At this point in time it seems that the benefits of clubbs size are outweighed by unfamiliarity with the system and a general ineffectiveness, leading me to prefer a starting second row of hughes and farrell with bateman on the bench too.

Not a bad call. I thought Jack played well today.

Watching the Huddersfield game live I said my biggest frustration from the off season was Hansen going. He fitted in to our systems and style of play to perfection and was a really important player IMO. He unlike Tomkins and Richards could have been kept IMO and even though we may have lost out on a few quid it would have been worth it IMO.

I said after the Saints friendly I liked the looks of Clubb and I think he can do a job for us but at the moment the players just look like they're quite rusty and that will take time to settle. Having a number of new players playing within our structured style of play for the first time is leading to teething problems that will be difficult to overcome for next week.

Another lad who must be kicking himself is Chris Tuson! He'd have been a starter this year IMO which is what he wanted.

Agreed.

However I do question how much Wigan went all out to compete in that game against Huddersfield? Im not saying that we threw the game but it would not be the first time we have taken it easy and then suddenly turned it on when it matters most.

Clubb was not alone in looking a little rusty, let's see how rusty he looks in the WCC should he be selected.

You never throw a game but we looked very much like the team turning out in the latter stages of last years league campaign last Friday. There was just that desperation missing but it will be there in spades next week.

It may not be enough but it will be there.

Reminded me of Leeds at home - we were a totally different side the week after in play-offs!

Definitely.

I remember the Leeds fixture in the league and they made an absolute mountain of metres (about 1900 iirc) and then turned up a couple of weeks later and got smashed in the forwards making less then half that ground.

O'Loughlins presence can't be underestimated next week but even he will have to go some for us to pull this off. This Roosters side has class from 1-17. Our hope is that they're underdone and that they treat the game as more of a friendly then a final (which I doubt).

I reckon Clubb needs to move into the front row TBH.

Needs to move on...


Can't see him getting a game in the front row with the props we have.

I agree with this, though I can't see him displacing any of the 5 main props. He seems fine being used simply as a battering ram and defending in the middle, but we need more clever dummy running in from our SRs for our attacking structures to be effective. He doesn't seem mobile enough to play as a wide running SR, which seems strange considering he's got international caps playing centre.

He does just look like a straight up and down ball carrier and to date a move to prop would be the best bet. He's making good ground with the ball but he's not been looking to move the ball at all and it's starving those around him of possession. It is early days though and I suppose it's only natural to play a little within yourself early in your career with a new club. He looks like a guy that is just trying to keep things simple and error free.

He like anyone needs time to settle.