We have to be very careful when appraising Ian Millward's strategies and tactics. I mean, there's absolutely no doubt about the fact that he completely revolutionised the game. And arriving into SL after success at Leigh he found precisely the right team with the right group of players who could execute his fast-paced, high-octane style of football to the letter.

Most people correctly identify the essentials of Millward's gameplan. Which makes me wonder why so few also recognise that Millward was a born high-stakes gambler who'd compete with distinction at the top table in Vegas against James Bond and the entire Oceans XI. No coach before or since has been as willing to throw the dice. And no coach has seen the dice tossed back repeatedly and consistently in his favour.

Like all the best coaches (including Brown) Millward never allowed any of the multitude of SL distractions divert his attention from The Objective. Post match he'd cheerily talk about [i"Taking one game at a time"[/i. But if you were to ask him I'm sure he'd say he knew which teams he had to beat and how many times before the season started. Which is why Saints so often simply didn't turn up and took a caning. [i'Sure, losing to Leeds by 70 looks bad. But if we turn over Castleford and Wakefield away in the two following games because we took a break - super'. [/i

Super League winners rings and Challenge Cup medals speak for themselves I guess.

It's a pity his record was tarred at Wigan. He must, of course, shoulder some of the responsibility. But that club was a catastrophe waiting to happen long before Millward arrived. And I could just never understand the logic of Wigan jumping in for him - not because of his record - but the mental state he was in following his protracted and highly-publicised battle with McManus (which at one point threatened to tear the club apart)

Walmsley is an absolute BEAST. To be honest, I can't believe people are questioning his abilities.

Yes, it's taken him a bit of time to acclimatise to SL (expected, given that he is a bit of a late starter). But you only need look at the Grand Final winner's photo to realise this kid has the kind of physique coaches literally drool over.

I mean, there's still work to do but even so - the last person you want to see after twenty minutes of Masoe whacking/dropping on/trampling over you is a guy like Walmsley who is every bit as physical (albeit differing in delivery) and surprisingly fleet-footed.

He is a walking-talking black hole sucking down great chunks of the opposition's energy each minute he is on. I can't imagine how hard it must be arm-wrestling him as the ball carrier. It's noticeable that Alex's introduction as final prop rotation pretty much killed Wigan. You could see their forwards physically wilt when he arrived on the scene.

Given the world is caving in around them (according to Cherry and white) , Saints are the reining champions and we are currently unbeaten despite a mini injury crisis is it time for a return of the now famous (even though '[ithat lot[/i over the hill might not like it) Envy-O-Mater??



I think so

Still got this one book marked Rogues ??

The debate I had on this thread with Phuzzy regarding Wigan and Saints' packs is significantly more relevant now than it was when it was done. Saints' forwards have upped it even further whilst Wigan's game has moved even further away from a traditional RL game of using props for territory. It is no coincidence that Wigan's lack of using their props is massively impacting their ability to actually go forwards.

To think, not long ago, Wiganers, with a straight face, reckoned Amor wouldn't make their 17 and Walmsley is only the equal of the likes of Clubb and Crosby. Laughable really.

It'd be interesting to see some of their views now.

Go over to cherry & white and ask them. On second thoughts you'll probably get banned.

Hahahahaha

I wouldnt have Crosby running on with the water, he'd probably bump into one of the ball boys and end up on his ar$e

What have they done to Larne Patrick? He's gone from a decent player to a championship player.

I always thought he looked pretty decent at hudds , the goons fans dont seem to rate him though. Another that seems to get flack over there is Farrell, he normally looks like one of their more capable forwards to me and runs the channels pretty well

Farrell's big weakness is his size and relative lack of power. If you block up the channels he's effectively a waste of space because he provides very little go forward against the big guys.

I mean, he'd probably be okay with heavy earth movers like Hill, Graham, Walmsley etc. providing the centrefield traction. But with Wigan's current front row turning in the kind of figures they did at Leeds (not to mention Wane's lunatic style of playing tick-rugby before anyone has even begun to establish some kind of yardage platform) he's being exposed badly.

He's somewhat akin to Jon Wilkin in that if he has to function as a yardage maker he's effectively useless.

The Aussies figured him out completely in the internationals. From the very first minute they were tracking him across the pitch - waiting to pounce every time he injected himself into the line. From therein he did absolutely nothing.

Trouble is - Wigan aren't exactly spoilt for choice in the second row, either. Now they are talking about bringing one centre in (Gelling) to replace another (Tomkins).

I'd argue Tomkins is not a centre. For me he is always a second rower. But other than that, they do seem to be missing some bulk.