I don't think mixing up the spine is going to make too much difference if our pack can't put in a dominant performance when our opposition actually puts up a bit of resistance.

Out of our props not one really excelled. A few did some good things. Mago made a handful of strong carries but it's nothing but a brief cameo. Ellis's offload for Smith's try was smart play but ultimately the first notable thing he's done since punching Jordan Dezaria in the face. Singleton, Cooper, Havard did little of note (lets not talk about Singleton's 'effort' on Manu Ma'u).

Whether we've got Isa or KPP it's a shockingly ineffective right edge for a top level team. Isa has had a good career out of being slightly above average most games but average should never be the benchmark. KPP should have taken his chance to be a regular starter and shown what he's capable of but he's all stylish offloads with no substance (minus the stylish offloads). There's not enough threat from that right edge.

Powell, sometimes an easy target but I thought his decision making (40/20 aside - that was great vision) was pretty terrible tonight and there was absolutely zero pace in anything that he did. He runs the ball at the wrong times, doesn't run the ball when there's an opportunity to do so. Sometimes the easiest way to trouble teams is just to threaten middle defenders that someone quick and agile is going to run at them.

Obviously when summer arrives I’d like think that we will see an improvement however, by that time from a table position a top 2 will be beyond reach unless we see a major turnaround. In the short term and maybe long term we have very few options. Throw in some long term injuries and we have virtually nothing in reserve.
The coaching staff will have to really earn their pay this season to get us competing against any side that turns up prepared to defend as if their lives depend on it.

When teams get their defence right Wigan struggle, fast condensing defences have troubled the players. Leeds last year in the playoffs was a prime example. Wigan have got to offer more variety in attack, we know we have the pace outside but there is no threat in the middle to tie in the opposition they just crab across and slow down the PTB.

Just a quick following up on Forber being “the best hooker in our squad by a country mile” and “better defensively than Powell”

He made 12 tackles for Wakefield whilst missing 4 and had zero carries.

How many minutes did he play?
Did he play any minutes whilst Wakefield were down to 12 men?
How many ptb did Wakefield have whilst Forber played?

I don’t know the answers but would help to start to give some semblance of context.
I think even Roby would struggle in the current Wakefield team.

How do his stats compare with other players currently out on loan last week?

I think the important stat there was that he missed 25% of his tackle attempts, regardless of any scenario's that is poor. Shows the absurdity of a comment stating that an untested youngster is already a better prospect and defender then a seasoned pro who is regarded as a good defender like powell.

But the lad is still very young and he will benefit massively from this Super League experiece that he is getting at wakey. Only positives can come from this loan deal.