If we'd played Richards at fullback he'd probably have bombed it to one of the wings instead tbf

I can only remember the Warrington home game where he didn't get much of a run. He was regularly playing 25mins+ the rest of the season when fit. I agree with the point that Powell/Murphy should have had more of a run during the regular season, especially Powell who had the perfect opportunity when Tommy was injured.

But Powell broke his leg early in the season and wasn't match fit until late July.

I think that few are arguing that Wane should be given the sack on account of his choice of player in the Semi, that's a foolish thing to say.

What is apparent though is that he really does need to learn to adapt his coaching style and approach to games to match the rules of the competition.

Simply saying "I want to win every game" will just not do. There has to be a bit more strategic thinking involved.

I also think that no-one is arguing that we should aim to finish 5th, rather we shouldn't aim to finish 1st at any cost.

I hadn't realised that, all the more reason to give Murphy some game time against the lesser sides though, he could have come off the bench at 1 with Sam slotting in at 6, it's not like we don't know whether Sam would tear it up in the halves!

Ps I've noticed a few comments about sacking Wane creeping in. I just want to make it clear that I don't advocate sacking him unless something catastrophic happens, renewing his contract is another story. He has only had one season after all and hasn't been terrible, I'm just not confident that he is the man to guide us to trophies (MINOR premiership excluded)

I think I missed the bit where saying "I want to win every game" was reality and a bad thing? Would anyone complain if Wigan had won every game?

So what's the target? To almost finish top, but only if finishing less than top results in a CC or GF final and/or win? What happens if the CC is a loss, does a team hedge their bets and try and win the league and the GF or just forget the league in the hope that the GF will just be delivered as a result of not being top?

Better still

Wane could come out and tell us that he was not d about the result or performance at all. This would let us supporters know that he is looking to the back end of the season.

Obviously whatever Wane says to the press leading up to a game, is EXACTLY the same thing he says to the troops in the sheds. In fact he probably does not event conduct a team talk. There is no need as it is all in the Observer

This much is obvious, otherwise it would not allows us all to formulate an opinion Wane and the teams strategy throughout the season, whilst retrospectively sniping him even though we nearly contested both finals and were arguably the most entertaining consistent and efficient team in the comp.

It is so easy to read any lines spun to the press and turn them verbatim into his entire coaching ethos.

Wane has excellent in the film 'Congo'.

Is that really the best you can come up with ?

Laura Linney's hair is much longer.

If you are suggesting what Wane says to the press can be disregarded because its spin I think you are well wide of the mark. He isn't a professional liar cleverly manipulating the press and fans by telling them what they want to hear.

I have seen this kind of argument put forward before. Whenever anyone quotes a club official such as IL or the coach to back up a point I have seen comments suggesting these quotes are not to be believed.

I think its the other way around. They are basically honest and straightforward people who say what they mean. To suggest what they say is for the most part spin implies they are just a bunch of conniving liars who treat the press and fans with contempt. I really do not think that is true.

Of course it isn't true. Tbh I didn't reply as the post didn't deserve it.

One of the things that makes Wane likeable imo is his honesty.

Stop shouting I've got a headache