The club have to replace Deacon as attacking coach. The coaching set up looked good with him and Harris. I'm sure that John Winder and Matty Peet are good youth coaches but will they really challenge Wane to alter his pedestrian attacking style? I doubt it. Win or lose I don't really enjoy watching Wigan play at the moment.

My "Terrible" topic last week stated how dire we are in attack IMO, but we won so I got blasted for my opinion.

This week our clueless one out rugby has lost us the game.

Last week we scrapped to beat an awful Leeds team. This week we lost to average SL standard team.

We have continued this year were we left off last season, same few moves that are now so obvious you see them coming two plays before. Teams don't have to work hard to defend against us anymore.

Yes we are working hard, yes we are defending well, but we need to change what we are doing with the ball, evn if the passes stick we are still predictable, 91% completion apparently in the first half and did nothing with the ball.

I said all this last week but it was shot down because we beat Leeds and you can never be critical when you win. It isn't the defeat that bothers me, it's the fact we haven't changed what we do for about 5 years, its still Madges moves with lesser skilled players.

Our attack looks totally geared up towards having Sam at 1 and whilst he isn't there we just have to cope and try to scrape by.

For me the key thing is performance not results. I have not seen us perform well this year yet despite winning.

Defence you can't fault Wane, but attack......clueless.

No complaints from me, Widnes were by far the better side and fully deserved it. I have been cringing reading certain posts of how we were going to batter them and Phil Clarke didn't help with his jinx again. We really need to stop underestimating teams. Completely took all the pressure off Widnes and let them play as expansive as they liked because in everyones eyes, even the Sky pundits they were talking as if they were the bottom side after a scalp. They are top for a reason and it's pretty obvious why. The speed of their attack is brilliant and their decisive moves towards our line really showed us up. We get within 10 metres and you can guarantee if Tautai or Sarginson take it up they just run sideways looking for a pass that nobody is hitting with any pace. If it goes to smith he stands still until he has decided what to do with it.

I have been defending Smith but if the play maker doesn't create anything then the whole team stops.

Smith - A kicking half should be a leader, he shouts a lot but his inability to play rugby at this kind of level certainly doesn't inspire confidence to the other players.
Sarginson - Sooner he goes to one of his imaginary clubs the better, crap as a centre and crap as a full back. Wakefield fodder.
Powell - Doesn't seem to really do anything wrong but James Roby he isn't.
Tautai - Improved his handling errors but for me he is only fit enough for 20 mins a game, preferably at the end and start of each half.
Mossop - What does he do exactly?

All 5 are weak links - Sam T to come back which is a bonus. Isa and Joel, don't know how the centres and second rowers are going to be rotated but i fear for Gildart when everyone is fit (even though he is the best centre)

Lockers - Machine - I don't see any natural leaders out there to replace him.
Gelling - Brain fart city but prone to moments of brilliance, i can't make up my mind whether i like him or not. Many pro's and con's with his game.
Gildart - Easily the most natural centre but really needs to do some serious gym work.

Give Williams and Hampshire a go outside Tomkins at fullback. I would love to see us give that a go till the second half of the season.

But wouldn't that mean quick, decisive, attacking flair rugby?

That just isn't the Wigan way







We would rather plod through the field and stand still until a gap appears not get created

Won't happen. Wane is too stubborn.

I like that Ben Roberts at Cas, pity as I think he's signed a new deal with them.

Surely IL ( and Rads) must be of the same opinion as seemingly everyone on the forum and realise the limitations of Smith and even SW.
It is ridiculous that Rocky and George have never been given the chance to play together in the halves at SL level. If I remember correctly, Rocky has only played a couple of games at 6 - when Williams was injured.

I don't think Widnes are average. They have improved and played well but what you say about us is spot on. I have been saying it for a while now. Mr Negative and all that, but I think it has stuck out like a sore thumb we play the attacking game one way without the players to do it, yet stick with it. I honestly believe Wane thinks the issue is poor execution and it hasn't clicked with him we either don't have the players to do it or he doesn't know how to get them to do it. He sticks with it and every now and again a win like Leed spapers over the cracks.

We have absolutely no idea what to do in the last 20m. Unless we make a break and catch a defense out of position once they line up it is game over. You may as well give 'em the ball back on the first tackle.

When I say average, I mean compared to the skill level of teams/players of previous years, the skill level in SL has gone down hill quite alarmingly. Madge came in and we were brilliant, everyone else copied. Some teams have taken it further, but we are stood still doing the same stuff, but our skill level and flair players is way down on where we were a few years ago. Regarding Widnes, they have improved immensely, it was a general state of SL comment, not to put Widnes down.