knocks and just gets back up and on with it.

I've never understood the clamour around Sir Kev, I've watched him in most of his internationals as well, so I've seen a fair bit of him. However I'm not so arrogant to believe that his legions of followers and successive coaches at Leeds and with GB/England know less than I do. It's obvious that I'm missing something with both him and JJB as well. I think that SOL is rather higher rated by Wigan fans than opposition fans. But behind Sam he is our best player, by some distance.

Similarly when people say that Tomkins is overrated then they are entitled to that opinion of course, but there's a fair weight of evidence growing that this guy is special. I can understand that people don't like his perceived arrogance and that he yaps to referee's, but that hardly explains the hatred that comes his way. If yapping to referees were an Olympic sport then one or two of the Leeds contingent would be competing. He takes the knocks, and believe me there is nothing that Aussie forwards can try that hasn't already been tried over here. In many ways, with two refs on the pitch he's likely to get more protection in the NRL.

When asked a similar question the all time great Ellery Hanley answered Darryl Powell.

I think O'Loughlin and Sinfield are players whose qualities are a little less eye-catching than some of the others you mention. Both are the leaders and inspirations of their teams, neither are flashy. Both do a lot of the "glue" sort of work that creates space and time for the likes of Tomkins and Burrow to shine. Always going to be more appreciated by their own team mates and fans than those of other teams. And usually also appreciated by coaches.

Oh, and I think the people who really believe Sam Tomkins isn't a special player are in a small minority these days.

That said "over-rated" can be as much a measure of the rating as the player. Some of the soft-focus, slow motion montages that accompany his presence in BBC live games would be OTT for a Nobel Peace Prize winner. That isn't his fault though.

He is, however, the villain because he chooses to cast himself in that role. Wigan fans get irate about it, but I really doubt he cares. He could be loved if he wanted to be. That isn't his job, I have no issue with that. He's reminiscent of Cantona in some respects. Only not French. Obvs.

Standout team of this century.without a doubt

IMHO Sean O'Loughlin is vastly under-rated - he gets through a tun of work but some how tends to fly under the radar (wouldn't swap him for Sinny though).

As for Rat Boy, he is a once in a (Rugby) generation player and does seem to have toned his attitude down this last season - would I have him at Leeds? In a heartbeat.

Hmmm......
Lets start with Mr. Wane! About as subtle as a pitbull with the looks. Interesting how no other team is stripped of all their so called better players when playing at Widnes. Only Wigan do that..... and they shouldnt of won that game with the obstruction ruling balls up anyway but thats a different story!!! (See biased officials)

If that isnt cocky arrogance then what is?? He's a prize t0$$er!!

Loving this thread..........

Enjoy posting in an open, sensibly monitored forum.

Something you won't find in the Wigan corner of these boards, particularly not after a Wigan defeat.

That's disappointing, Shaun speaks so highly of you. In fact he has nothing but good things to say about the club and fans from when he was toiling in the Leeds pack. Maybe you don't remember or are too young to know, perhaps one or two of your fellow posters might put you right. Shaun by his own admission wasn't the worlds best prop but he always tried his hardest for the Wigan and Leeds causes. Perhaps that would be deserving of some respect? (It does in my world). Shaun is certainly blunt and outspoken, traits that perhaps you aspire to yourself? Traits that I thought were valued in Yorkshire?

Secondly, read the thread. Your fellow Rhinos are clearly of the opinion that the 'hubcap' doesn't matter or count. If you agree with them then why would Wigan put out their best team week in, week out? We didn't need to win at Widnes, so why risk it? That isn't arrogance it is good management (not according to me, but according to the overwhelming opinion on this thread). He has used more players than any other team this year, so perhaps he is learning the way to save players energies for later in the season.

Finally being abusive in the real world tends to have different consequences than behind the safety of your keyboard. Would you say that to Shaun Wane's face? (Don't answer that I already know the answer)

The same can be said of anyone who makes derogatary comments about any coach and players .The only thing I have against Mr Wane is Last year when he deliberatly tried to influence the disciplinary panel and get Danny Mags banned Sam did the same because the knew sam was already out of the eliminater.Oh and Brian Mac thought the same and told him