I think we can't simply look to fill positions in the team with players that have a conventional role. Is Currie a BR ? because he doesn't take the ball up that much like Jack Hughes, but he does make plenty of breaks on the edges to set up, or score tries. Sims doesn't make that much ground as a prop but can be very disruptive on the opposition defence with his offloads. If we have a shortage of forwards on the field, Daryl Clark can come on and play that role rather than hooker. Matty Russell is not a conventional winger but can make big big yards to take us up field. Evans doesn't make many breaks as a centre, but his defence has become something else with his timing of the tackle. So TS is using the strengths of individual players to fill gaps in his team either because they are not present in the squad, or are lost due to injury. I am not a huge fan of Russell, but I have to admit he is invaluable at present because he gets us quickly back up field and negates the strength of teams with big packs like Hull and Saints. Penny is a great try scorer, but when he is not in the team, we still seem to score plenty of tries - in short, the team selection of TS is working out pretty well, so we can hardly complain that he has 'got it wrong'.

I have to agree WO.
I'm a big Penny fan and he does offer real pace, is good in the air and scoots well from dummy half. His defence has improved considerably too.
But I'm not TS and I think although I get the impression he can be pig headed over selection, I believe here he's keen on keeping as settled a side as possible.
Apart from forced changes we've had the same 17 week in week out for some time now.

For those of you who can go week in week out I can understand some of the frustrations with handling etc, but I enjoyed it and once our wingers Hill and Sims scored the opening 2 tries we looked in control apart from a few breaks - even though we were a bit sloppy in the 2nd half.

Strange experience on he South Stand concourse after last night's game - Warrington fans cheering on Wigan!!

Quite a crowd watching the final minutes on TV with shouts of "Come on Wigan" being heard. Big cheer when they scored.

The cry of "Sneeeeeeyyd" when he kicked out on the full at the restart was quite funny too.

Can't go next Friday against the pies as I will be in USA but will be cheering from afar. I do hope we don't have a "Back in the box" moment like Saints did against us when going for the LLS.

I've got to agree with your summary Chaz spot on.

I'm not Russell's biggest fan not because I want to see the lad fail or believe that he doesn't put the effort in but because I don't think he is either the best winger that we have at the club nor indeed the best FB. I thought that he had a decent game at Wembley and last night's effort was fair enough although I'm quite surprised that Widnes for once didn't torment him with continual bombs they have previous in that regard and their warm up routine suggested that they'd try their luck again.

Maybe Penny isn't as popular with his team mates as some of the other characters - and if so that may go someway to explaining why he is apparently out of favour.

However, I would always have in my team. He's exciting and he's an entertainer and after all that's why I watch the game - to be entertained. Its a sad reflection on todays brand of Rugby League when you realise that Brian Bevan would struggle to get into any of the top sides due to his defensive frailties.

I don't think there is anything going on 'behind the scenes' with Penny. I feel like if there was he wouldn't have been played last week. We're all pretty sure there's something going on with Lineham, and he isn't being played at all.

I think with Penny that he is just not rated very highly by TS, and probably has his frailties honed in on more than other players. I said last week that Penny's dropped ball and being out of position once (that I saw) against Catalan might be the justification TS needs to bench Penny for another lengthy spell. Barring another big bout of injuries, I don't think we'll see Penny again this season.

I do reluctantly agree with WO's summary, but I would play Penny every week.

One win away from the League Leaders Shield and another away from a Grand Final and all we can go on about is Kevin Penny.

He's a good lad and a good winger, but you'd think he was in the Billy Slater or Greg Inglis mould based on the mass hysteria every time he's not in the team.

We're winning games, going about our business well. I'm sure Tony Smith has his reasons for not playing him and I'm sure he's explained them to Penny as well. Smith doesn't owe, you, I or any other fan an explanation as to why he's not picking him.

How about we just get behind the boys who are in the 17 and I'm sure Penny will be given an opportunity soon enough.

DAG
I don't think anyone is not behind the team.
It's a forum and people like to have their say - same as you and me.
I don't think there's hysteria about Penny not playing - just some frustration and disappointment that we don't have a truely fast winger in the team.

I can sort of see why that's the case as I said on an earlier post.
We'd all just love to know why!

I like what Russell brings to the side, he's still learning the wingers trade, but thought he scored a good try last night which wasn't a simple finish, and as others have said, he really gets us moving forward.

I'm not mad keen on our reliance of dummy half running to create opportunities, but for as long as TS uses this as his game plan, Russell has to play for me.

Well, you can get behind the boys on the field, meanwhile I'm gonna worry about when we play the better smarter teams that have previously exploited the weaknesses of certain players that have cost us,

Does anybody know what happened to Bailey? He was subbed about 30 seconds into the second half after the physio came on. He took off his strapping on the pitch and walked off unaided. He did walk up and down the touchline later on but didn't return.

He did say this in the post-match:
"Some really big decisions - good decisions - by Rhys Evans on the wing closed a few things down for us as well. That's probably what got Rhys back in the team. Some of those decisions on the edge were crucial for us."

Yes - it's clear that TS values solid defence and he sees that as a priority over outright speed in attack.

Taking Cat's point -he's right about us not ha Bing a good enough plan B if the quick pubs are snuffed out.

Congratulations, Sir. Post of the week.

At times, but I really fear for "British" style RL. It's being phased out, before our very eyes. Coaches seem obsessed with yards gained on each play, hence Smith's continually telling all and sundry to scoot from dummy half. I'm like you, silver2. I go to matches to be entertained. Yes, winning is a lovely bonus, and but I'm old enough to take the odd defeat. But win at all costs. Nah, it's leaving me cold. I stood there last night, and at times, but I was bored witless.

Throw the ball about. Teams can't live with us, when we do.

Second half was poor, but our speed off the mark and fast PTB in first was admirable, especially with no Daryl Clark. I think that the younger players have contributed a lot in the last two weeks. We may not be at our best but you just have to go on the Trust in Widnes forum to see that they were impressed by Wire first half.