Beats one of the worst Kiwi touring sides ever and then follows it with the most abject WC campaign of all time. It all depends on your perspective really doesn't it?

FWIW I don't agee with the 'good club coach, crap international coach' tag. What I'm saying is, at the time he was getting criticism, it was a viewpoint that had some merit based on his record to that date.

Please explain how "most people knew" that Tomkins was "always going to play against the Aussies". Not only was it definitely not Smith's avowed intention but do you honestly believe that, had the Maguire/Myler ripped it up, that he would have broken that partnership up? I think that is revisionist opinion of the most one-eyed kind! Given that it was his preferred combination (he even said that the reason he played Myler was that we "needed someone to move this big ship around" and didn't think Tomkins, as more of a broken field runner was the man to do this) it's only those that think he can do no wrong that would even suggest this! Point me to one actual piece of evidence that this was the case (as opposed to someone just saying it because it suits their argument).

As for the 2nd part of the post; of course that's the case. I already pointed this out in the last post with the your player/Brian Noble scenario. That doesn't make it wrong though! I also think you're missing the point that the reason you're defending Smith in this instance is because he's your club coach! Faint whiff of hypocrisy there, don't you think?

Well it didn't come as a shock did it? Am right in saying most of the Wigan fans and other fans expected him to play against the Aussies and Myler would be dropped both before and after the France game.

You can call it "defending" Smith if you want but my view would still be the same even if Smith weren't our coach that Wigan fans went way OTT on the Tomkins/France subject.

That still isn't evidence that your statement is anything other than something you've made up. In fact you as much as cofirm the fact when you say "..Myler would be dropped both before and after the France game". As you no doubt remember he wasn't dropped
before the France game, so whether we all thought he should have been or not, it's plain Smith wasn't of that mind!

You also say that you wouldn't be defending Smith if he wasn't your coach. I take it then that you congratulated him on his World Cup campaingn? Or did you, like all other fans of the game apart fro certain Leeds fans, unsurprisingly (

), criticise him? Thought so....


And for your information it wasn't only Wigan fans that were criticising his handling of the decision to drop Sam Tomkins although, not surprisingly, we were the most vociferous. I suggest you actually read the posts on all boards from that time. You might find it illuminating.

did we not go around this circle on several threads a few weeks ago?

What record was that?

What I mean is whatever happened in the France game Myler was going to be dropped for Tomkins.
I have given my view on it take it or leave it.

They've just said on Sky Sports News that there's less than 2,000 tickets left. Should be a good atmosphere.

I thought I had already 'left it' as having no basis in fact whatsoever. I was merely giving you the opportunity to back up your claim which, it's now obvious, you're unable to do. So my viewpoint remains the same. It's merely something you made up.

Quote Phuzzy="Phuzzy"I thought I had already 'left it' as having no basis in fact whatsoever. I was merely giving you the opportunity to back up your claim which, it's now obvious, you're unable to do. So my viewpoint remains the same. It's merely something you made up.'" www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=15800 Quote Phuzzy="Tony Smith"Myler missed the closing stages of the opening game through concussion but Smith said Tomkins, who scored a hat-trick of tries on debut against Wales, was always likely to get the nod this week. “Richie has still got a bit of a head knock but Sam was going to get a chance this week,” he told a press conference at the team’s Manchester hotel. “It gives us a chance to compare the two and decide which way we go for the final week. “I’ve got lot of faith in both those young men but it’s Sam’s go this week.”'"

Quote Phuzzy="Phuzzy"I thought I had already 'left it' as having no basis in fact whatsoever. I was merely giving you the opportunity to back up your claim which, it's now obvious, you're unable to do. So my viewpoint remains the same. It's merely something you made up.'" www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=15800 Quote Phuzzy="Tony Smith"Myler missed the closing stages of the opening game through concussion but Smith said Tomkins, who scored a hat-trick of tries on debut against Wales, was always likely to get the nod this week. “Richie has still got a bit of a head knock but Sam was going to get a chance this week,” he told a press conference at the team’s Manchester hotel. “It gives us a chance to compare the two and decide which way we go for the final week. “I’ve got lot of faith in both those young men but it’s Sam’s go this week.”'"

Come on Phuzzy evidence is above. You seem to have gone quiet. You know-nothing Pie-Eating Paul and Rick (in a John and Edward combo way).

phuzzy felt (get it?) the full force of ownership,got his coat and left