Who would you say the one is? (just out of interest).

To me he's got alot more out of some of the underachievers but then guys like Carmont, Richards, Leuluai, S Tomkins, O'Loughlin etc are at the same level as they've always been because they are natural competitors and don't need a new coach to give them a boot up the backside.

I would say Deacon, as nobby didnt have him, but thats how i read it

Its like a breath of fresh air. just what we needed. we were standing still under noble. great team effort from all the coaching staff and fitness team.

Of course.

Just me being thick. I thought he might have been on about one of the other players who haven't quite hit top form yet.

???, Noble won his first game (Hudds, away) then lost his next 6 !!!!!




p.s. I dont think anyone should underestimate the impact Shaun Wane has had.

Never ever let the facts get in the way of a good story!!!!

We have never gotten off to a good start under Noble. The last 3 years we have looked sluggish and unfit right from the off. This year we look fit, healthy & enthusiastic. If we can get off to a good start [say 10 wins out of 13 in the second half of the year we should be really in good shape for a top 4 finish.

If we can get 10 out of 13, I would have us as being in a good position for a top 2 finish.

The way we are playing right now still has a few rough edges that will be ironed out over the season.

However, I'm struggling to remember the last time I saw a Wigan that looked as desperate to do well both in attack AND defence as this one - Probably when Mike Gregory was in charge.

If we keep going exactly as we are now, I would put us in the top 3.

If we iron out some of the little issues (penalties conceded, allowing the ball to be stolen, etc.) then I personally think that we can finish in the top 2, with no reason whatsoever that we couldn't grab top spot.

I know, I know - Too early in the season for such abject optimism, but I just can't help myself.
MM and SW have made a true believer out of me.

10 wins out of 13 would put us in a fantastic position and after starting with 3 wins from 3 it's not unachievable(although is still a tough ask).

If we managed to do it and then replicate that form in the 2nd half of the season we'll be nailed on for the top 2 and in all honesty probably finish top. I'd imagine whichever side does finish top this season will probably lose 7 or 8 games because theres just so many tough fixtures out there.

Leeds must still be favourites to finish in that top position but they've lost 2 games already you'd have expected them to win. When you consider they've still got away games at places like Wigan, Saints, Hull, Bradford, Warrington, Catalans, Huddersfield etc those 2 defeats could end up costing them.

The downside to that is bar the Warrington fixture we've still got to go to all those places aswell.

Well we have won three now so that means we need 7 wins out of our next 10 games...not undo-able. Massive ask with big games against Leeds & Saints coming up.

I think we can get one win from those two fixtures, that should put us in a good position

If show we can compete with those two, and back it up with a solid performances week in week out, then we can talk of a top 2 finish

The big tests for our hopes of finishing top 2 will be at places like Bradford next week and at Castleford a couple of weeks after that. They are both decent sides but if we look at the game between the 2 last Friday then compare it to our game the night after against Wire they're both clubs we should be well capable of beating.

As ever it's all about the attitude. If it's as good in those games as it has been upto now we'll stand a fantastic chance.

Games against Leeds, Saints and Wire could go either way and in reality any wins picked up in those are like bonus victories. They're hugely important but they're not our bread and butter.