It's interesting to see you've mentioned Joel as needing to stand up. For me his best outing for Wigan since he returned to us was last week vs Brisbane. He was causing some real problems that night and proved he's an out and out 2nd rower and a very good one at that.

I think it's obvious that we've gone into this season with him as our back up centre option and it's another example of poor planning. We all knew that Lockers wouldn't be available for long chunks of the year so why have they planned to have arguably our 2nd best back rower as cover for another position? When you then factor in Sarginson has been injured all pre season it seems even more baffling.

Joel should have been ring-fenced for the pack as we know he'll be needed more than ever during the weeks Lockers is missing.

You've got Cas next? They're on the bring of pulling things together. Could be a tough one.

Well, I've seen NRL teams do it, but surely the point is, it should be an occasional tactic, not tried too often, just enough to keep defences guessing.

As for aiming to best in the world, we won't attract the best players, of any nationality, until the comp itself is stronger.

IF we can sort out the ill discipline this Cas outfit can be beaten.
Should we continue as up to now and concede another 14 pens then Powell's men will have a field day.
We have a very fast back line and if Hampshire is continued at full back then there is pace to burn compared to Cas.
Get another hammering on the pen count and their forwards will be hard to stop and their big backs will also take some stopping.
Discipline is the key to a Wigan win. Get that right and the squad is more than good enough to beat Cas. Get it wrong and the two points won't be arriving at the DW!

Do had to read this a couple of times as I thought I'd misread it.
"They jury is out on Wane"???????
I didn't go yesterday but obviously it doesn't sound too good.
How can you blame the coach if players give away needless penalties? I believe SW wants an agressive team not a team that gives away penalties for fun.
It's the players fault full stop.
I heard SW interview after the match which was delayed as he was still in the changing room. I don't think that he was talking about the weather. I personally don't want a coach castigating his players via the media as this should bez done face to face with the players.

With regards to other posts on this topic there is no other coach in SL or NRL for that matter who could have coped with the turnover of staff in the last few years better than SW in my opinion. Maguire had no senior players leave apart from Deacon who was replaced by an equally good player. Maguire strengthened the squad from Melbourne and hardly ever gave youth a chance. No knows how he would have performed under the constraints of the last few years.

The jury has been out on Wane since day one for some posters

If they keep doing it then it becomes the coaches fault for not eradicating it and given the number of penalties Wigan have conceded this season so far it's an issue he needs to address. We are the most penalised side in the competition.



Well he has since the HKR performance was not acceptable (in public) but I'd rather see him acknowledge the obvious problem of penalties being a problem than say discipline is not a problem (which I believe he has said) because with the penalty count as it is, he isn't fooling anyone.



It's a thread about recruitment not who left. There have been some good recruits such as Bateman but too many flops and players of a lower standard brought in IMO. We are also relying a lot more on younger players than we have done since 2006 and I don't think that is an accident so if it doesn't work those taking the decisions have to carry the can. They would take the plaudits if it did so it cuts both ways.

Well you're right about it all starting from the top down. As much as IL has done and for all our success few would deny that he seems happy to try to be the biggest fish and to hell with the size of the pond. The problem is he has probably just recognised the reality of SL's situation and embraced it earlier than most of us fans.

who should we recruit then?
Who did we miss signing in the close season?

a stand off, fullback and a good prop

Names?

Not Greg Eden.

Carney, Campese, Burns or Offering Green a significant amount to stay.

Props - Simms, Vea or Huby would have all added some size to the pack.

It's little wonder Wane is failing. He's got that many fans inserted up him he's struggling to function.

The best player on the field on Sunday only has a one year deal at HKR!

In truth though I think we will desperately need a fullback and probably a prop as well.

Wane works with the squad he's given.

If a stand off and a prop would have been added (on top of what was signed) I'm sure he'd have gratefully accepted it.

I'll blame wane for the teams discipline issues but I get the feeling he has as much involvement in recruitment as you and me.