I don't have a major issue with those comparisons. Philbin edges Byrne - more carries, more tackle busts, more metres, better discipline - so that would be one back for us.

What is clear is that we haven't had anyone making the sort of destructive runs Mago and Nsemba do, and Smith offers more of an attacking threat and a more telling kicking game than Drinkwater. Elsewhere I think you are dealing in pretty small margins.

I think it’s safe to say that if we improve, and that’s a biggish if, we should be Wigans main rival for silverware.

Your assessments of players certainly backs up your own views. Rather a unique method. The club seems to agree with you & has strengthened SH, SR & outside back.

Did I upset you in a former life?



Perfectly reasonable to assess two teams side by side. One the champion side the other the aspirant. Nothing unique about it.

Time will tell if we have indeed strengthened. e.g. Russell will have to be a hell of a player to improve on Nicholson.

It was French, Field, Smith and O'Neill missing. The whole spine. I would challenge any team to try and cope without that. It's obviously going to impact any team if your best players are missing. Also, through that period of just over half way you could clearly see an intensity drop off for about 5 or 6 weeks. Somebody on our board says that is a planned drop off every season and then towards the end of the season everything gets ramped up to where every player is at their optimum. Our Pre-season sessions are notoriously savage. I know a former player who went into detail that includes sprinting up steps at Rivington with loaded back packs on. He said most players are physically sick at the end of it.

Mago's first carry when he came on was pure destruction. I would love a player like that again.

we've recruited, strengthened is debatable.

Careful. Their family may be reading.

Totally right. We have lost Nicholson & Drinkwater. Only time will tell if Russell & Leyland can fill their boots.

And Bateman.

Again, the risk is in assuming that all the players we have retained provide the exact same performance in 2025 as they did in 2024. It assumes strengthening only happens through signings.

If Wrench or Tai, and Holroyd or Whitehead, improve by the same factor as Dufty and Currie did between 2023 and 2024, we will have strengthened. Obviously the challenge is on the coaching team to deliver that.

On the plus side Holroyd's improvement ought to continue. The concern will be how Fitzgibbon will recover.