Doesn't sound to please and he is correct. www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 703&type=1

Doesn't sound to please and he is correct. www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 703&type=1

Agree with every word. We've not conceded 34 points against any Super League team this season and then we go and let a Championship team in. Poor defence today, needs addressing before the Huddersfield game.

Barnett really showed up goulding and phelps today, They were made to look the ametures

Phelps had a shocker really, will have to do better to earn a new contract

It is good to see that Maguire is honest and critical when necessary about our performances and that he demands the maintaining of high standards. It would have been easy for him to shrug his shoulders and say that at the end of the day we're in the hat for round 5. From what we have heard and seen from him though I doubt he would ever do that.

Having been to the game today (and before reading Maguire's assessment) my own opinion was that Sheffield made a good impression of themselves, Barnett's first try which I thought came from a very good move with some deft passing to unlock our defence and was IMO the best try of the game. But I also left the game with the feeling that Wigan had very plainly not bothered to get out of second gear. Even when stretching the lead just before and after half time they seemed to be going through the motions a little. Travelling back on the coach you'd have thought we had lost, it was more lively coming back after last year's semi final defeat.

It's very good IMO to know that our coach is thinking along the same lines.

Terrible defence today but we only needed to win by 1 point to progress and the 34 points scored against will just give them a kick up the backside before they get too cocky. Im not worried. Anyone know if Goulding was taken off because he was injured or because of his defence?

Also what about Ian Smiths 'performance' today? I hate it when people blame the ref/use it as an excuse & in no way am i doing that today because obvioiusly we won but i have never seen a worse performance from a ref than today he couldnt have favoured Sheffield more, caned us with every opportunity he had and seemed to let them get away with anything that wasnt extremely obvious.

TBH - Smith was only reffing one team today.

He knew that one was SL and the other Championship, and (unfortunately) he reffed each team to its own level.

Saying that, he missed 2 blatant forward passes in the build up to one of our 1st-half tries, plus a shed-load more (for both teams) across the match.

What he didn't do was to apply the lying on, head-high and obstruction rules equzlly to both teams.
Like I said, we were reffed to SL standards, whilst he gave MASSIVE allowances to Sheffield.

Having said all that, it wasn't Smith that dropped the ball, fell off the tackle, allowed the offload or covered the Centre position when he had no winger (Gleeson - take note. When covering the wing position, you have to DEFEND THE WING!).

I can't see Barnett being at Sheffield much longer.
He looked like Karl Pryce to me (but with ability, willingness and speed).

Excellent stuff. Good to see McGuire is a perfectionist and doesn't just offer up excuses.

Phelps was embarrassed on more than one occassion. Though you also have to point the finger at the players that let Barnett run through the gaps. He's always been a decent finisher. I was surprised at how much pace he had though, or maybe it was Phelps that was slow?

he looked slower wellens today, maybe its just that barnett is super quick?

I always say it and people always jump on me for it but Phelps only has half the skills of a good full back. He looks completely lost when he has to come up and make a one on one tackle, plus he isn't that good under the high ball. I'd have him in the team because he's a very dangerous attacker but I reckon he'd fare much better as a stand-off/centre.

He's indecisive, rather than coming up quickly and putting him on the deck when it was clear he was going to break Phelps tried to shepherd him into touch but gave Barnett just enough time to get his speed up and skin him.

I just think we're better with Roberts at FB (which I still believe is where he was originally bought to play) and Goulding/Ainscough/Marsh on the wing and a quota player in the halves/prop.

At the beginning of the season Phelps looked to be flying towards getting a new contract and staying at the club for longer but since hes come back from his injury he has been poor and long term its looking like Roberts will be better for us at fullback. If he wasnt on the quota he would be a very useful squad member but its not looking likely at the moment, he will need to improve massively if he wants to stay. Hope he does because he can be class when hes on form.

wasnt at the game so didnt see it but young richie barnet could shift when he played for hull.

Was this not only his second game back after a 6 week stint on the injury list, bit harsh me thinks
I will hold judgement until after a few solid weeks back in before i jump to the conclusion that he wont get a new contract.
I would think that after only 1 game back Amos will probably be a bit rusty also.Roberts attack from fullback was first class but defensively he was caught out of position a few times. I still think Amos is better suited to the wing where he does not have to defend but come in and attack when ever he sees a chance.Amos is definately one of the best broken play runners in SL
Agreed Phelps will need to improve but with Match fitness he should regain the first class form of the earlier games.