Quote Aboveusonlypie="Aboveusonlypie"If Ryan was as good as you say he'd be in the team every week. Simple as that. No coach ignores match winners especially as according to you we have no one else with pace to match, bar Burgess. I'm not sure why you have to bring Fairhurst into it. Wane has picked and backed Williams at stand off. Smith is his organiser. Hampshire isn't as good as either at their allotted roles. Otherwise he'd be in the team.
As for giving up your season ticket. Do you support Wigan through thick and thin? Or are you Ryan's uncle?'"
There is a tipping point for most people unless you follow something as if under sort of spell or indoctrination. It's called having a personal opinion and thoughts.
I have watched Wigan on a regular basis since 1966 therefore, have seen many thin years and fortunately many good years.
Hampshire has more skill than Smith however, Smith probably does what he is told and plays to a game plan therefore gets the position. That's great if you steam roller teams but not very good if you need to execute a game changing move or try against stiffer opposition like Leeds or Saints.
You may be surprised but coaches obviously have favourites but I can't tell you why SW favours Smith versus pace a and natural ability or than maybe he doesn't want to play two half backs at a young age in the same team.
Can you explain why we should planning Bowen tomorrow? SW has stated previously that he need to nurture him through the season therefore, why not rest him against what is on paper an eminently winnable game?
By the way if I was Hampshire's uncle or dad I would be telling him to get out of Wigan a sap because he wasting precious years of his playing career.
I may be very wrong but losing Hampshire will come back to haunt us for years to come because a coach feared losing some control in letting the team play a more off the cuff style of play.