The decision on Saturday to go with only one prop forward and two second rows on the bench was bemusing. The forecast all week was for heavy rain and a strong wind and he picked a dry weather team.
At 10 - 0 down with about five minutes to half time I was reasonably confident that in the second half we could bring Harry Smith on kick them deep to their half.

The loss of Havard was immense because of Lams sub selection, he really has to take the majority of the blame for that loss.

I don't do knee jerk reactions, as most of you know I'm normally very supportive but he really needs to have a good look at himself and change things around quickly otherwise it's a JIm Reeves song.

I hope he manages it BUT it doesn't look promising.

OK, so I made this post over five weeks ago. Where do I stand now and what's changed if anything?

So I still stand by my comments that Lam should be given a contract extension, that's probably already been agreed. For how long? I reckon two years, I think successfully guiding us to the top of the table has secured a longer deal.

Re: Watson, obviously that's off now. Didn't expect that to happen.

I will hold my hands up, I didnt expect us to finish the season top of the league (albeit a few games early) that was an unexpected bonus. I do think the team in the last five weeks have upped the intensity (especially in defence). We've let one try in three games which is tremendous stuff going into the GF. That's up there with the best defence we got from Waney.

The forwards are making more metres and we are flinging the ball wide to the fringes with ease. The only thing letting us down is our kicking game still,will need to be on form next Friday, turn them round and make them come from deep.

Oh, fair play to IL for the recent signings (even though he's announced that we will be going forward with a smaller squad).

Yep, completely agree with that.

This is the crux of the matter. He’s slowly built up a head of steam, improved on last year, in both style of play and position in the competition and I finally get the feeling now that the players will run through brick walls for him. He will have been instrumental in bringing in Field and Bateman for next season and helping to acquire Hastings when we did. He failed miserably this season in missing out on Challenge Cup silverware but, overall, he deserves continued support for another season at least, irrespective of the result on Friday. However, as NK points out, there will be no excuses if we lose on Friday and then go backwards next year. It has been nice to see a bit of backing for the Head Coach, ie. giving him time when there were calls for his head earlier but, a club of Wigan’s stature can’t go three years without winning any meaningful competition. Not under IL’s watch anyway. Let’s hope we can do it on Friday as, if we do, then next season should be even more enjoyable.

He's just been named coach if the year! Congratulations to Adrian Lam.

Unexpected but we finished top and have got a vein of form. Really hope we finish it off and can look forward to next year.

Well done Lam!
No coach was better than him this season!
What I’m most impressed with is how much Powell has improved under his guidance.