I would disagree. He plays equally well in either role.

I'm sorry but after two seasons of constantly poor rugby and mixed results a lot of people are starting to see Noble's limitations. Can you honestly not see how poor we are under him? Can you not see the low standards he’s setting by not bothering about the weekly rounds? Can you not see how unfit our players are? A coach has to take the blame for all this no question about it.

Also in your previous posts you name Hansen, Lockers and Hock as the reasons why we aren't doing anything/

Hansen would get in any team in SL and he's far more than just OK. Every team needs a workhorse in there and Hansen's just that. The problem is that Noble won't play him and doesn’t have the ability to unlock his potential. Why do we have SL top tackler last season starting on the bench? It doesn't make sense to me personally seeing the amount of tries we are leaking. Also Hansen has the potential to add a good attacking edge to his game. I've seen him run some fantastic lines during his time at Wigan but we just aren't the team that utilises them due to our tactics.

I agree that Lockers is 2nd row and not a 13 but still he's a good player that has proved for GB he can play at the top level. We need to utilise him as a 2nd row also. It's not like we don't have a natural 13 in Joel Tomkins either is it? Last year’s runner up for YP of the year and our Top forward try scorer. He should be kicking on this season not starting over and having to do it all over again from the bench.

Hock along with Feka is one of the best impact players in the league imo. Yes he has brain farts but he also produces moments of genius. We need to start using these two better for the whole season not just at the end of the year.

It’s the same story all through the team the three above, Richards, Roberts, Tommy, Smith, Carmont & Fielden all good players that are underperforming under Noble.

We don't have any superstars like Trent who have that x factor as you said. If we add a true world class centre and prop next season then i'd be very happy with the make up of our squad. But i'd be very worried tho if Noble is still here next season as i can see more of the same then as well. Imo the season isn't won just in the playoffs it's won in the weekly rounds and you have to make sure you end up no lower than third or else it always one game to far as we've found out in the past few years.

Look at the difference when Smith arrived last season. He came in at first receiver and made plenty of room for Barrett to work in. That was a 6 and 7 working together.

He is devestating in bursts - no question. I would not like him defending five minutes before half time after he's alreay been out on the park for a while though. Crucial period of the game and you don't want a tired defender who is defeinately targetted towards the end of his spell by opposing teams (well then ones who are organised anyway).

I don't know what is going on at your club. You have a solid academy and can still attract top players when needed, and still great support. I have a mate who's a Newcastle United fan and I see a lot of similarities here.

The Timmy - Tommy partnership was always a potential banana skin. I've said all along that if they were to play together we needed two big, fast centres alongside them.

Until Pryce is fully fit I don't think we can keep Tim and Tom at halfback.


So what are the choices?


Timmy at 7, and O'Loughlin at 6. and Tommy/ Riddell at 9 and harsh on McIlorum. Sam on the bench
Not ideal from an attacking plov but would shore up the defence.

Timmy at 7, and Sam at 6. and Tommy/ Riddell at 9 and harsh on McIlorum.

Tommy at 7, and Timmy at 6. and Sam on the bench. Riddell at 9 and interchange Tommy with Riddell to bring Sam on. Again harsh on McIlorum.

Timmy at 7, and Sam at 6. Tommy/ McIlrum at 9. Dangerous in having four relatively young players in decision making positions.

Personally I would go with the first option as McIlorum will probably get a one match ban.

Well I stand by my points.

Yes Hansen is a work horse, but used as a SR Lockers is also, and offers more in attack. Hansen in attack is clueless, he actually has a clueless expression on his face! Couldn't break wind. I would take Lockers over him.

It's being overly positive about such players that led us all into a false sense of were we're at the beginning of the season.

Hock's 'flashes of genius' are becoming less and less against his silly offloads and pens.

Not playing well under Noble? Hock and the pack have a very basic plan to follow.. for god sake is your tea cold? wanna blame Nobby for that as well?

We just have a tea of overrated performers by some Wigan fans.

Seriously you need to get your head out of the sand mate. You wanna say stuff like 'being overly positive about such players that has led us into a false sense of where were at' but yet you don't want to look at Noble being overrated.

How is Hansen clueless in attack? Do you watch a game? Hock is Englands best 2nd row player and a lot of teams would snap his hands off to take him but yet he's ok at best?

End of discussion is the fact that we aren't progressing under Noble. Three losses this season against poor opposition that we should hammer, players being played in the wrong roles, unfit players, a negative points diff last season, we've yet to get anything like the consistency needed to win the league, lack of a genuine quality back room staff that is just jobs for the boys. Can you honestly not see these faults or are these down to the players also? Do they pick their own positions? do they hire the back room staff? Do they decide to play boring rugby when they are in the lead against Hull or does Noble do all this?

(please, please, please don't spout the cr@p about semi final in the playoffs cause it's not an achievement playing e all season and then getting the the semi's before you start.)

My head in the sand? When you say Hock is Eng's best SR?

Try.. Wikin, Burgess when he plays there) Ellis, JJB's been better or the last 2 seasons.

Do the backroom staff hold their hands when they go out onto the pitch? Has Hock not played SR under every manager he's played for? Was Hansen not a SR under other coaches?

Sorry I forgot that was all Nobles doing!

I think Hansen is a very good player with lots of potential and will only get better. His defence is as good as anyone's in the league. He also runs some fantastic lines and does pick up a few tries as well. For him to become a top class 2nd rower he would have to add the agression to his game. To make more metres, break more tackles but that is easier said than done. However he definitely deserves his place in the team and would make his way into most if not all in Super League.

Hock is a top class player IMO he's got agression, size, strength,speed, gamebreaking ability, solid defence not to mention he's a Wiganer. On his day there isn't a better back rower in Super League and maybe even the world. His only down side is his brain farts where you can't help but wonder wtf is he doing. That aside he is a great player and no club wouldn't snap our hands off if there was a chance of signing him. Can anybody else think of another back rower in Super League that could of scored that try against Bradford in the play offs when he shrugged Solomona off like he wasn't even there and then stepped the full back leaving him quite frankly emabarrassed? If only we could get someone to sort those brain farts out

Wilkin hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Good one that but seriouslyd040.gif

JJB and Ellis are both good players don't get me wrong but they play a different game to Hock and on his day Hock is better than these two. Imagine what Hock would do in well drilled team like Saints where they have set plays to utilise there players talents! When was the last time we had something like this with the likes of Feka close to the line?

I'm sorry mate but if you don't know how critical it is to have a good set of coaches and back room staff then there really is no hope for you......

Hock is an impact 2nd row but yet he's not being played there anyone apart from you can see this? Hansen is the type of player you want on from the start as he's someone that will sure up your defence and when the game is in the balance you bring Feka and Hock on to tip in your favour.

You don't start with players like Feka and Hock as fresh players can contain them. You bring them on when opposition players are tired and Hock can shrug out of a tackle and pop the ball up or when a tired player doesn’t full commit to tackling Feka as he’s carrying a bang from a few mins earlier. That’s when you see the benefit of these players and that’s why they being played in the wrong roles.

Simple fact is this..

At the present Hock and Hansen aren't doing it. Find as many excuses as you will.

I like the idea of Hock as an Impact, I've always said this, but right now he's not doing it. Stop making excuses for under parr Wigan players.

No the simple fact is Noble has lost the dressing room and the plot. Taxi for Noble and sooner rather than later

Hansen has been solid and needs to add an attacking edge but I wouldn’t say he’s been bad. Hock hasn’t been played in his right role. Stop making excuses for an underperforming Wigan coach who doesn’t have a clue

To ad an attacking edge to a game to a player who has been a the club playing 1st team rugby for many years isn't that easy. By now Hansen would have added that to his game.

why had Noble lost the plot in the dressing room? are you there when it goes down?

I hate the way Wigan are playing and performing but the players are out there playing making the mistakes..

Noble on this site has quickly become a hate figure, its too far. People are now even making things up and believing them. It's gone too far.

i think you may be over-reacting here

i dont see much HATE for nobby, just disliking the style of rugby he has produced, and his strange aversion to not playing juniors.

some have never wanted nobby here
others have been very quick to turn
but i think a sizeable percentage have just been worn down over time.

Which is one of the main problems not something Noble should be praised for!